Can’t help thinking the above would have been a better song for Slade to sing. Certainly it’s one that would have held more meaning. Perhaps I’m getting bit cocky here, but so far Cheltenham has been like having a licence to print money! One day to go…I’d quite happily just consolidate my profit now.
Today was the turn of Racing Service A to shine. He’d struggled over the first two days and hadn’t registered a return, but that all changed in the first race of the day, the JLT Novice’s Chase. TVB’s tip, Shattered Love, was backed as if defeat was out of the question as the 9s I’d taken when the tip came through had shortened to 4s by the time the tape flew up at the start of the race. And there was only our horse in it at the last – very nice.
The 2.50 – the Ryanair Chase – was a triumph for Northern Monkey who had the winner, Balko Des Flos, at 6/1, albeit to a fairly small stake.
All was pretty quiet after that, a couple of minor place returns preventing from any race becoming a disaster financially. The Stayer’s Hurdle proved to be a little expensive as there was no return at all from eight bets in the race. That can happen frequently during the Festival, and losses mount up quickly, but this race apart it just hasn’t happened this year.
Racing Service A chipped in again in the 4.10, one of those big, open handicaps that look all but impossible to solve, when each way bet King’s Odyssey finished in the frame at 33/1. But the highlight of the day came in the last when Northern Monkey’s Missed Approach won in what I felt was a particularly game way at 20/1! Wayne’s sheer consistency at this meeting this year has been truly remarkable – can he repeat the trick by bagging a winner or two tomorrow, Gold Cup day?
One thing I’ve noticed this year is that each day so far has been a superb one for one particular service or another. Northern Monkey had loads of winners on Tuesday, Bet Alchemist had a stormer yesterday, and it was interesting to see the Morning Value Festival service find three winners today at 6/1, 10/1 and 11/1!
Figures for today:
Jason James: Staked 6pts, -3.5pts.
Northern Monkey: Staked 5.625pts, +4.019pts.
Racing Service A: Staked 5.5pts, +9.125pts.
Racing Service B: Staked 8.5pts, -8.5pts.
Racing Service C: Staked 6pts, -2.3pts.
ROI for the day: 34.67%.
