I’ve been penning on these pages for well over a year now, writes Jon Shenton. As a novice who has never written anything for public consumption previously, it’s been very challenging. It’s also been highly enjoyable, and I’ve learnt plenty regarding racing, and basic grammar, along the way!
For regulars, you'll know the form: a bit of data, a chunk of blurb and perhaps a few nice angles (and some occasionally less nice ones) on the journey.
But this edition is a bit different, a little more reflective and general in nature, aiming to mull some of the challenges associated with a systematic betting approach. I very much hope that it’s not too self-indulgent [it's not. Ed.] and is of some interest to the data driven bettor.
Angles and Demons
My name is Jon Shenton and I have 679 angles / betting systems saved in my portfolio. Many aren’t active but most are.
I’ve been building, maintaining and running angles since April 2016. Prior to that, an annual trip to Gold Cup day was my only exposure to racing and resulted in nine straight years without a hint of trouble for the bookies. However, three winners at Cheltenham on a Friday in March, using detailed but on reflection misguided study, changed everything. My success that day was without doubt 100% attributable to good fortune rather than skill, but in my mind I was up and running.
From that moment, I spent seemingly every spare second researching, analysing and listening in order to develop a deeper understanding of racing. I began betting only pennies (paper trading is not for me!) initially, but over time those pennies have turned into a few pounds as confidence levels and results have improved.
It all sounds perfect, doesn't it? Making a small amount of pocket money on the nags is something that never seemed to be a realistic proposition; having a leisure activity, that hands out a bit of spendo is a wonderful pursuit.
However, in recent times my enjoyment levels from racing, and betting on it, have been waning a little. I haven’t given it a huge amount of thought until now. But when I was challenged to write this article it became a catalyst to think about the bigger picture and to step back from the day to day noise. It was then that I realised that I haven’t really been plugged into the sport in the same way over the past few months.
Ultimately, I think it’s because the process of systematically wagering on racing through angles is exceptionally transactional in nature. Zooming out and evaluating from a distance it can feel - and had started to feel - in large part like a glorified admin function. And, frankly, there aren’t many people in the world who relish a good bit of relaxing admin in their own spare time.
A typical weekday starts in the evening when all the following day's qualifying bets are written down from the relevant website(s) and tools. Then, at 5.15am on the day of racing, the alarm delivers its familiar but always rude awakening. A quick shower, and with a cup of tea all bets are placed for the day. Then it’s out of the door bright and early to the day job.
Working full-time as I do, it’s nigh on impossible to keep across racing during working hours (deliberately avoided for obvious reasons hopefully) and I check the results when I get home. Then it’s the treat of recording all of the results on a tracking spreadsheet and repeating the process. Every single day.
Some days are quieter than others: in 2019 thus far there have been north of 3,200 angle-generated bets that have been struck. Not sure how I feel about that in the cold light of day - perhaps I need to be more selective - but it certainly illustrates the associated admin challenge.
The graph below shows the result of these type of wagers from that start point in 2016.
Predominantly, these numbers have been delivered through win only level stake betting (more on staking later): it’s non-emotive, low engagement wagering; and there is very little in the way of subjectivity or personal thought in the process. That process is rigid: identify a qualifier, write it down, place a bet, check the result and record the outcome.
The results are strong undoubtedly, with margin ordinarily 10-15% over the course of a year. At this point it should be noted that a portion of this return is attributable to best odds guaranteed. Transacting at early prices with BOG presents an element of 'natural value' with the relatively high volume of bets that are placed. The retreat of this offer to later in the day is creating a hurdle that in time will need to be overcome to maintain my current margin. Placing bets any later than 6am is not going to be possible due to other commitments, so I’m going to need to find a way to evolve or accept a lower rate of return.
Putting these thoughts to print has helped me to recognise that it’s the research, number crunching and theory testing that keeps the fire burning. Sure, the results have a certain satisfaction associated with them, but there is no doubt that the overall process is a little cold, clinical and mechanical. The highly structured, highly disciplined, admin heavy approach works financially but my level of engagement with the sport is lacking.
Action Man
The alternative to stuffy system/angle betting is the good old emotional roller coaster of traditional wagering: taking stock of all the usual elements and variables of a given race and pinning your colours to the mast around one animal.
I am partial to a “normal” bet too, the general parlance used on geegeez.co.uk is “action” betting so we’ll stick with that terminology from here on in.
Angle/system betting is the rhythm section of the gambling universe, whereas action bets might be seen as the freewheeling, edgy lead guitarist.
Here is a graph illustrating the outcome of my guitar licks over the past 2-and-a-half years.
Not exactly Slash or Hendrix is it?
The graph follows a profile like a Next Big Thing that burns brightly for a time before hitting the skids and hurtling back into relative obscurity.
2019 has clearly been the year of excessive drink, substance abuse, creative differences and a spectacular fall from grace (metaphorically, of course) for my action bets. For context, there have been 645 of them in 2019 to date with 81 successes (counting an E/W collection as 0.2 of a win). Depressingly, I’m not entirely sure why this year has been so difficult, though I suspect there is an element of attempting to be too smart and punting beyond my means and capabilities. A little knowledge can be dangerous, especially when there is a natural attraction to against the crowd punting and (ostensibly) generous prices!
