Sunday 3rd May

Newmarket
2.00
Precision Break 0.25pt E/W - 7th
Dance The Star 0.25pt E/W - unpl

2.35
Casilda 0.25pt E/W - 2nd 25/1 (adv) - N/R all bets revert to win only

3.50
Thebes 0.25pt E/W - 2nd 16/1 (adv)
Fullandby 0.25pt E/W - unpl

5.35
Mutamaashi 1pt win - N/R

Hamilton
3.00
This Ones For Eddy 1pt win - 3rd
Colonel Sherman 0.25pt E/W - unlp

5.20
Virtuality 0.25pt E/W - 8th

4.5pts staked, 1.25pts returned (-3.25pts).

Precision Break ran a nice race on his reappearance (2.00 Newmarket), especially as it was reported he lost a shoe. He will be interesting when returned to longer trips.

I was very disappointed to see a N/R in the 2.35, the value E/W bet on Casilda reverted to a win bet. As I expected the filly ran a race that belied her odds and she was a decent 2nd to Heaven Sent. I hope any callers that placed their bets after the N/R realised the E/W terms had changed and had a saver F/C (paid over £6). I was disappointed to see Casilda in this race as I believe she was a handicap good thing off her current mark, however you cannot blame connections and they now have some valuable black type and £14,000 in prize money. The handicapper will have his say on this effort so from a punting point of view she could be the one that got away.

Rainbow View was disappointing in the 1000 Guineas with connections immediately blaming the fast ground. She wouldn't be the first horse from the yard to disappoint in a Guineas (Raven's Pass, Nanina), and like those two, I expect her to improve steadily throughout the year and find Group 1 success at a later date. Serious Attitude travelled as well as any but looked a non-stayer. The winner Ghanaati was an unknown quantity and it wasn't the biggest shock to me when it was her that took advantage of the leading protagonist's below par runs. I knew Laudatory was well handicapped off 77 last month at Kempton!

Thebes is very consistent, and although I believe he will benefit from some headgear, I could not ignore him at the morning price of 16/1. Connections reverted to the previously successful front running tactics and I believed that helped. He travelled strongly throughout and looked the winner until Evens And Odds came with a surging run. Thebes is happier when bowling along in front, however I still thought he failed to finish his race once again. I don't recall many (if any) Mark Johnston horses wearing headgear so I don't think my pleas will be answered. Fullandby was another who hated the ground this weekend.

For the 2nd time this week I beat the odds massively with This Ones For Eddy and for the 2nd time this week he was beaten despite running well, this time in the "jump jockey's race" at Hamilton. For all my admiration of the jump boys, for the most part they have been tactically inept in the two recent races of this type, then again I don't suppose Jamie Spencer would impress on a novice chaser at Plumpton. I still believe there is another race in This Ones For Eddy, he rallied once headed, unusual for a front runner so I have to think Barry Keniry got plenty wrong with the ride, also Graham Lee failed to give Rosko (2nd) a chance to actual win the race.

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

Combined
Bets 126
Winners 47
P/L +40.02pts
ROI 27%

All-Weather
Bets 30
Winners 12
P/L +17.10pts
ROI 50%

Flat (turf) 2009
Bets 87
Winners 30
P/L +13.91
ROI 13%

National Hunt
Bets 9
Winners 5
P/L +9.01pts
ROI 90%

All bets proofed to Racing Post