Wednesday 22nd April

Epsom
3.05
Dream Desert 1pt win - 6th
Coin Of The Realm 0.25pt E/W - 4th 33/1 (adv)

4.15
Duncan 0.5pt win - WON 12/1 => 8/1
Sweet Lightning 0.25pt win - 6th
Theocritus 0.25pt win - unpl

5.25
Hector Spectre 0.25pt E/W - unpl

Catterick
3.30
Foreign Investment 0.5pt E/W - 2nd 9/2 => 3/1

Kempton
6.50
Holoko Heights 1pt win - 3rd


A profit shown for the 4th day in succession (+2.56pts). The Epsom spring meeting is not what it once was but it always throws up a decent handicap or two, today was no exception.

I thought the sprint was too competitive and went straight to the 1m4f Great Metropolitan Handicap at 3.05. Mick Channon's Dream Desert was the least exposed runner in the field and has been unlucky to run into some decent animals in handicaps so far in his career. He wasn't disgraced in defeat behind those and as a result looked potentially well treated. Holland made his move soon after Tattenham Corner, which may have been a little soon for this doubtful stayer, he briefly looked the winner but didn't get home. He doesn't fully stay 1m4f and needs to be dropped to 10f in order to show his best. The 2nd part of the bet was E/W on Coin Of The Realm who joined Gary Moore from Ed Dunlop last Autumn. The gelding was fit from a recent spin over hurdles and on the pick of last season's form looked over priced at 33/1. He travelled well throughout before being denied a clear run twice inside the last 2f, the race was over by the time he was in the clear and his pilot wasn't overly hard on him. He was a comfortable 4th and can be considered a little unlucky.

The Blue Riband Trial Stakes was won by John Gosden's Debussy, but it was Popmurphy back in 3rd who caught my eye for the second time in his short career. The well regarded Derby entry was still very green but stayed on well once the penny dropped and finished the race as well as the winner. He is clearly useful and could run relatively well in the Derby.

Next up was another historical handicap, the City and Suburban over 10f, for which twenty went to post. It was an open looking handicap that I was happy to go three handed in. Duncan, making his first start for John Gosden was well positioned throughout by Jimmy Fortune and went on to score impressively. The performance came as no surprise as he always looked a decent horse in maidens last season and was well thought of by his former trainer John Dunlop. He could cope with the step up to pattern company. There were numerous hard luck stories in behind, none more so than Sweet Lightning who was repeatedly denied a clear run, he only saw daylight in the final 100yds or so but still managed to fly into 6th place. With a clear run he would've finished 2nd and possibly given the winner a race. It was also reported that he was struck into.

Hector Spectre was eased before coming off the bridle in the last, Ted Durcan will no doubt report that he didn't act on the course.

At Catterick I thought Foreign Investment was still the right side of the handicapper, the horse she beat on her previous start, Abu Dubai, went on to run well off a higher mark next time out and a 4lb rise for beating that rival looked fair. I thought she was a cast-iron E/W bet at the 5/1 (or thereabouts) that was available all morning - she was heavily backed into 3/1 on course. She travelled like the winner for the most part but was no match for Rising Kheleyf in the final furlong. It's possible she ran into a better treated rival and she is worth another chance off this mark.

Just the one horse interested me at Kempton, Holoko Heights, who finished 3rd in the 6.50. He looked an unlucky loser for the 2nd successive race. The official formline suggests he is an awkward ride however that is a little unfair in my opinion, I believe this defeat was soley down to pilot error. I feel he could've been urged towards the front rank a little earlier, instead of his rider persisting with hold up tactics off a modest pace. He was short of room when asked for his effort and was never in a position to win this race. He looks sure to find a similar event very soon.


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

Combined
Bets 73
Winners 27
P/L +23.02
ROI 26%

Flat (turf) 2009
Bets 47
Winners 16
P/L +5.25ts
ROI 9%

All-Weather
Bets 21
Winners 8
P/L +10.22pts
ROI 42%

National Hunt
Bets 5
Winners 3
P/L +7.55pts
ROI 168%

All bets proofed to Racing Post