Profitable Saturday

A good day today, with one winner from our two selections and a nice five points of profit, getting us back to 63.5pts of profit for the month.

We had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

1.40 Newcastle Nevada Royale 1pt 10/1 Bet365/Coral/VC

4.45 Kempton Coup Royale 1pt 6/1 Coral/Paddy Power

First up, Nevada Royale ran quite well in the mud at Newcastle, leading for much of the way before getting a bit outpaced in the end, although he stayed on nicely again to get third, after going off at 8/1. He just might be one to keep an eye on.

And then we had a very comfortable winner at Kempton, with Coup Royale being given a very patient ride by Joe Tizzard, so much so that the in-running layers had him at 100/+ at one stage, but it appeared the result was never really in doubt as the 7yo just cruised past those in front of him as they turned for home, and he won by nearly ten lengths in the end. Got the price too, with the selection going off a well backed 7/2.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- SP)

Nevada Royale, 3rd/7, 10/1 --- 8/1

Coup Royale, 1st/11, 6/1 --- 7/2

We're currently running with a win strike rate of 15.65% for 2011, with average win odds of 8.42/1, giving us a ROI of 48.87%, not bad at all!

Roll on the weekend!

A pretty quiet end to the week, with Thursday's selection being withdrawn, and then just a couple today, both which ran well but neither winning.

Yesterday we had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

4.10 Huntingdon Global Flyer 1pt 11/1 Lads (10/1 Hills/Bet365)

Who was withdrawn before the race.

Then today we had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

2.10 Warwick Chicklemix 1pt 7-1 VC Bet, Betfred

3.50 Warwick Lavenoak Lad 1pt 8-1 Coral, W Hill

Both were right up there throughout.

Chicklemix ran well, but was just a tad one paced when push came to shove, and could only manage third, beaten a couple of lengths, after starting at 10/1

Then veteran stayer Lavenoak Lad was leading going over the last, trading at 1.35 in running, but he just couldn't quite see things out in the finish, and eventually got swamped by the first three, ending out of the frame back in fourth, after going off at 10/1.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- SP)

Chilcklemix, 3rd/15, 7/1 --- 10/1

Lavenoak Lad, 4th/7, 8/1 --- 10/1

Would have been an easy winner..

Well today's selection would have been a very comfortable winner.. had the actual winner not finished thirteen lengths ahead! Yesterday we had a couple of unplaced efforts.

Let's start there, we had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

2.40 Wetherby Good For Blue 1pt 5/1 Coral/Bet365/Lads/Hills and others BOG (11/2 Betfred)
4.45 Taunton Jewellery 1pt 7/1 Coral/VC

Neither of these placed, Good For Blue went off at 6s and ran poorly.

Jewellery drifted a tad too, to 8/1, but ran quite well for Alison Thorpe, looking to land her second gamble in two days. Didnt happen this time though, with the selection on the premises but never really doing enough to challenge the principles.

Today we had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

3.50 Ludlow Tom O'Tara 1pt 17/2 VC/Stan James (8/1 Hills/Coral/Lads)

And this was a drifter too, to 10/1 at SP, which can be good for the profits when you have best odds guaranteed of course, but not really the idea. Still, the morning money seems pretty accurate with a very good display, always up there and looking a real danger to the winner around three out, but he just couldn't quite quicken with the same gusto as the victor, and he finished a well beaten second - but a country mile clear of third (well, 16 lengths to be precise).

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- SP)

Tuesday 22nd February 2011

Good For Blue, PU/13, 5/1 --- 6/1
Jewellary, 5th/13, 7/1 --- 8/1

Wednesday 23rd February 2011

Tom O'Tara, 2nd/10, 17/2 --- 10/1

Why the fuss BHA?

Every morning, a number of horses get backed, some of these will go onto win, and hopefully we find enough of the "right moves" to turn a good profit. Most of these moves go virtually unreported after the event, apart from perhaps a mention in the Racing Post analysis that the horse was subject of "good support" or such like.

Sometimes one of these backed horses goes on to win and causes a bit of a storm, like today's winner for us, Border Lad. Now this run is reportedly the subject of examination now by the BHA, which appears to us as pretty ludicrous. This was only the horses's third start for his new stable, was on the receiving end of a tumbling handicap mark, and was also trying out 2m 6furlongs for the first time.

