Tuesday 30th August 2016

Its been a while since I've posted, and more or less the results have been pretty mediocre. This Saturday was a prime example with no winners, the best result being a couple of places from Ben Linfoot with Big Time at 20/1, and Horse Trader had Diamond Geyser who came second at 7/1. The tipsters all seemed to be having a poor run at the same time and it was showing as my bank balance was evaporating.

Sunday saw an much needed improvement, with Northern Monkey tipping the all the way winner Sors at the Curragh (8/1), and Bet Alchemist had a juicy 20/1 placed horse at the Irish track with Hasanour.

Monday was better again, with Roger Bush tipping a near maximum bet on the easy winner Ennistown (4/1) at Cartmel and Northern Monkey tipping Crowning Glory, and also El Astronaute at Epsom. It just shows that sometimes you have to persist with tipsters for the long run, even when they are having terrible runs. Eventually though, class tells, and the results come good.

Today Tuesday, continued the special run in spectacular fashion. Another strong bet from Roger Bush, Tour De Ville hacked up at 7/2, although annoyingly, I got distracted at work and missed the early 9/2.

Things got even better, as the now red hot Nothern Monkey struck with a 13/2 winner with Pipers Note, and then landed the each way double as Love Island, showed me the love by winning at 8/1. I didn't have a massive bet, but even so, this was one of my best results of the season.

Happy days.

York Day 4

After a few too many on Friday night in the local I was feeling a little tender on Saturday morning. It was the final day of the York meeting and I was in reasonable shape to turn my initial losses on the Wednesday into a small profit on the week.

As usual for a Saturday, I decided to record the racing and watch it on my return from the Morrissey at the Arena.

I didn't get home until after midnight, and watched most of the racing in a bit of a haze, but although it wasn't the best of days, it wasn't the worst either.

The highlight of the day was definitely the tip by Bet Alchemist, Son of Africa who romped home at early odds of 20/1, although alas to small stakes. My others winners on the day were Scottish at 5/1 tipped by Paul Jones, and Blue Point tipped by Paul Jones and Bet Alchemist.

In the Ebor, the best of mine were second and forth, but the I wasn't on the winner Heartbreak City who won very easily.

Well, that was the end of York, and my figures showed me a profit of £300 on the week, so I can't complain. Not sure when I will be back, as the racing is now pretty dire until the Haydock meeting in early September, so I'll probably use the chance to have a rest and recharge my batteries. 

York Day 3

It was Friday, it was just a morning at work and I was hoping for torrential rain. Work was starting to get me down to be honest, I like something challenging, but it was now beginning to make me feel tension. I was just happy to be finishing at dinner time.

My main reason for wanting rain was because I'd had a big bet on the superstar mare Meccas Mate, and she needed some rain at York if she was to run. I'd gone through the race, and given that she's shown she was back to her best in Ireland last time out I just couldn't see her being beaten. I'd done ok with me own bets during the week so far and was pretty confident on Meccas, especially at odds of 11/2.

It was also a heavy day of punting from my tipsters, and I was narrowly defeated in the first as Shakopee, tipped by Horse Trader and Ben Linfoot could quite get up to beat Barsanti.
However, things changed for the better in race 3 as Nemoralia a strong bet from Bet Alchemist stormed home to land me a nice punt at 2/1.

It was then onto the main event of the day the Nunthorpe and my date with destiny and Meccas Angel. As the race approached, speculation was that there hadn't been much rain at all, and Limato the brilliant July Cup winner was heavily backed into 15/8 favourite. At the 2 furlong pole Meccas hit the front and although Limato was briefly a threat, the mare booted clear to land me the money. Happy days.

I also had a decent end to the day as well, as the Paul Jones tipped Rivet landed the maiden at 4.20, to small stakes, and then Banksea tipped by Horse Trader finished a close second in the last race of the day.

A good day, and I ended it getting rather drunk in the MOP.

York Day 2

I headed into day two of York in decent spirits after my late come back on the first day. Alas it was a full day at work, and I only saw the last race live. I love having time off work for festivals, but I'd had too much time off in recent weeks to justify taking more off.

Like the first day, it was a complete blow out in the first race of the day, as my horse Hemmingway tipped by Ben Linfoot and Be Alchemist faded tamely to finish well down the field. I also backed Rusumaat, who finished a remote 2nd, and although win only, but I did get my money back as a free bet with Sky Bet.

Things improved in the second race as, Queen Kindly tipped by Northern Monkey, finished fast to defeat the odds on jolly Fair Eva. I was on each way, and thought that was the best I would get, so it was a great surprise to bag an early winner. I was mob handed in the big mile handicap, and fortunately for me, Firmament tipped by Bet Alchemist showed admiral grit to gain a narrow win. I also got some each way cash from Third Time Lucky, tipped by Horse Trader.

