Saturday’s Selections & Results (13 August)

I’m off to Ripon today and so I’ve concentrated on this card for Saturday.  A word of warning though - there's something very unlucky about my picks for a race meet that I'm attending  (over-thinking probably!) so none of these will have the house, my car or my daughter staked on them!

My Selections are:

Ripon

·         14:20  Vitalicious (8.8) UP The Easterbys had the first 3 places ! 

For this race, you have to look at the draws the previous winners have come from (and remember that the stall numbering changed this March!)  Just one in ten has come from a low draw.    (I do like Blue Shoes 1st at an e/w price too though!)

·         14:55  Prince Of Dance (9) UP Dismal/sad result - finished lame :(

This worked with the ‘system’ and the going should hold no fears for the selection.

·         15:30  Addictive Dream UP (12.5) & Gallagher (38) UP Rarely have 5 bets on one race but glad I did in this one (paid first 4 places)!  Nice ££££s.  First three places drawn 17, 20, 19

Now I may be marking up the wrong tree here but didn’t they change the stall numbering on right handed courses this March?  So when you look up the draw of previous winners of this race, a low draw would now be a high draw.....the past 10 runnings have seen 6 winners drawn low (now high) and 4 winners from a mid draw.  But all the reports are shouting about the low draw having the advantage....like I say, I may be way off but if not, then there’s some value around!  I could also add Pepper Lane 1st and Mayson 3rd to this 'short' list ....and @TheGambolar selection Johannes....

·         16:05  Verbeeck (3.9) UP Last?? Could see it didn't handle the track at all -worst of all is that Jessies Spirit (who won) looked the pick of the paddock and if I'd remembered @ToffeeDans advice I would have backed her (she's a grey)

System selection coughed it up!

·         16:40  Izzy The Ozzy (5.7) 3rd 170y too far!

Course winner who looked as if further would suit and who should handle the softer going.  Graham Gibbons up who knows his way around this course.

·         17:15  Guinea Seeker (4.2) UP I'm saying nothing!

A horrible race!  Guinea Seeker handled the soft ground well enough when 3^rd at Newcastle so if pushed, this is the one I’d pick.  Surely This Time 2nd is one who could benefit from the return to a sharp right handed track so I may invest a little if an e/w price is available!

·         17:45  Alfouzy (7.2) UP I can only think that something was wrong with her...

From the last 11 races here at this distance (12f), 7 have come from the low draw.  Countrywide Flame holds some appeal but looks high enough in the weights.  Alfouzy has the bonus of stable form, a 5lb claimer and stamina assured (could have won LTO if not hampered). 

The big story in racing yesterday was the verdict of the BHA and Howard Johnson’s 4 year ban and subsequent retirement.  You do have to wonder about the integrity of a man who has:

• Trained and run a horse  that had undergone Palmar Neurectomy (surgery to remove nerves) against the rules 
• Gave anabolic steroids to three other horses in training
• Was physically attacked by his own son to the extent that he suffered serious injury
• Parted company with more stable jockeys than Rocky has had black eyes (4 in 5 yrs)
• Was burgled at gunpoint last year
• Had a fire rip though his stables and cause £1000s of damage 

 If it’s true that you make your own luck in life then perhaps Johnson has  been using the wrong ingredients!