BEST of the BETS

Yes it’s always a tough one whether to cash out or not. I sometimes take a partial cash out if it’s a decent amount. But it’s only small money today so don’t have to make a decision.

Thanks guys.

Yes, Joe, 50p each way yankee, being offered £19.55 cash out at the moment lol, not going to take that. Would have been nice if Hidden Dilemma held on, went evens in running.

Bet 3

Billyoaks (5:00 Wolverhampton)

LSP: -2.00

Thanks mate.

Fell, but was already beaten at the time. Maybe I need to start laying these instead of backing lol.

LSP: -8.04 (win), -11.65 (place)

5:00 Wolverhampton - BILLYOAKS got his first win at 7 furlongs here last month, all 8 of his previous wins had come at 5 & 6 furlongs. That was a really weak race, but 2nd, 3rd & 4th were all 7f winners so at least it shows that he stays the trip well enough and is worth another try over it. Closely matched with Bold Decision over 6f here on next start, the latter probably has more improvement to come though, and wide draw at Lingfield last time was no help, so I feel he has a good chance of being in first 3 today from a good draw. This probably not a bad race for a class 6, Elusif won at Kempton on Saturday but 5 lbs penalty makes things tougher, Caledonia Laird won this race last year from 1 lb lower mark but for a different trainer.

Selection - Billyoaks @ 8/1

Good luck.

Bet 2

Battleoverdoyen (3:00 Leopardstown)

LSP: -1.00

3:00 Leoapradstown - Gordon Elliott is 0 from 7 in this race, but BATTLEOVERDOYEN maybe his best chance so far. The closest Elliott has got so far in this race was the 2nd place for Don Cossack six years ago, DC was rated 152 at the time, Battleoverdoyen has already earned a rating 155 after 3 wins from 3 over fences. Faugheen, winner of 10 Grade 1s, is greatly respected, he has done well winning on both chase runs, but a 12 year old against a 7 year old still on the up means it isn’t too difficult a decision for me. It’s not just a 2 horse race of course, but I feel Battleoverdoyen has best chase form and there is still more to come from him.

Selection - Battleoverdoyen @ 15/8

Good luck.

Was right to oppose the favourite, but not with the right horses, poor run from both.

LSP: -7.04 (win), -10.65 (place)

Bet 1

Band of Blood (4:26 Musselburgh)

Thanks mate.

4:26 Musselburgh - Southfield Vic is the best horse in here, and comes here looking for a 5-timer, but if he maybe vulnerable anytime it maybe first time out as his record fresh is not great (0 from 4 when running after 6 month+ break, 3 of those occasions he was favourite including odds on twice). Mr Mercurial was disappointing when beaten at odds on in a weaker race on his last run under rules, and was only 6th in a point to point recently. Nine Altars was well beaten in this race 2 years ago, and Border Breaker is very difficult to fancy on recent form. That leaves me with other three as possibles to take advantage if the favourites underperform. There are some positives and negatives about all 3, so I have backed 2 out of them. BAND OF BLOOD has a very good record fresh, and also very good record at this time of year with 3 wins from 6 runs in February, but he is with a new trainer now so we have to see if he still runs well first time. He is rated 9 lbs behind the favourite, and along with Big Casino he has one of the better jockeys on board. Big Casino is 14 years old now and having his first run under rules for nearly 3 years, though he has been running well in points. Other one I have backed is BUCK DANCING, rated 115, only 5th (beaten 25 lengths) at Taunton last month but that looked a very good hunter chase so I think he can do better today, has inexperienced jockey though (she is also the trainer).

Out of the two I fancy Band of Blood more but will split my stake equally. Small bet keeping in mind, that for either of these two to win, we need the favourite to underperform.

Selections - Band of Blood (7/1) & Buck Dancing (12/1)

Good luck.

End of month LSP: -1.83

Wins - 6/4,11/8,13/2,15/8,4/6,5/4,7/1

Well done Valuefinder, great total.

Thanks mate. It only counts as half a winner as I backed two in race, but better than losing. Well backed before the off to 7/1 and just held on.

LSP: -6.04 (win), -9.65 (place)

Bet 29

Bellick (8:00 Dundalk)

LSP: -8.83

Wins - 6/4,11/8,13/2,15/8,4/6,5/4

4th yesterday.

LSP: -9.39 (win), -10.72 (place)

8:00 Dundalk - couldn’t decide between 2 horses here, so backed both to half point split stake. TYNAMITE & BELLICK both ran well here 3 weeks ago (in different races). Tynamite was 1 1/4 length 2nd over 7 furlongs, and Bellick was beaten under a length over 5 furlongs. They have met twice before, both times over this c&d (April 2019), Tynamite was ahead by 1/2 length from 5 lbs worse terms than today, and a length behind from 9 lbs worse terms than today. Both those runs suggest that Tynamite should be comfortably ahead today, but Bellick still seems to be improving and form of his last run looks better than the favourite’s so I can’t ignore him especially as he is a much bigger price now. Paved Paradise is potentially well handicapped but she has beaten a total of 5 runners on her last 3 starts so clearly needs to come back to form.

Selections - Tynamite (9/4) & Bellick (11/1)

Good luck.

Bet 28

Battleofthesomme (4:20 Ffos Las)

LSP: -7.83

Wins - 6/4,11/8,13/2,15/8,4/6,5/4

Have to admit it was a really bad decision yesterday backing an odds on shot in a claimer, I should know that horses running in these type of races are not the most reliable.

LSP: -8.39 (win), -9.72 (place)

4:20 Ffos Las - BATTLEOFTHESOMME was a bit disappointing last twice but had earlier won well at Southwell on stable debut, and there is still possibility of improvement. And this looks a very winnable race with next 4 horses in betting having a combined record of 0 from 74. Jamie Snowden has a good record here with 11 wins from 52 that improves to 10 from 27 (+9 LSP) with runners that are in first 3 in betting. Bredon Hill Road has a good record here, but is 13 years old now, he has place chances as does Royal Act who is 1 lb higher than when a close 2nd over c&d in November.

Selection - Battleofthesomme @ 7/2

Good luck.

Nice winner, well done.

Bet 27

Ballyellis (2:45 Leicester)

LSP: -6.83

Wins - 6/4,11/8,13/2,15/8,4/6,5/4

2:45 Leicester - can’t be very confident because of the type of race it is, but BALLYELLIS is in good form with 4 wins and 4 2nds from his last 8 runs. Won another claimer by 17 lengths at Huntingdon under this jockey on 3rd last start, this looks a weaker race if anything so no reason why he shouldn’t run well. At these weights he is 8 lbs ahead of the 2nd fav Baracalu. Percy finished last on all weather last week, but earlier 2nd behind Baracalu gives him a chance, he is closest to the selection on weight terms as he is only 3 lbs behind so I will put him in for the forecast spot.

Selection - Ballyellis @ 10/11, fun forecast with Percy

Good luck.

2 winners and a 2nd, great work Brian.

Great shout, Joe. I admit I had doubts because of a lack of recent run, but he did it very well.