It’s October. The time of year when the non-summer jumps horses are gearing up for the new National Hunt season and the flat horses, used to sunshine and warmth are beginning to “go in their coat”. I’m not too sure what that phrase means, to be honest with you. I just hear it said a lot on the TV when describing horses who are clearly getting themselves ready for a rest over the colder months or before they retire from the racetrack and get sent off to stud. Whatever, the point is that the weather is changing and with it, so is the ground.
I’ve never really subscribed to the theory that making money from betting on horses is always much trickier in October and March, when the two racing seasons – flat and jumps – are either starting up or coming to an end. I can see that this time of year can often mean changing going conditions, and I do truly believe that periods of good profits often coincide with periods of consistent ground, whether that be on the firm or soft side of good. But historically, I’ve had some cracking March and Aprils, as I have September/Octobers. I’ve also had some rotten ones. In short, I see no discernible pattern.
One thing is for sure though, is that my racing services are really struggling at the moment. After showing some hints of spluttering back into some form a week or so ago, Precision Value has regressed again. I don’t think it’s anything too sinister. It feels, although I could be wrong, that it’s suffered from an untimely bout of seconditis, an illness that scientists are yet to find a cure or vaccine for. I suppose currently, they have other, more pressing vaccine-oriented priorities.
Bet Alchemist is best described as turgid so far this month, although it is not posting disastrous figures. As for Racing Intelligence, well, things can only get better from the last two or three weeks, I guess. From sailing along without a care in the world, suddenly we’re looking down the barrel of a losing month, and a pretty significant one at that. The one thing I know about this service though, is that the going can go from one extreme to the other in a blink of an eye.
Sadly this week, things haven’t been saved by the golf. Those two – Golf Insider and PGA Profit – need to sort themselves out. It’s all very well picking out triple digit winners, but I want them every week, goddammit! Pull your fingers out, fellas!
Portfolio performance for October (to the 25th)
Bet Alchemist (100 point bank): Staked 39pts, -5.538pts
Golf Insider (400): Staked 52.5pts, +106pts
PGA Profit (500): Staked 52pts, +93pts
Precision Value (200): Staked 71pts, -22.25pts
Racing Intelligence (200): Staked 306pts, -28.9pts
Scottish Football Income Booster (100): Staked 23pts, -3.479pts
Racing Service 2 (50): n/a
Total for October: ROI 3.83%, ROC 1.45%