A result of the downturn has been an easing back on the volume of action bets. Roughly speaking, I’ve had less than half the action bets over the past three months that I would have had based on the previous two-year volume averages.
Easing off on the action seems a sensible approach. A brutal personal assessment (stats don’t lie?) is that my race reading ability is not in the same league as the cold data-driven angle approach; so why bother wasting time trying to pick winners when the angles do it better? There is certainly limited financial reason to play in action betting, based on the recent numbers, and locking money away in a cash ISA would make more sense commercially. But not even Derren Brown could convince me that a risk-free return in a tax-free saving account was more fun than poring through race cards, form, pace maps and whatever else.
Through trying to get under the skin of a race and piecing it together, it affords an opportunity to further learn and to develop a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in racing - and in betting on racing. It is sport after all, and an action bet can solidify the link to it. The spectacle and sense of occasion obviously stands on its own merit but evaluating a race closely (betting or not) creates a deeper and more vested interest in the outcome. Most importantly, it generates interest, excitement, and fun.
My life has revolved around sport since I was knee high to the proverbial green jumpy insect. However, my career has generally revolved around the use of data. Racing is perfectly positioned to straddle both. The rational side of me struggles with undue risk and losing money; the sporting and emotional side connects with the characters, animals and theatre of the event, and wants to be financially implicated.
But a recent conscious choice to withdraw from action betting had resulted in less time invested in the sport and, as a result, my previously voracious appetite to consume as much information and knowledge as possible has ebbed a little.
On introspection, then, I know that action betting must be here to stay: I just need to get better at it! It’s a wonderful sport, and to measure the enjoyment of it by financial return and transactions alone is the wrong way of looking at it. Being less uptight about action bets is key. And keeping them separate / treating them as fun, rather than angle-driven investments, is a clear and necessary way forward.
Action Learnings
The single biggest challenge with action betting is finding the capacity to do it properly. Finding time to study in any depth is difficult for me due to other commitments, like - you know - work and family! Undoubtedly, that’s where the toolkit on geegeez assists hugely in cutting through some of the noise.
What geegeez cannot do is support with the mental challenges associated with a ticking clock and wagering. It’s a personal thing but occasionally in the evening I’ll put on ATR or Racing TV and decide to have a quick check of the card just before the off. The intent is to evaluate the race at high level and see how that goes. Who’s going to lead? Who has course form? And so on...
However, it’s hard not to get attracted to a bet even in that very short window. Each to their own, but over the past couple of months I’ve refrained from these type of wagers as, for me, they invariably end in disappointment.
A similar limitation related to time, laziness or general apathy is that once pinpointing a “good thing” it can be devilishly difficult to walk away without a wagering commitment. It is the potential opportunity cost of reversing from a successful bet where the problem lies. A race comprises of many possible winners, certainly not just the one identified as having the course form, front-running potential, good draw or whatever edge seems to be apparent. Finding contenders isn’t the main challenge. No, my main challenge relates to understanding how the highlighted horse compares against the rest of the field and knowing when to step back rather than ploughing in regardless.
I’ve committed to at least evaluating the top four or five in the market before making an action bet now. It sounds basic and obvious, but part of the process of trying to improve is assessing why things aren’t working. My hope is that, by implementing this basic rule, there will be an upturn in action-based performance. We’ll see.
General angle betting thoughts
Getting back to angle betting, I have a few other observations to share.
Firstly, should all qualifiers get backed blindly or not? A lot of people use an angle as a starting point and then apply subjective judgement to that qualifier in determining whether to put the money down.
This does not work for me. I am an advocate of backing blind. Here's why: the angle works because it’s not subjective, and it can throw up contrarian winners to which the market is largely blind. By applying a judgement filter there is a danger of conforming to the market view and losing the angle's edge.
Below is a case study that burns, even today.
This race from 2017 is taken from my 'I know better' phase where I’d evaluate each qualifier and exclude some from a bet based on my opinion.
The qualifier in question is Guishan from a Mick Appleby sprint angle, number 3 on the card above. This animal was discounted due to its sub-optimal draw in box 11 of 12. Everyone knows a horse can’t win from that draw over a sprint trip at Chester, don’t they? Anyway, as I sat down to watch it with a nice cup of tea and a smug feeling of avoiding an inevitable loss, I was gripped by unfolding sense of horror. Guishan tacked over from a high draw, secured a reasonable position and swept by all-comers in the home straight to win with a degree of comfort. At 25/1. There are lots of other case studies with resemblance to this one but I'll spare you - and me! - the details.
Moving on, if there is a good reason to adapt an angle I will. For example, certain trainers may qualify at specific tracks or under certain conditions but they have a poor record with horses first or second time out. In such a situation, I would have no qualms adjusting or improving the angle by excluding these, because that decision would be evidence-based. But those subjective, opinion-based exclusions need to be consigned to the wheelie bin of history.
Staking Plan
Before closing, a line or two on staking. There are countless words available on this subject and no doubt the vast majority are better informed than what follows. However, I hope my relative inexperience can be of some reassurance to those of you who are still finding your way.