So on the back of Matt Chapman's rant on ATR the powers that be will take a long look at it, well I'm sure Alison Thorpe and her team will be able to explain perfectly well why a better run was expected today.

There's been an interesting post on "The Racing Forum" about it this evening, which puts things very nicely, which can be read here: http://tinyurl.com/6g9of3r

Anyway, elsewhere our one other selection which completed was well beaten, while another was involved in the unfortunate voided race at Carlisle.

We had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

3.40 Carlisle Royal Mackintosh 1pt 7/1 Lads

3.50 Hereford Border Lad 1pt 9/1 Boylesports (8/1 Coral/Hills/Paddy Power)

4.40 Carlisle Norminster 1pt 8/1 Lads/Paddy Power/Betfred

Royal Mackintosh was very nicely backed to win yet again at Carlisle (looking into that, BHA?), and he was leading and travelling very powerfully when the race was unfortunately abandoned due to a stricken horse. Our thoughts with connections of Star Player, a grand servant.

Then came the Border Lad race, which was a terrific performance, a game front running ride, he was able to stretch into a big lead and looked to have the race in the bag some way out. He began to flag just a little up ahead but ran on really gamely in the mud to win by three lengths in the end. The odds drifting to 11/1 at the off gave us a couple of extra points thanks to best odds guaranteed, which was a nice bonus.

Then came Norminster who drifted to 12s and was very well beaten.

There were many horses very nicely backed this morning, and it was again pleasing to see that many of the others that were the subject of support didn't go on to do the business, while one of our picks did. It's all about finding the right moves to follow. It's been quite some month for us so far, but we are confident things will continue to progress.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- sp)

Royal Mackintosh - RACE VOID

Border Lad, 1st/11, 9/1 --- 11/1

Norminster, PU/6, 8/1 --- 12/1

Quiet Sunday

There wasn't a great deal going in this morning's betting markets, and only one move turned into a selection.

We had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

4.05 Market Rasen Carters Rest 1pt 11/2 Hills/VC

Carters Rest was nicely backed to show improved form with a more lenient handicap mark, but it wasn't to be. Despite going off at 4/1 in the end, he was pushed along far too early and ended up tailed off. A disappointing display.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- SP)

Carters Rest, 7th/7, 11/2 --- 4/1

Can't win 'em all!

Well after yesterday's successes, today was a bit of a damp squib, although we had pretty good efforts from all three of our selections.

Considering our picks are entirely based around finding the right market moves, it's surprising just how rare it is for us to select Pricewise horses. Today, though, we had two of them - both continued to be backed but neither placed.

Anyway today we had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

3.20 Haydock Carruthers 1pt 6/1 Bet365/Lads

3.35 Ascot Lough Derg 1pt 9/2 Bet365/Lads/Hills/VC

4.15 Wincanton Double The Trouble 1pt 9/1 Stan James/Skybet

Carruthers was very well backed in the big national trial at Haydock, going off at 7/2 in the end, but despite a tremendously game effort trying to make all, and jumping really well, his challenge eventually petered out, and he was unlucky to lose third close to home.

Lough Derg was another to race prominently, and the veteran ran pretty well for a long time, it was good to watch him battling it out with a "young pretender" as the pace began to heat up, in the shape of Act of Kalanisi. It was the youngster who won out, with Lough Derg fading away in the end to be well beaten, after going off at 7/2.

Then we looked to Double The Trouble to make the day profitable, and he ran well. Drifting to 14s when the market opened on course, he was nibbled in again into 12s and then just lost out for second after racing up with the leaders most of the way, but a fair way behind the comfortable winner.

So three points lost today, and we look forward to tomorrow to get back on the winning trail.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- sp)

Carruthers, 4th/14, 6/1 --- 7/2

Lough Derg, 6th/11, 9/2 --- 7/2

Double The Trouble, 3rd/9, 9/1 --- 12/1

Fabulous Friday

A warm glow this evening, after two terrific winners from our two selections gave us a fabulous 35pts of profit today.

We advised:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

2.40 Sandown Qhilmar 1pt 7/1 Hills/ Bet365 (15/2 BetFred)

3.10 Fakenham Wellforth 2pt 14/1 Ladbrokes (12/1 Hills)

Qhilimar won an absolute thriller, staying on in grand style to win just on the line at Sandown. It was his first run for his new trainer, Charlie Longsdon, and there was loads of support around for him, nicely backed this morning, he was punted into 4/1 favourite at the off before running a blinder. A great start to the day.

