Week stats after Day 2:
Total Stake - 147.1 pts
Total Return - 94.5 pts
Profit/loss - -52.6 pts
Total Open - 33.3 pts
So I actually am slightly worse off at the end of today than I was yesterday.
My day 3 bets.
1.15 - Highland Chief
The trainers are in good form and I believe they rate this horse much more than just a 101 rated handicapper. The 20s with Corals and 18s with BV are silly. Sky are 10s and PP are 12s.
2.25 - Monarch Of Egypt
Didn't have a hard race in the Irish 2000g where he was squeezed for room on the inside rail which lost him his chance. Would have been interesting if he had been able to get through and this drop in class and trip offers him a great chance at a decent price(8s) IMO.
4.10 - Starcat
Ran well in the English Guineas and the yard rate him really highly so his rating of 94 is quite low IMO. I've taken the 10s with Hills. PP have him at 6s.
Added Ropey Guest in the Jersey at 45/1 EW. Yes he’s a maiden but at that price even the place part yields a nice return and has done nothing in his races to suggest he has a real problem with putting his head in front. Proven with cut in the ground finishing a close 2nd to Kenzai Warrior in the Horris Hill on heavy. Also 3rd in the Autumn Stakes on soft when beating Montatham who’s one of the favourites here today. Has Ascot form too with a cracking performance when 6th at 200/1 in the Coventry last year and a subsequent 3rd in Listed company at the course. Price is too big for a horse who is likely to run a solid race on a day when the soft ground may throw up a few surprises.
14:25 - King Leonidas 10/3 & Lord Of The Lodge 10/1 E/W - Are my two plays here. The yard and jockey of King Leonidas are absolutely flying at the moment, and is hard to ignore, as he too has made an impressive start to his career. This is a big step up but one I expect to take in his stride, before going on to better things. Lord Of The Lodge had run in some fairly useful 2yo races last term, the best effort, IMO, finishing a good 2nd behind the now 114 rated, Threat. It was a good run on reappearance this season over at Newcastle, I suspect mostly for race fitness, but I mostly expect improvement to come from the step up in trip, and he could go well at a nice price. One other, who I will back out of pure sentiment, everyone loves a cliff horse, is Ropey Guest 33/1 E/W (5 places). I remember backing him in the Coventry Stakes for 5 places, and he finished 6th at 200/1, I was gutted! Since then I have managed to grab some place money on him at nice prices and is one I feel always runs a fair race. He'll have it all to do yet again, but he doesn't seem to dislike Ascot, and he has finished top 3 in Group 3's or higher no fewer than 4 times from his 10 starts (6 Group 3 or higher races), I'll be trying to nick some place money with this one, anything else is a bonus!
Apologies COD I’d missed that you’d already made the case. Nice to know we’re thinking along the same lines! Fingers crossed!:encouragement::encouragement:
You always want more but hard to quibble with two big priced winners of two difficult handicaps.
Still no rain but it is surely a question of when, rather than if it arrives.
1.15 Filed in the too difficult.
1.50 Again no obvious standout.
2.25 King Leonidas EW. Big, scopey horse who has looked like a potential Group horse. Under The Stars NR. You would have thought this race would have been perfect but instead they have chosen to confirm that she doesn't stay a mile in the Coronation. Shame.
3.00 Battlegrond (Win). Promising debut and a top pedigree. Hopefully, one race where the draw shouldn't be a significant factor.
3.35 No bet but Stradivarius looks a class apart.
4.10 Hopefully, Crowley time again. Khaloosy EW. Not exactly thrown in but plenty of potential. Should stay further but rain a likely negative.
4.40 Waliyak EW. Likely she didn't quite produce her home form on the track last season but that has left her on a decent mark. Another who will stay further and this time rain shouldn't be an excuse.
For the best of the day I will go with Waliyak.