My best result of the day came in the Yorkshire Oaks as I had a one-three from only 2 bets. I had a strong win bet on Seventh Heaven who was given by Paul Jones and Bet Alchemist, who won at 4/1 for me, and I was on each way on the strong travelling Queens Trust who easily claimed the each way money.

I didn't have much doing in the remaining 2 races, except a strong each way bet on To Eternity who landed the place money when finishing second.

All in all, not a bad day, as I moved into a slight profit after the first two days of York.

York Day 1

The first day of York started in horrific circumstances with a complete first race blow out, even though I’d managed to back my horses each way with 5 places up for grabs. This seems to be a familiar theme for me this year at the big meetings, the ritual first race blow out. It’s really deflating, but you have to keep telling yourself that its only the first battle of a war, and that results aren’t set by the first race of 24.

 

Not much success in either race 2 or 3, but race 4, the Juddmonte turned things around a bit, as my tipsters had a second and a third, Highland Reel for Bet Alchemist, and the unlucky Mutakayyef for Ben Linfoot, whilst I myself couldn’t resist having a sizable bet on the brilliant Postponed having seen it had drifted out to 9/4. It was a fantastic race, for me, and as a spectacle just so good, with Postponed looking like an absolute class act as he cruised through the race. I’d go in heavy for Postponed for the Arc, but fear that he wouldn’t be suited by the likely soft Autumn ground in France.

 

The stayers race, was a case of what could have been as Nakeeta tipped by Ben Linfoot and Northern Monkey, cruised into a decent lead (Probably took it up too early) before being outstayed by Oceane. I was on each way, but a win would have ensure a profitable day for me. As it was, this race was a loser for me. The margins are just so fine between winning and losing.

 

The last race of the day was good for me and was well needed. I had only one tipped horse, an each way bet from Horse Trader, Nautical Heaven(faded out of it), but decided on the hoof, to back the Paul Jones selections which were The Waggon Wheel and the 50/1 long shot Masham Star. Well, what a result, as The Waggon Wheel toughed it out to win at 13/2, and Masham Star finished like a train to land each way bets. I’ll be backing and recording the results of the Paul Jones horses for the rest of the meeting now.

 

There were a few evening bets, and a win by Dommerson, tipped up by Northern Monkey meant that I finished the day in a relatively positive frame of mind.

 

I think overall, probably due to the first race and the poor performance of Bet Alchemist and Horse Trader that I was slightly down on the day. But if Nakeeta had won, it would have been a great day. I will provide an overview of York once the week has finished.

 

Steven Ashton

Wednesday 17th August 2016

First day of York, it’s a decent card, and alas I’m in at work. The only good thing is that hopefully I can finish early after an afternoon site visit, although I am not banking on that, as I have a meeting that may drag on beyond 3pm.

 

Busy first day of punting and it’s not even 8 am, I already have 4 bets from each of Horse Trader, Ben Linfoot, and Bet Alchemist, and 3 from Northern Monkey. In fact most of my bets are already placed for the day. Just got to keep my discipline this week and make sure i don’t chase any losses.

 

Fingers crossed for a decent start to the festival today.

Tuesday 16th August 2016

Getting quite excited now as we approach the big York Ebor meeting.

Shame that I am not having any days off work, but I am doing two long days on Monday and Tuesday which should enable me to finish early for the rest of the week and catch most of the racing. I’ll be off for the afternoon on Friday.

 

Its two days off punting before as well, which is helping refresh me for the battle ahead. To make sure I’ve left the smart phone at home. There’s going to be enough going on in the next few days without frittering money away on junk racing.

 

For future strategy I will be concentrating entirely on the better racing and apart from exceptional circumstances won’t be punting on other days. For instance after York I will be completely off until the Haydock meeting in early September. I’ll be also not be punting on Sundays apart from such as the Arc or Paddy Power Meeting.

 

It seems to be that, I always end up taking a hit after a big win at a Festival, such as after Goodwood. Hopefully these new tactics will help get rid of some of the losses from my punting. Goodwood was fantastic and I used it to pay off a loan (I’m debt free now), but I have given a bit of the winnings back since.

 

I am also doing a bit on the football now that the season has started, I follow the Sporting Life accumulator, and I am betting to very small stakes on a couple of other tipsters, one of which who bets on draw doubles, and another on half time/full time bets. Just small stakes until we see how these pan out.

 

I’ll be back later in the week with an update.