Half an hour later we really were cheering though, with Wellforth our first 2pt pick for some time, and winning with plenty in hand in what looked a competitive handicap. Paul Gilligan sent him all the way over from Ireland for it, and there was the right sort of market activity this morning to set our radar off. He was backed in to around 9s in the end, before support came for one or two others, pushing our fella's odds out to 14/1, which is what he started at. He went on to run really well, just for a moment or two relatively early on did he not look the most fluent, but for much of the race he was prominent, and then quickened clear when asked to and won by eight lengths in the end, beating the well backed favourite comfortably.

Interestingly, Paul Gilligan made out the result was something of a surprise when interviewed, but according to a Twitter post from a reporter with the Eastern Daily Press, Paddy Davitt, the jockey Johnny Farrelly, described the win as "the horse's Cheltenham"!

Anyway a great day, and we look forward to four jumps meetings tomorrow with plenty of interesting looking fields. We have won our last three races, at 8.1/1(after r4), 7/1 and 14/1. It would be quite something if the run can continue! We'll be doing our best.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- SP)

Qhilimar, 1st/10, 7/1 --- 4/1

Wellforth, 1st/6, 14/1 --- 14/1

What a day!!

A full update will follow later, but just to say we had a great day today, with two selections and two winners, and a cracking 35 point profit!

We advised Quilmar (1pt win) at 7/1 at Sandown, who just got up in the shadow of the post, which acted as the starter for the main dish - a 2pt win selection on Irish raider Wellforth at Fakenham, at 14/1, who won really well.

Things are really motoring along at the moment, if you'd like to join in, you can do so from just £13.33 a month! http://www.themarketexaminer.co.uk.

Until later,

Sam

Nothing today

When things are going well, it's particularly frustrating when no opportunities arise to try to keep things pushing forward!

But discipline is of course absolutely crucial in this game, so we advised no selections today.

Great to see Newbury back on tomorrow, all the best to all concerned on what's sure to be at times a difficult afternoon.

And very well done to Andrew Black for climbing Kilimanjaro, what a trek, inspirational stuff, and well worth a read.

Profits continue

Another good day today, with one winner from our two selections, a really gutsy success at Musselburgh. We advised Rossini's Dancer at a best priced 10/1, but that price went quickly after our email sent out, so we will chalk him up as a 8.1/1 winner (after rule 4 applied - details below).

Yesterday we were 0/1.

Let's start there, we had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

4.30 Folkestone Vacario 1pt 8/1 Coral/Bet365/VC/Betfred

A pretty competitive handicap with plenty of runners. Vacario was well supported though, and went off at 6/1. Unfortunately he didn't jump particularly fluently and was shaken along relatively early. He ended up finishing a well beaten 5th.

Then today we had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

3.20 Musselburgh Kai Broon 1pt 6/1 general

4.20 Musseburgh Rossini's Dancer 1pt 10-1 W Hill, 9s P Power, VC Bet

Kai Broon was further supported into 4/1 so there was clearly plenty expected from this 4yo, but he really didn't do anything and was tailed off.

Then came Rossini's Dancer, who put in a cracking performance to win close home. We selected him against our easy winner on Saturday, Locked Inthepocket, who this time was an odds-on shot. No room for sentiment in this game! Locked Inthepocket was leading and seemingly going ok when he fell five out, although that was still some way from home. At that point, Rossini's Dancer was looking pretty laboured, trading as high as 130 in running, but Mark Bradburne didn't give up, and suddenly found him back on the bridle and close in contention. He took the lead about two out, still going nicely and was looking like the likelier winner, until he clattered the last fence. At that stage he was looking up against it, with Quinder Spring having a half length lead with 100yds or so left to race, but one late surge forced our pick to the line to win in the nick of time. A great result. Unfortunately there was a R4 10p in the £ deduction, so the actual return was 8.1/1, still can't really complain.

It leaves February 22.6pts in profit, with a ROI of +70.62%. We're 19.6pts up for 2011 (+18.15% ROI). Things going along quite nicely, so let's hope it continues!

