The dust has settled, and when looking back, what a fantastic four days of sport we’ve had this week. It’s a cliché I know, but for highs and lows, there really is nothing to compare to the Cheltenham Festival.
To me, jump racing has soul, and whilst Royal Ascot and the other huge meetings on the Flat in the summer have their attractions, I don’t find them as stirring or as satisfying as I do Cheltenham, Kempton over Christmas, or Aintree in April. Success at the top level of the sport as an owner is far more accessible to far more people over the sticks than it is the flat, and that’s even when allowing for the mighty powers of Gigginstown and JP McManus. There are more stories that warm the heart, and then of course there is the utmost respect and admiration for both horse and jockey who literally risk their lives in every race for our viewing pleasure.
It helps, naturally, when you make a few bob on the week too, and that is definitely what has happened this year. Let’s first provide the highlights of Day 4…
Racing Service 1 got off to a flyer with the first two home in the hugely competitive County Handicap Hurdle, Ch’tibello (8/1) and We Have A Dream (33/1). With another selection placed in the last – Defi Bleu, 14/1 – it was another excellent day.
Northern Monkey couldn’t quite follow up the previous day’s heroics, and Racing Service 2 found it all a bit of a struggle again, although he did bow out with the winner of the last in Early Doors at 11/2.
Early Doors was a winner for Racing Service 3 too, as was Hazel Hill (11/2) in the penultimate race of the week. With Coeur Sublime each way coming in second at 25/1 in the opening Triumph Hurdle, it was a great day for this tipster too.
Racing Service 1: Staked 8pts, +8.375pts.
Northern Monkey: Staked 4.625pts, -3.593pts.
Racing Service 2: Staked 4pts, -0.75pts.
Racing Service 3: Staked 7pts, +11.875pts.
Day 4 ROI: 44.08%.
As for the week, it can only be called a great success. Racing Service 1 was the most consistent whilst as was the case last year, Northern Monkey had one amazing day that ensured an exceptionally good week. Racing Service 2 found it difficult after the first day and has admitted to questioning how he approaches Cheltenham week moving forward. Finally, Racing Service 3 demonstrated his class. Here are the figures for the week:
Racing Service 1: Staked 29pts, +18.75pts, ROI 64.65%.
MVS (Lite): Staked 1pt, +1.75pts, ROI 175%.
Northern Monkey: Staked 19.25pts, +16.482pts, ROI 85.62%.
Racing Service 2: Staked 19pts, -7.75pts, ROI -40.78%.
Racing Service 3: Staked 33.25pts, +18.275pts, ROI 54.96%.
Total ROI: 36.89%. This equates to bank growth for the portfolio as a whole of 5.75% – that’s some achievement in four days!