Quite frankly, in terms of staking, keeping it simple is the most important for me. I have researched and read a fair amount on optimising stakes but, in all honesty, I don’t understand a great deal of it! I certainly have no real idea how much value there is in each bet to adjust stakes accordingly, and I’d be guessing if applying something like the Kelly Criterion in the real world. I’ve tried measuring value by creating my own tissue prices but I’m a million miles away from making that work for me effectively.
Basically, the less I think about from a staking perspective the better. In general, level stakes keep it a thought free process for me. That said, there is some room for manoeuvre, depending on the category of bet and my track record with them. My current staking plan is as follows:
- 2 points win – All-weather premium angle
- 1.5-point win – All-weather standard angle
- 1.5-point win – Flat turf premium angle
- 1-point win – Flat turf standard angle
- 1-point win – National Hunt angle
- 1-point win / 0.5 points EW – Action bet
The only subjective part is what makes a premium or standard angle. That’s down to performance and chi score (one for another day) which is a statistical measure to indicate the likelihood of results being attributable to chance or not.
An example of a premium angle is the Derek Shaw, Chelmsford Class 4-7 at 11/1 or shorter contained within the below edition of punting angles. That is proven over a period in a live environment.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/punting-angles-chelmsford-city-racecourse-part-1/
I think staking plans boil down to understanding ones strengths and weaknesses, and betting accordingly. If you do struggle or worry about staking, then in my experience a level stakes approach takes a lot of the noise and confusion away.
In fact, I think that’s what this article is predominantly about. Strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Writing it has certainly helped me to think about my betting - specifically, what I’m good at and what I have as development areas (corporate speak).
Even if the experiences I've shared in this article don’t help directly, taking a bit of time out to reflect on your betting approach, strategies and performance is a sensible and pragmatic thing to do occasionally. And no better moment than during this break.
I hope you enjoy the festivities, and here’s to an exciting, fun and profitable 2020 racing. It really is a special sport like no other.
- JS
Cheltenham Trends: 1st Jan 2020
/in Big Race Previews, Trends/by mattbisognoA massive day of action at Cheltenham this New Year’s Day as we begin 2019 with the ITV cameras taking in four races.
As always, we are on hand with a look at all the televised races from Prestbury Park from a trends angle – use these stats to help find the best winning profile of past winners of the race.
Cheltenham Racing Trends
1.25 – Paddy Power Broken Resolutions Already Dipper Novices´ Chase (Grade 2) Cl1 2m4f166y ITV
17/17 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
17/17 – Raced within the last 6 weeks
16/17 – Returned 6/1 or shorter in the betting
15/17 – Went onto run in a Cheltenham Festival race (1 winner)
14/17 – Came from the top three in the betting
14/17 – Raced within the last 4 weeks
13/17 – Won between 1-2 times over fences before
13/17 – Had won over fences at 2m3f or further before
13/17 – Aged between 6-8 years-old
10/17 – Placed favourites
10/17 – Irish bred
9/17 – Won last time out
8/17 – Had won over hurdles at Cheltenham before
7/17 – Returned 5/4 or shorter in the betting
7/17 – Ran at either Sandown or Cheltenham last time out
7/17 – Winning favourites
7/17 – Aged 7 years-old
2/17 – Won by the Pipe stable
2/17 – Ridden by Barry Geraghty
1/17 – Went onto win the Arkle Chase (My Way De Solzen, 2007)
2.00 –Paddy Power Handicap Chase (Grade 3) Cl1 2m4f166y ITV
17/17 – Had run over fences at Cheltenham before
16/17 – Raced within the last 2 months
15/17 – Had won at least twice over fences before
15/17 – Either French (6) or Irish (9) bred
14/17 – Had won over 2m4f or further (fences) before
14/17 – Raced within the last 4 weeks
14/17 – Priced 9/1 or shorter in the betting
13/17 – Rated 138 or higher
12/17 – Aged 8 or older
11/17 – Carried 11-0 or less
11/17 – Unplaced last time out
11/17 – Went onto run at that season’s Cheltenham Festival
10/17 – Had won over fences at Cheltenham before
9/17 – Ran at Cheltenham last time out
9/17 – Unplaced favourites
9/17 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
5/17 – Winning favourites
3/17 – Won by the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard
1/17 – Went onto win the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
Aso (3/1 fav) won the race in 2019
2.35 – Paddy Power 68 Sleeps To Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle Cl2 3m ITV
15/16 – Had raced within the last 4 weeks
13/16 – Aged between 5-7 years-old
13/16 – Had raced at Cheltenham before
12/16 – Had won a hurdles race over at least 2m4f before
11/16 – Had won at least twice over hurdles in the UK before
11/16 – Rated 130 or higher
11/16 – Unplaced last time out
10/16 – Carried 10-9 or more
9/16 – Went onto run in a race at that season’s Cheltenham Festival
9/16 – Came from outside the top 3 in the betting
8/16 – Unplaced favourites
8/16 – Ran at Cheltenham last time out
6/16 – Had won over at least 3m (hurdles) before
6/16 – French bred
5/16 – Had won over hurdles at Cheltenham before
3/16 – Won last time out
3/16 – Winning favourites
2/16 – Won by the Pipe stable
1/16 – Won by a mare
1/15 – Went onto win the Stayers’ Hurdle later that season (Big Buck’s, 2009)
3.10 – Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle Cl2 2m4f110y ITV
13/15 – Went on run in a race at the Cheltenham Festival (no winners)
13/15 – Won by either a French (5) or Irish (8) bred
13/15 – Had raced within the last 6 weeks
12/15 – Had raced at Cheltenham before
10/15 – Priced 11/2 or shorter in the betting
10/15 – Had won at least 4 times over hurdles before
10/15 – Had won over at least 2m4f (hurdles) before
9/15 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
9/15 – Had won at Cheltenham before
8/15 – Went onto run in the Stayers’ Hurdle later that season
6/15 – Raced at Cheltenham last time out
6/15 – Winning favourites
6/15 – Won last time out
4/15 – Trained by Nicky Henderson
4/15 – Ridden by Barry Geraghty
2/15 – Trained by the Pipe stable
Midnight Shadow (8/1) won the race in 2019
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Stat of the Day, 28th December 2019
/in Stat of the Day/by mattbisognoFriday's pick was...