Confirmation of results with prices:

February 15th 2011

Vacario, 5th/13, 8/1 --- 6/1

February 16th 2011

Kai Broon, 7th/7 - 6/1 --- 4/1

Rossini's Dancer, 1st/6, 8.1/1 --- 8/1

Not today

Not quite happening today, 0/2 with one finishing second.

We had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

3.30 Plumpton Latin America 1pt 13/2 Coral/Hills/Paddy Power/BetFred

3.50 Catterick Barron Watlass 1pt 13/2 VC/Paddy Power

Latin America ran well for a very long time, but ran into one too good with Prince De Seuil cruising upsides and going past at will in the end, a decent display though, with Liam Treadwell's charge finishing well clear of third, after starting at 6/1.

Not such a good run from Barron Watlass, who started at 11/2 but didn't really settle and ending up getting quite well beaten.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- sp)

Latin America, 2nd/6, 13/2 --- 6/1

Barron Watlass, 9th/16, 13/2 --- 11/2

Surging forward

Another profitable day today, with the month now showing 18.5pt profit (66.67% ROI).

It feels like we're beginning to have the correction which is due after a poor November and December, and indifferent January, as always happens sooner or later (in our experience).

Today we picked up 6.5pts from our three selections, thanks to a really easy winner, but it could easily have been a lot more had our first pick not put in a really awful jump three out to knock the stuffing out of him while tanking along and trading at 1.37 in running..!

Anyway these were our three:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

2.30 Hereford Quicolai 1pt 9/1 Boylesports/Bluesq (10/1 Stan James)

4.30 Hereford Goodtimetoby 1pt 11/2 Bet365/VC (6/1 Stan James)

5.00 Hereford Decent Lord 1pt 8/1 VC/Paddy Power

Quicolai was extremely well backed for Paddy Brennan, going off at 4/1 and it did look like the money was going to be landed, in the lead and travelling really well. But he made a really awful mistake which he did really well not to fall from three fences out, and just lost his action thereafter. Tom George pulled him up before the last. It was a weak race, but he's perhaps a winner in waiting.

Goodtimetoby didn't do much at all after starting at 4/1, so it was left to Decent Lord in the last, who drifted to 10/1 on course before being backed again into 17/2, and then absolutely hosed up to record his first ever success. Always travelling strongly he eased into a big lead with a couple of fences to go and it was just a matter of getting over his hurdles, which he did nicely. The b.o.g gave us an extra half a point which was a nice bonus!

Confirmation of results with prices (advised ---- sp)

Quicolai, PU/7, 9/1 --- 4/1

Goodtimetoby, PU/6, 11/2 --- 4/1

Decent Lord, 1st/10, 8/1 --- 17/2

Haunting scenes

A day when events at Newbury overshadowed everything, of course. Extraordinary, and let's just hope they can pinpoint exactly what caused such incredible scenes. So awful for everyone connected, from the stable lads and lasses, the owners, to the Newbury course officials to those spectators standing around the paddock looking forward to a great day's racing.

Good luck to all those trying to establish the facts, it would be awful if it was just left "unexplained", or else all sorts of theories could start to be thrown around. Surely it will all become clear soon, let's hope so anyway.

Our selections today ran at Warwick and Ayr, and we had one winner.

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

1.40 Warwick The Quantum Kid 1pt 10/1 Hills/Lads/VC/Betfred

2.50 Ayr Locked Inthepocket 1pt 9/2 Lads/Stan James/Totesport

3.20 Ayr Sotovik 1pt 20/1 Lads

5.05 Ayr Crackerjack Lad 1pt 9/1 Bet365/BetFred

We got some cracking value today, and a brilliant performance from Locked Inthepocket who won with any amount in hand, to ensure a 1.5pt profit on the day. It doesn't really feel appropriate to go into any more detail than that.

Confirmation of results with prices:

The Quantum Kid, F/14, 10/1 --- 9/1

Locked Inthepocket, 1st/10, 9/2 --- 11/4

Sotovik, PU/7, 20/1 --- 8/1

Crackerjack Lad, 4th/12, 9/1 --- 9/2

No selections today

Nothing quite ticked enough boxes for us this morning so we had no selections.

Things ticking over nicely

February pushed further into profit today with a very impressive 11/2 winner (b.o.g). We had a couple of other selections too on the busiest day for us for a little while, but one was a non runner, and the other came second. Yesterday our one pick didn't do anything, so a 3.5pt profit since our last update.

