We banged in the winners early doors last week and when the weather declined so did our winners. Punters must realise that ground conditions are a vital part of how well or bad a horse runs.
On a miserable Monday we had 2 bets, my Irish connections were very sweet on the ex-point-pointer at Cork, BACKTOWHITINGBAY, we took the early show of 5/2 and as a lot of our selections this was very well fancied and backed accordingly into 5/4 fav.
BACKTOWHITINGBAY the ex point-pointer didn’t jump well not seeming to give these smaller hurdles much respect and ultimately paid the price. We then had Mr Haggis to rely upon sending BATTALION up to Ripon for a 4 horse maiden, When I saw this was even money I couldn’t believe our luck as this had been working with 90 rated horses at home, we snapped up evens and had a 4 point win on it. He duly bolted up hard on the steel by 5 lengths. Nice winning day to start the week.
Tuesday 6th. The very shrewd Ian Williams had placed his own horse STAR ALLIANCE in a very winnable 2mile race and had made a eye catching booking of Graham Lee to do the steering. This chestnut gelding came out very well on the figures and when the information surfaced that the stable were backing it, I thought time to snap up the 7/4. This Dalakhan 5yo was backed into 5/4 only for the rain to arrive and completely ruin any chance that we had of winning. The race was ultimately won in a time 16 seconds slow, so that told its own story the ground had gone with my Yarmouth X’s for Wed and Thursday.
Packing my bags for a 2 day stint at Yarmouth, Hotels booked, jellied eels to eat and horses to back.
Wednesday 7th. The start of the 2 day Yarmouth meeting and Frankie forgot to read the whole script, I did post it under his door, honest. Swendab made the running as we expected, but unfortunately didn’t stop although SLEEPY BLUE OCEAN flattered to deceive at the furlong post but the ultra game Swendab was not for catching and yet again we pick up the silver medal. Straight after the QUEST FOR MORE race I wondered what Young DOLEY was doing but after watching again, I think the horse wants further and when his chance had gone he looked after QUEST FOR MORE but with a bit more persistence I think he could of still gone very close.
We hit the holiday town of Yarmouth on the back of not the greatest start to the week, apart from BATTALION bolting in on Monday. I decided to see if I could achieve the nearly impossible quest of eating early and drinking later, crab claws and a lobster later I waddled towards the town. Wow the 1st drink was like swallowing a brick or two, but past experience has taught me if I could get over this initial bout of gluttony I could drink for England later and maybe enjoy some of the spoils of a night out in Yarmouth. In fairness to Yarmouth it was busy and after swallowing another 2 or 3 bricks I decided this isn’t working and I knew we needed to get amongst the winners and made my lame excuses and returned to the hotel.
Thursday 8th. Fresh as a daisy and I decided a breakfast and a quiet read of the Racing Post was in order, so I wandered down Regent Road to “La Continental” and was met by a wave of racing banter from the table in the corner. Richard the owner called me over (that’s ANOTHER free breakfast), Acle car centre offer me a new car heheheh and the young Micheal Bells apprentice LOUIS STEWARD’s father are all in debate. Obviously the chat was ALL horses and LOUIS, and in fairness to the young lad he had rode a cracker the day before on his bosses horse Lovesome (runs at Yarmouth again on the 14th under Louis), only to be beaten a very game shd head by George Baker. Louis was still to ride his 1st winner at Yarmouth I was told and he had a good ride in the last today on TEVEZ, the former Barney Curley charge, but noticed it had won the previous night at Kempton. The room was buzzing with the expectations of young Louis, but I was cooler as thought it probably wouldn’t run again today so didn’t tip it up for that reason. I decided to pin my colours to HEY DUDE that afternoon at Haydock and VITAL EVIDENCE at Sandown that night.
HEY DUDE won very nicely (tipped up at 7/2) and now I am waiting for VITAL EVIDENCE as I also have a nice ew double. To my amazement TEVEZ is still a runner in the last at Yarmouth and normally I leave before the last to miss the traffic, but I have to watch Louis. He misses the break by design or not I don’t know, so I start slowly walking to the car but TEVEZ is always just interested but comes under a very determined pump about half a mile out and to my amazement the old boy keeps responding to the “up and coming” apprentices urgings and finally wins going away by 1+ lengths, great ride 1st winner at Yarmouth for Louis Steward and I am impressed even though I/We have missed a winner, a young lad going places. Vital Evidence hits a brick wall and blows out but a good winning day and a lot learned.