5.10 Wolverhampton : Classic Design @ 4/1 BOG 6th at 7/2 (Went right start, soon tracked leader, led narrowly over 1f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra)
Saturday's pick runs in the...
3.35 Newbury :
Before I post the daily selection, just a quick reminder of how I operate the service. Generally, I'll identify and share the selection in the evening before the following day's race and I then add a detailed write-up later on that night/next morning.
Those happy to take the early price on trust can do so, whilst some might prefer to wait for my reasoning. As I fit the early service in around my family life, I can't give an exact timing on the posts, so I suggest you follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook for instant notifications of a published pick.
Who?
Tidal Flow @ 7/2 BOG
...in an 11-runner, Class 3, Novices Handicap Chase for 4yo+ over 2m7f on soft ground worth £7,018 to the winner...
Why?...
This 6 yr old gelding is 4 from 9 so far and got off the mark (at just the second time of asking) over fences last time out when winning by a mere 21 lengths eighteen days ago. That was over 2m4f on heavy ground at Uttoxeter and whilst this is 3f further for his handicap debut, the ground will ride slightly easier today, plus he has stayed 3m over hurdles on soft ground, whilst Richard Johnson retains the ride today.
Our race card icons (C5) suggest that both the aforementioned jockey and the trainer, Philip Hobbs have decent records on this track, so I'll take that as read and whilst keeping today's explanation fairly simple, I'll explore two other angles briefly for you.
Firstly, people of a certain age might remember "...it's Friday, it's five to five, it's Crackerjack...". Well along those lines: "...it's Saturday, it's a handicap and it's Hobbs & Johnson!"
Basically, this trainer/jockey combo are 46 from 288 (16% SR) for 16.4pts (+5.7% ROI) backed blindly in handicaps on Saturdays over the last six years. A good strike rate that's blindly profitable is always a decent starting point for a way in and of interest from those 288 runners, we have...
...whilst chasers sent off at Evens to 10/1 during November to January are 17/53 (32.1% SR) for 66.2pts (+124.9% ROI), including 5/14 935.7%) for 19.6pts (+139.8%) at Class 3.
Secondly, as our pick is making a handicap bow, it's worth noting that Philip Hobbs is having a good year with such runners, as his handicap debutants are 8 from 20 (40% SR) for 14.56pts (+72.8% ROI) in 2019 and these include...
...whilst 6 yr old LTO winners in fields of 10-13 runners are 2/3 (66.6% SR) for 6.3pts (+210% ROI)...
...giving us...a 1pt win bet on Tidal Flow @ 7/2 BOG as was widely available at 4.50pm on Friday, although I'm on with Hills (non-BOG until raceday) at 4/1. To see what your preferred bookie is quoting...
...click here for the betting on the 3.35 Newbury
Don't forget, we offer a full interactive racecard service every day!
REMINDER: THERE IS NO STAT OF THE DAY ON SUNDAYS
Here is today's racecard
P.S. all P/L returns quoted in the stats above are to Betfair SP, as I NEVER bet to ISP and neither should you. I always use BOG bookies for SotD, wherever possible, but I use BFSP for the stats as it is the nearest approximation I can give, so I actually expect to beat the returns I use to support my picks. If that's unclear, please ask!
Sat TV Trends: 28th Dec 2019
/in Trends/by mattbisognoThe National Hunt action continues this Saturday 30th December – with the ITV cameras at Newbury for a decent card that includes four LIVE races and the Grade One Challow Hurdle.
We’ve got all the key trends and stats for all the LIVE races to help you whittle down the fields.