We'll start with yesterday, when we had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

3.45 Carlisle Companero 1pt 13/2 Bet365/BetFred

At least we had a little bit of value with this one, with Howard Johnson's 11yo going off at 11/2 in the end, but sadly the horse seems to have lost his way a tad with him toiling before the going got serious. He ended back in 6th.

On today, and much more positive:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

1.40 Huntingdon Divy 1pt 11/2 Coral/VC/Paddy Power (6/1 Bluesq)

3.40 Huntingdon Lindy Lou 1pt 8/1 Bet365/Lads/VC (9/1 Bluesq)

4.30 Taunton Jeczmien 1pt 5/1 Hills/Paddy Power

Divy was a huge mover this morning, but the layers got stuck in on the exchanges for some reason to see him open up at 9/1. He was backed again into 8/1 and ran really well in very testing ground. Trading just above evens he looked like he was going better than anything about four out, but soon Premier Des Marais loomed up and readily went past. Divy battled admirably for Andrew Tinkler but he couldn't find any more, finishing second seven lengths clear of the third.

Lindy Lou was a non runner, and so it was on to Jeczmien, which after opening at 9/2 drifted a point out to 11/2. Still the slightly weak vibes on course were soon forgotten as Liam Treadwell gave him a very confident ride behind the leader and quickened clear two out to win very comfortably. Great stuff!

We're 10.5pts up for February now, and look forward to keeping it going.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- sp)

Wednesday February 9th

Companero, 6th/9, 13/2 --- 11/2

Thursday February 10th

Divy, 2nd/14, 11/2 --- 8/1

Lindy Lou NR

Jeczmien, 1st/6, 5/1 --- 11/2

Quiet couple of days

Just a couple of bets over the last couple of days, and no returns.

Yesterday we had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

4.15 Lingfield Maximix 1pt 7/1 Bet365

Which started at 11/2, which was good, but not so good was the way Gary Moore's 8yo faded out of it the moment he made a mistake at one of the fences.

Then today we had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

3.55 Sedgefield Glengap 1pt 7/1 Boylesports (13/2 Hills)

No value this time, with Glengap starting at 8s after opening at 11/2. After racing behind the pace, he tried to close three out but couldn't get there and ended up well behind.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- sp)

8th February 2011

Maximix, 6th/6, 7/1 --- 11/2

9th February 2011

Glengap, 6th/9, 7/1 --- 8/1

On the up

Things ticking along nicely at the moment, with another 8pts added to the bank today.

We had a cracking, and very aptly named 10/1 winner, a 16/1 2nd and another backed from 12/1 down to 4/1 who flopped.

These were the selections:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

2.50 Fontwell Wide Receiver 1pt 10/1 Lads

3.25 Fontwell Murcar 1pt 16/1 Lads

4.00 Fontwell Alldunnandusted 1pt 12/1 Totesport

So on Super Bowl Sunday what a great name for a winner and if either the Packers or Steelers show as much guts as Wide Receiver did today they're going to be hard to beat.

Leading most of the way, the selection was put under considerable pressure with half a mile to run but my word did he battle it out, and eventually actually won going away by three lengths, brilliant stuff. This after going off at 13/2.

Next up was Murcar, who ran really well at a big price, after starting at 14/1. Sadly he just ran into one too good and while he did look like a real threat a couple of fences from home, he just couldn't peg back the ready winner. Good showing though.

And then came Alldunnandusted, the subject of large support, starting at 4/1. Unfortunately this time the money went astray with Seamus Mullins' 7yo faded on the final circuit to be well beaten.

So a good day, although a slight sense of what may have been, but we shouldn't really grumble about today's returns, and we look forward to keeping it going tomorrow.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- SP):

Wide Receiver, 1st/9, 10/1 --- 13/2

Murcar, 2nd/11, 16/1 --- 14/1

Alldunnandusted, 5th/6, 12/1 --- 4/1

Poor couple of days

It's been a strange few days, in as much as we've had a great 12/1 winner, amidst quite a few very poor performances. It's particularly annoying when we don't really get runs for our money like today and yesterday, but of course it happens and we'll look forward to better tomorrow.