No eating early tonight time for a pint or 2. We kick of in town and nice quiet little back street pub (dare not mention name) where I am sure I spotted 6 fingers on hands, lol, our stay is rather like a Ferrari pit stop and we are heading for the seafront. We headed for the Pier Tavern where the karaoke is in full swing after a few have done their 1 and only holiday song the whalers begin, as you probably gather I am not the greatest fan, we leave shortly after 1 of our the gang starts singing to an upturned bottle and getting the biggest cheer, now the long bar has finally been closed down due to the constant expense of having to replace the fight broken windows, we descend on the Pub on the Prom. One table is like the amphitheatre but I can’t quite see who or what is the attraction, a stripper, free beer or maybe a bookie crying over the local lad “Louis win” none of the above just an Ipswich town ex footballer who is revelling in the attention. With all the fairer sex busy getting their more intimate body parts signed we can have a nice quiet drink to end an eventful day.
Friday 9th. Early to rise because I must pop into La Continental for the gossip before heading to Newmarket, as soon as I turn the corner in Regent Road, the noise hits me, a bus load of holiday makers? the girls comparing signatures? No, just the racing table in the corner in full vocal swing and counting their 10/1ish Tevez gains. After a bout of told you so’s, why didn’t you back it, and lots of high spirits I refuse another foc breakfast and finding out Louis already has an agent make my lame excuses again and head to HQ. After missing the 1st and 2nd strings on the gallops I head towards where some of the jockeys, trainers and local lads meet up before racing to see what’s occurring. As in my Friday tips column I am told to fill my boots and have my maximum bet on MINLEY in the opener at Brighton, I took evens, 5/6 and 4/5 for far to much money, after he bolts up by 6 lengths at 4/9 and never a moments doubt it always seems never enough. Another good winning day.
Saturday 10th. A no brainer today, Ascot for the “reality” racing or Newmarket for the Sweet Solera Stakes, Newmarket is a long odds on. Although I now have to bite the bullet and backtrack as our bet is at Ascot. STEPS an unlucky loser at Ascot last time because of a bad draw and James Doyle on board, who is riding out of his skin, in my opinion is a bet to nothing ew at 4/1. As we know Saturday racing is not really my cup of tea due to the ultra competitive nature and we are in it to make a living and a profit and not just for show. Newmarket is really buzzing today and I have a drink with a trainer who informs me that we WILL be punting 1 of his charges BIG next week. I am very impressed with the John Gosden winner “Night Song” in the 1st, this 280,000gns filly needs popping in our notebooks for 1 of the Tatterstalls Millions 2yo races.(so I am told). STEPS is beaten into 2nd another silver medal to our haul, but no harm done this Saturday. We settle down in the owners and trainers bar to concentrate on the rest of the days racing and a bit of socializing (as I have a driver today) and hopefully easing some future pointers/information out of alcohol loosened lips.
Sunday 11th. After far to much wine yesterday my head ache is eased by the knowledge that we already have 3 horses to bet next week and also I am going to advise a trainer/owners to put their 6yo mare over a mile next time (at Yarmouth I hope as she loves it there) and not 7f so we can punt her as well. When she runs I will make sure all my BETFAN members know. In all a up and down week with a small losing Tuesday and Wednesday but more importantly a winning Monday, Thursday and Friday (max) with a level Saturday, so in all a profitable week. The racing across the water looks far superior to ours today with Dawn Approach in the Jacque Le Marois at Deauville over 8f, her main danger looks to be the French trained Newmarket winner Intello and Maputto trying listed class at the Curragh. There’s not going to be much time for grass cutting at home this week, I shall be travelling to Yarmouth Wednesday and Newmarket Thursday, Friday and Saturday to see if we turn all this chat into hard cash.
I think that in the 4-55L No 8 Breccbennach is a lively outsider at 28/1 for very small stakes, it will probably lead so a bet 28/1 and lay at around 8/1
Until next Sunday lets hope for more ups then downs.
Andy Bell Racing
http://go.betfan.com/1000/258
Leave a Reply