Newbury Horse Racing Trends (RacingTV/ITV)
1.50 – Betway Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (4yo+) 2m4½f ITV4
7/7 – French (2) or Irish (5) bred
6/7 – Favourites placed
6/7 – Had raced in the last 4 weeks
6/7 – Had won 2 or more times before (hurdles)
5/7 – Had won over the trip (2m4f) before
5/7 – Aged 5 years-old
5/7 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
4/7 – Had raced at the track before
2/7 – Trained by Nicky Henderson
2/7 – Ran at Newbury last time out
2/7 – Winning favourites
Brave Eagle (13/2) won the race in 2018
2.25 - Betway Mandarin Handicap Chase (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-135) 3m2f ITV4
8/8 – Had raced in the last 8 weeks
8/8 – Had won over 3m+ (fences) before
7/8 – Returned 6/1 or shorter in the betting
7/8 – Carried 11-2 or more in weight
6/8 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
6/8 – Aged between 6-9 years-old
6/8 – Had won between 1-2 times before (fences)
6/8 – Unplaced favourites
5/8 – Irish bred
4/8 – Had raced at the track before
2/8 – Winning favourites
2/8 – Ran at Fontwell last time out
2/8 – Trained by Charlie Longsdon
Carole’s Destrier (12/1) won the race in 2018
3.00 - Betway Challow Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4yo+) 2m4½f ITV4
13/13 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
13/13 – Had raced in the last 8 weeks
13/13 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
13/13 – Had won no more than 3 times over hurdles before
12/13 – Had raced in the last 6 weeks
10/13 – Favourites that finished in the top 3
10/13 – Went onto run at the Cheltenham Festival (1 winner, Wichita Lineman, 2006)
9/13 – Won between 2-3 times over hurdles before
9/13 – Had won over 2m4f or further (hurdles) before
9/13 – Won last time out
8/13 – Had won a Grade 2 Hurdle race before
7/13 – Irish bred
6/13 – Aged 5 years-old
6/13 – Winning favourites
3/13 – Trained by Jonjo O’Neill
2/13 – Trained by Nick Williams
2/13 – Ridden by Daryl Jacob
3.35 - Betway Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 3) (4yo+) 2m6½f ITV4
11/11 – Won between 0-1 times over fences
10/11 – Raced in the last 6 weeks
10/11 – Didn’t win last time out
9/11 – Carried 10-10 or more in weight
9/11 – Aged 5 or 6 years-old
8/11 – Favourites that finished in the top 4
7/11 – Irish bred
4/11 – Winning favourites
2/11 – Trained by Venetia Williams
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Kempton and Chepstow TV Trends: 27th Dec 2019
/in Trends/by mattbisognoA huge day of National Hunt action on Friday 27th December as the ITV cameras head to Kempton for three races, while they are also at Chepstow to take in the Coral Welsh National.
We’ve got all the key trends and stats for all the LIVE races to help you whittle down the fields.
Kempton Horse Racing Trends (RacingTV/ITV)
1.55 – Ladbrokes Mares´ Handicap Hurdle Cl2 3m110y ITV
12/12 – Ran in the last 4 weeks
11/12 – Priced 17/2 or shorter
10/12 – Aged between 5-7 years-old
9/12 – Won between 1-3 times over hurdles previously
8/12 – Favourites that were placed in the top 3
8/12 – Won over 3m previously
6/12 – Won their last race
6/12 – Carried 11-0 or more in weight
6/12 – Ran at the track previously
5/12 – Winning favourites
4/12 – Aged 5 years-old
2/12 – Raced at Newbury last time out
2.30 – Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase (Grade 2) Cl1 2m ITV
10/12 – Aged 8 or younger
9/12 – Aged between 6-8 years-old
9/12 – Run at the track previously
9/12 – Won 4 (or more) times over fences
9/12 – Finished in the top 3 in their last race
9/12 – Winning favourites
9/12 – Officially Rated 160+
7/12 – French bred
7/12 – Ran at Sandown last time out
4/12 – Trained by Nicky Henderson
2/12 – Trained by Alan King
2/12 - Ridden by Barry Geraghty
Altior (1/8 fav) won the race 12 months ago
3.05 – Ladbrokes ' Where The Nation Plays' Handicap Chase Cl2 3m ITV
12/12 – Ran in the last 7 weeks
11/12 – Priced between 7/2 and 12/1
11/12 – Aged 8 or younger
10/12 – Carried 10-13 or more in weight
9/12 – Won between 2-3 (chase) before
7/12 – Favourites Unplaced
5/12 – Officially Rated between 122-129
4/12 – Finished 1st or 2nd in their last race
4/12 – Ran at Kempton previously
4/12 – Won over 3m (or further) previously
3/12 – Ran at Ascot in their last race
3/12 – Winning favourites (joint)
2/12 – Trained by Nicky Henderson
Chepstow Horse Racing Trends (ATR/ITV)
2.50 – Coral Welsh Grand National (A Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) Cl1 3m5f110y ITV
17/17 – Had won between 1-5 chase races before
17/17 – Raced within the last 7 weeks
17/17 – Had won over at least 3m before (fences)
15/17 – Aged 9 or younger
15/17 – Placed in the top 4 last time out
13/17 – Carried 11-0 or less in weight
13/17 – Aged 8 or younger
11/17 – Carried 10-8 or less in weight
11/17 – Had won just 2 or 3 times before over fences
11/17 – Returned 10/1 or shorter in the betting
10/17 – Irish bred
8/17 – Had won over fences at Chepstow before
6/17 – Unplaced favourites
6/17 – Won last time out
6/17 – French bred
6/17 – Had run in the Welsh National before
4/17 – Ran at Chepstow last time out
3/17 – Winning favourites
2/17 – Trained by Jonjo O’Neill
2/17 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
The average winning SP in the last 17 years is 10/1
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Stat of the Day, 27th December 2019
/in Stat of the Day/by mattbisognoBoxing Day's pick was...
