Wednesday 15th April

Beverley
1.30
Jack My Boy 1.5pts win - WON 6/4

Kempton
7.20
Set The Trend 2pts win - WON 5/2 (adv)
Keep Ringing 0.5pt win - 4th

7.50
Gold Again 0.5pt E/W - 6th

8.50
Murcar 0.5pt win - unpl
Starburst 0.5pt win - unpl

9.20
Taqdeyr 1pt win - WON Evs (adv)


A decent day, all the biggest bets won securing a profit of 5.75pts on the day.

I thought Newmarket was a card to watch rather than invest in. Fantasia was mightily impressive in the Nell Gwyn and it will be a fascinating duel when if takes on Rainbow View again. I've a feeling Fantasia has improved greatly over the winter and given she is bred to improve over further she is a top class prospect.

Monitor Closely and Moneycantbuymelove were unlucky behind Nehaam in the Timeform sales race. The former was far too keen early and wasn't helped by the winner hanging inside the last, he was an unlucky loser. Moneycantbuymelove was denied a clear run and given too much to do by Jamie Spencer - got a feeling that won't be the last time I write those words this season.

Just one horse interested me at Beverley and that was Jack My Boy in the first - my first 2yo bet of the season. Pleasantly surprised to see odds against for this one and there was hardly a moments danger as he made all to win by over 2l. I wrote last week regarding the benefit of experience in early 2yo races and this race proved no exception, the 1-2 and 4 of the first 6 home having already seen a racecourse.

Later on the card it was no surprise to see Sirvino score after attracting market support. He can pay his way in handicaps this term.

Kempton was the most interesting card of the day for me, with regards to betting opportunities obviously. I was excited about the reappearance of Set The Trend, I gave Andrew Balding's colt a glowing reference in the "Flat (turf) 2009 Story So Far..." post last week. I fully expected him to score off this mark of 80 and he was a confident selection. There was a lot of nonsense spoken in the media after the race, suggesting the 2nd, Anitinori, was an unlucky loser. Watlter Swinburn's runner up was short of room approaching the furlong marker but Set The Trend kept pulling out more when asked and he was only pushed out by Liam Keniry at the line. As stated last week, I expect Set The Trend to have a decent season, definitely a horse to follow.

Gold Again, also trained by Walter Swinburn, made her handicap debut in the following race and she ran a fair race from the dreaded one box. After tacking over to the rail she was denied a clear run but kept on despite not being knocked about. She looks potentially well treated and her time will come soon.

It looked like the handicapper had taken a massive chance giving Taqdeyr a mark of 85 and he sluiced up in the last. He looked a grade (at least) above his rivals and he won't be seeing him in Class 4 handicaps again.

Will keep records of N.H. and A/W bets since the blog started, alongside the full Flat (turf) record.

Flat (turf) 2009
Bets 28
Winners 11
P/L +11.19pts
ROI 32%

All-Weather
Bets 10
Winners 4
P/L +6.17pts
ROI 54%

National Hunt
Bets 2
Winners 2
P/L +5.3pts
ROI 265%

All bets proofed to the Racing Post