Not much to report really, these were Friday's selections:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

2.15 Catt Parks Prodigy 1Pt 10/1 Tote, W Hill

2.25 Bang Quizwork 1Pt 7/1 Coral, P Power, Betfred

3.40 Chep The Clyda Rover 1Pt 6/1 general

Of course Catterick was called off, so we had to rely on the other two. Quickwork was having his first start for almost a year and didn't show much at all before being pulled up, after starting at 10/1. The Clyda Rover at least completed, but was well behind in finishing tenth after going off at 11/2.

And then today:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

2.45 Wetherby Ravati 1pt 7/1 Lads

3.35 Sandown Theatrical Moment 1pt 13/2 Bet365/Coral/Hills

Ravati was returning to the scene of his only previous win and having a run for new connections, but despite continuing to be supported into 5/1 was well beaten.

AP's mount Theatrical Moment was quite widely expected to do well in his competitive handicap at Sandown but just never seemed to be travelling, after starting at 8/1.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- sp)

Friday, 4th February 2011

Quizwork, PU/10, 7/1 --- 10/1

The Clyda Rover, 10th/15, 6/1 --- 11/2

Saturday 5th February 2011

Ravati, 5th/5, 7/1 --- 5/1

Theatrical Moment, 8th/11, 13/2 --- 8/1

Welcome Laura Hurley

So it's a massive well done to Laura Hurley who had her first two runners today under rules, one of which gave us a lovely 12/1 winner. Her stable obviously likes a punt too so hats off to all concerned.

We'll come to that in a moment, first of all an altogether less impressive yesterday:

We had:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

1.50 Newcastle Appache Brave 1pt 7/1 Hills

3.50 Newcastle Sammy Spiderman 1pt 9/1 Hills/Lads

Appache Brave started at 8/1 and ran poorly eventually pulling up, while Sammy Spiderman didn't fare much better, although at least was backed into 6/1.

So on to today:

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

2.40 Towcester Orang Outan 1pt 12/1 Lads/Coral

3.50 Wincanton Ginolad 1pt 15/2 Coral

Orang Outan was hadn't run since April 2009 so what a terrific training performance from Laura Hurley to have him so well prepared today. Nicely backed this morning, clearly loads was expected with the 9yo continuing to be supported into 5/1 on course. David Bass gave him a terrific ride, allowing the horse to dominate things and then push on just at the right moment to keep his nearest challenger at bay. He ended up winning by just short of a couple of lengths, with the front two well clear of the third. Interesting to note too that Laura's earlier runner today finished close up despite running from well outside the handicap. A trainer to keep an eye on!

No such luck with Ginolad, who never really got competitive and ended up pulling up.

Confirmation of results with prices

2nd Feb 2011

Appache Brave, PU/10, 7/1 --- 8/1

Sammy Spiderman, PU/7, 9/1 --- 6/1

3rd Feb 2011

Orang Outan, 1st/7, 12/1 --- 5/1

Ginolad, PU/12, 15/2 --- 8/1

Here we go

We're off and running for February then, but not the start we would have wanted with four selections not doing the business for us.

TIME COURSE SELECTION 1pt/2pt win Bookmaker(s) / Price(s)

1.50 Taunton Normally 1pt 6/1 Boylesports/Paddy Power
3.40 Folkestone Absolute Shambles 1pt 8/1 Lads
4.20 Taunton Beauchamp Viking 1pt 10/1 Bet365
4.40 Folkestone Meneur 1pt 5/1 Totesport/BetFred

Normally was outpaced but ran on again for his enthusiastic jockey and was a fast finishing third after starting at 4/1.

Absolute Shambles was another which continued to be nicely backed, with an 11/2 SP. His jumping was erratic to say the least though, and all faded out of things after racing prominently.

Beauchamp Viking was our biggest"value" success, with the selection going off at 11/2 at the off, almost half the odds we had. He was being scrubbed along early but began tanking along in the closing stages and looking a big danger, trading just above evens in running. Sadly a mistake three out, and then a worse one two out just knocked the stuffing out of him and despite running on again after pinging the last he had no chance on getting to the leader, finishing fourth just over six lengths adrift.

Meneur was a drifter and ran ok for a while before dropping out of contention.

Confirmation of results with prices (advised --- sp)

Normally, 3rd/15, 6/1 --- 4/1
Absolute Shambles, 4th/6, 8/1 --- 11/2
Beauchamp Viking, 4th/7, 10/1 --- 11/2
Meneur, 5th/7, 5/1 --- 8/1