1.20 Kempton : Roll Again @ 3/1 BOG fell at 3/1 (Raced keenly, led until fell 10th)
Friday's pick runs in the...
5.10 Wolverhampton :
Before I post the daily selection, just a quick reminder of how I operate the service. Generally, I'll identify and share the selection in the evening before the following day's race and I then add a detailed write-up later on that night/next morning.
Those happy to take the early price on trust can do so, whilst some might prefer to wait for my reasoning. As I fit the early service in around my family life, I can't give an exact timing on the posts, so I suggest you follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook for instant notifications of a published pick.
Who?
Classic Design @ 4/1 BOG
...in an 11-runner, Class 4, All Weather Handicap for 3yo+ over 1m1½f on tapeta worth £5,208 to the winner...
Why?...
Simon Crisford's three-year-old handicap debutant was a winner on his most recent start.
Let's break that down:
Crisford with handicap debutants is 16 from 62, 14 further places (25.8%, A/E 1.15, IV 2.59) in the last two years
With handicap debutants at Wolverhampton, he is 4 from 9, three further places (44.44%, +14.63, A/E 2.09, IV 4.29)
His overall Wolver handicap record in the last five years is an impressive 14 from 45, 13 further places (31.11%, +26.08, A/E 1.3, IV 3.01)
With last time out winners, Crisford is 28 from 109 in the last two years (22 further places). That's 25.69% winners, +1.27, A/E 1.00, IV 1.34.
Classic Design is a son of Pivotal, whose progeny perform well on the all-weather:
In the last two years, they are 54 from 355 (78 further places), for +7.76 (A/E 1.01, IV 1.47), with three-year-olds winning at about 20%.
And, if you don't mind mashing these things together, Pivotal progeny aged three in Wolverhampton handicaps are 11 from 38 (5 further places, +34.78, A/E 1.68, IV 2.77)
Classic Design does have a tricky draw in stall 11, but he was a facile winner last time and has plenty statistically in his favour...
...giving us...a 1pt win bet on Classic Design @ 4/1 BOG as was widely available at 6.15pm on Boxing Day. To see what your preferred bookie is quoting later...
...click here for the betting on the 5.10 Wolverhampton
Don't forget, we offer a full interactive racecard service every day!
REMINDER: THERE IS NO STAT OF THE DAY ON SUNDAYS
Here is today's racecard
P.S. all P/L returns quoted in the stats above are to Betfair SP, as I NEVER bet to ISP and neither should you. I always use BOG bookies for SotD, wherever possible, but I use BFSP for the stats as it is the nearest approximation I can give, so I actually expect to beat the returns I use to support my picks. If that's unclear, please ask!
Stat of the Day, 26th December 2019
/in Stat of the Day/by mattbisognoSaturday's pick was...
1.40 Newcastle : Glittering Love @ 7/2 BOG fell at 7/2 (Tracked leaders, close up on inside when fell 5 out)
Boxing Day's pick runs in the...
1.20 Kempton :
Before I post the daily selection, just a quick reminder of how I operate the service. Generally, I'll identify and share the selection in the evening before the following day's race and I then add a detailed write-up later on that night/next morning.
Those happy to take the early price on trust can do so, whilst some might prefer to wait for my reasoning. As I fit the early service in around my family life, I can't give an exact timing on the posts, so I suggest you follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook for instant notifications of a published pick.
Who?
Roll Again @ 3/1 BOG
...in a 12-runner, Class 3, Novices Limited Handicap Chase for 4yo+ over 2m4½f on Soft ground worth £16,245 to the winner...
Why?...
This 5yr old gelding was a winner LTO, 8 days ago, triumphant on similarly soft ground at Ludlow in another Class 3 handicap chase under today's jockey, Charlie Deutsch.
He's by Walk In The Park, whose soft ground handicap chasers are 6 from 19 (31.6%) SR) for 26.4pts (+138.9% ROI) over the last four years, including...
This horse hails from the in-form Venetia Williams yard, one that thrives at this time of year and does well in poorer conditions. In fact, Venetia's runners are 13 from 26 (50% SR) for 31.6pts (+121.6% ROI) since the morning of the 11th December, whilst more generally over the last five Decembers, her Class 2 to 4 handicappers are 41/160 (25.6% SR) for 101.9pts (+63.7% ROI), including...
...whilst 4-7 yr old males sent off at 2/1 to 5/1 over 2m3f to 2m7.5f chasing pots of £4 to 17k are 14/22 (63.6% SR) for 44.8pts (+203.6% ROI) and these include 8/13 (61.5%) for Charlie Deutsch, 7/13 (53.9%) at Class 3, 7/10 (70%) on soft ground and 3 from 4 (75%) with Charlie riding a Class 3 runner on soft ground...
...giving us...a 1pt win bet on Roll Again @ 3/1 BOG as was widely available at 6.50pm on Christmas Day. To see what your preferred bookie is quoting later...
...click here for the betting on the 1.20 Kempton
Don't forget, we offer a full interactive racecard service every day!
REMINDER: THERE IS NO STAT OF THE DAY ON SUNDAYS
Here is today's racecard
P.S. all P/L returns quoted in the stats above are to Betfair SP, as I NEVER bet to ISP and neither should you. I always use BOG bookies for SotD, wherever possible, but I use BFSP for the stats as it is the nearest approximation I can give, so I actually expect to beat the returns I use to support my picks. If that's unclear, please ask!
Jon Shenton: Some Thoughts on Action vs Angle Bets
/in Jon Shenton/by mattbisognoI’ve been penning on these pages for well over a year now, writes Jon Shenton. As a novice who has never written anything for public consumption previously, it’s been very challenging. It’s also been highly enjoyable, and I’ve learnt plenty regarding racing, and basic grammar, along the way!
For regulars, you'll know the form: a bit of data, a chunk of blurb and perhaps a few nice angles (and some occasionally less nice ones) on the journey.
But this edition is a bit different, a little more reflective and general in nature, aiming to mull some of the challenges associated with a systematic betting approach. I very much hope that it’s not too self-indulgent [it's not. Ed.] and is of some interest to the data driven bettor.
Angles and Demons
My name is Jon Shenton and I have 679 angles / betting systems saved in my portfolio. Many aren’t active but most are.
I’ve been building, maintaining and running angles since April 2016. Prior to that, an annual trip to Gold Cup day was my only exposure to racing and resulted in nine straight years without a hint of trouble for the bookies. However, three winners at Cheltenham on a Friday in March, using detailed but on reflection misguided study, changed everything. My success that day was without doubt 100% attributable to good fortune rather than skill, but in my mind I was up and running.
From that moment, I spent seemingly every spare second researching, analysing and listening in order to develop a deeper understanding of racing. I began betting only pennies (paper trading is not for me!) initially, but over time those pennies have turned into a few pounds as confidence levels and results have improved.
It all sounds perfect, doesn't it? Making a small amount of pocket money on the nags is something that never seemed to be a realistic proposition; having a leisure activity, that hands out a bit of spendo is a wonderful pursuit.
However, in recent times my enjoyment levels from racing, and betting on it, have been waning a little. I haven’t given it a huge amount of thought until now. But when I was challenged to write this article it became a catalyst to think about the bigger picture and to step back from the day to day noise. It was then that I realised that I haven’t really been plugged into the sport in the same way over the past few months.
Ultimately, I think it’s because the process of systematically wagering on racing through angles is exceptionally transactional in nature. Zooming out and evaluating from a distance it can feel - and had started to feel - in large part like a glorified admin function. And, frankly, there aren’t many people in the world who relish a good bit of relaxing admin in their own spare time.
A typical weekday starts in the evening when all the following day's qualifying bets are written down from the relevant website(s) and tools. Then, at 5.15am on the day of racing, the alarm delivers its familiar but always rude awakening. A quick shower, and with a cup of tea all bets are placed for the day. Then it’s out of the door bright and early to the day job.
Working full-time as I do, it’s nigh on impossible to keep across racing during working hours (deliberately avoided for obvious reasons hopefully) and I check the results when I get home. Then it’s the treat of recording all of the results on a tracking spreadsheet and repeating the process. Every single day.
Some days are quieter than others: in 2019 thus far there have been north of 3,200 angle-generated bets that have been struck. Not sure how I feel about that in the cold light of day - perhaps I need to be more selective - but it certainly illustrates the associated admin challenge.
The graph below shows the result of these type of wagers from that start point in 2016.
Predominantly, these numbers have been delivered through win only level stake betting (more on staking later): it’s non-emotive, low engagement wagering; and there is very little in the way of subjectivity or personal thought in the process. That process is rigid: identify a qualifier, write it down, place a bet, check the result and record the outcome.
The results are strong undoubtedly, with margin ordinarily 10-15% over the course of a year. At this point it should be noted that a portion of this return is attributable to best odds guaranteed. Transacting at early prices with BOG presents an element of 'natural value' with the relatively high volume of bets that are placed. The retreat of this offer to later in the day is creating a hurdle that in time will need to be overcome to maintain my current margin. Placing bets any later than 6am is not going to be possible due to other commitments, so I’m going to need to find a way to evolve or accept a lower rate of return.
Putting these thoughts to print has helped me to recognise that it’s the research, number crunching and theory testing that keeps the fire burning. Sure, the results have a certain satisfaction associated with them, but there is no doubt that the overall process is a little cold, clinical and mechanical. The highly structured, highly disciplined, admin heavy approach works financially but my level of engagement with the sport is lacking.
Action Man
The alternative to stuffy system/angle betting is the good old emotional roller coaster of traditional wagering: taking stock of all the usual elements and variables of a given race and pinning your colours to the mast around one animal.
I am partial to a “normal” bet too, the general parlance used on geegeez.co.uk is “action” betting so we’ll stick with that terminology from here on in.
Angle/system betting is the rhythm section of the gambling universe, whereas action bets might be seen as the freewheeling, edgy lead guitarist.
Here is a graph illustrating the outcome of my guitar licks over the past 2-and-a-half years.
Not exactly Slash or Hendrix is it?
The graph follows a profile like a Next Big Thing that burns brightly for a time before hitting the skids and hurtling back into relative obscurity.
2019 has clearly been the year of excessive drink, substance abuse, creative differences and a spectacular fall from grace (metaphorically, of course) for my action bets. For context, there have been 645 of them in 2019 to date with 81 successes (counting an E/W collection as 0.2 of a win). Depressingly, I’m not entirely sure why this year has been so difficult, though I suspect there is an element of attempting to be too smart and punting beyond my means and capabilities. A little knowledge can be dangerous, especially when there is a natural attraction to against the crowd punting and (ostensibly) generous prices!
A result of the downturn has been an easing back on the volume of action bets. Roughly speaking, I’ve had less than half the action bets over the past three months that I would have had based on the previous two-year volume averages.
Easing off on the action seems a sensible approach. A brutal personal assessment (stats don’t lie?) is that my race reading ability is not in the same league as the cold data-driven angle approach; so why bother wasting time trying to pick winners when the angles do it better? There is certainly limited financial reason to play in action betting, based on the recent numbers, and locking money away in a cash ISA would make more sense commercially. But not even Derren Brown could convince me that a risk-free return in a tax-free saving account was more fun than poring through race cards, form, pace maps and whatever else.
Through trying to get under the skin of a race and piecing it together, it affords an opportunity to further learn and to develop a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in racing - and in betting on racing. It is sport after all, and an action bet can solidify the link to it. The spectacle and sense of occasion obviously stands on its own merit but evaluating a race closely (betting or not) creates a deeper and more vested interest in the outcome. Most importantly, it generates interest, excitement, and fun.
My life has revolved around sport since I was knee high to the proverbial green jumpy insect. However, my career has generally revolved around the use of data. Racing is perfectly positioned to straddle both. The rational side of me struggles with undue risk and losing money; the sporting and emotional side connects with the characters, animals and theatre of the event, and wants to be financially implicated.
But a recent conscious choice to withdraw from action betting had resulted in less time invested in the sport and, as a result, my previously voracious appetite to consume as much information and knowledge as possible has ebbed a little.
On introspection, then, I know that action betting must be here to stay: I just need to get better at it! It’s a wonderful sport, and to measure the enjoyment of it by financial return and transactions alone is the wrong way of looking at it. Being less uptight about action bets is key. And keeping them separate / treating them as fun, rather than angle-driven investments, is a clear and necessary way forward.
Action Learnings
The single biggest challenge with action betting is finding the capacity to do it properly. Finding time to study in any depth is difficult for me due to other commitments, like - you know - work and family! Undoubtedly, that’s where the toolkit on geegeez assists hugely in cutting through some of the noise.
What geegeez cannot do is support with the mental challenges associated with a ticking clock and wagering. It’s a personal thing but occasionally in the evening I’ll put on ATR or Racing TV and decide to have a quick check of the card just before the off. The intent is to evaluate the race at high level and see how that goes. Who’s going to lead? Who has course form? And so on...
However, it’s hard not to get attracted to a bet even in that very short window. Each to their own, but over the past couple of months I’ve refrained from these type of wagers as, for me, they invariably end in disappointment.
A similar limitation related to time, laziness or general apathy is that once pinpointing a “good thing” it can be devilishly difficult to walk away without a wagering commitment. It is the potential opportunity cost of reversing from a successful bet where the problem lies. A race comprises of many possible winners, certainly not just the one identified as having the course form, front-running potential, good draw or whatever edge seems to be apparent. Finding contenders isn’t the main challenge. No, my main challenge relates to understanding how the highlighted horse compares against the rest of the field and knowing when to step back rather than ploughing in regardless.
I’ve committed to at least evaluating the top four or five in the market before making an action bet now. It sounds basic and obvious, but part of the process of trying to improve is assessing why things aren’t working. My hope is that, by implementing this basic rule, there will be an upturn in action-based performance. We’ll see.
General angle betting thoughts
Getting back to angle betting, I have a few other observations to share.
Firstly, should all qualifiers get backed blindly or not? A lot of people use an angle as a starting point and then apply subjective judgement to that qualifier in determining whether to put the money down.
This does not work for me. I am an advocate of backing blind. Here's why: the angle works because it’s not subjective, and it can throw up contrarian winners to which the market is largely blind. By applying a judgement filter there is a danger of conforming to the market view and losing the angle's edge.
Below is a case study that burns, even today.
This race from 2017 is taken from my 'I know better' phase where I’d evaluate each qualifier and exclude some from a bet based on my opinion.
The qualifier in question is Guishan from a Mick Appleby sprint angle, number 3 on the card above. This animal was discounted due to its sub-optimal draw in box 11 of 12. Everyone knows a horse can’t win from that draw over a sprint trip at Chester, don’t they? Anyway, as I sat down to watch it with a nice cup of tea and a smug feeling of avoiding an inevitable loss, I was gripped by unfolding sense of horror. Guishan tacked over from a high draw, secured a reasonable position and swept by all-comers in the home straight to win with a degree of comfort. At 25/1. There are lots of other case studies with resemblance to this one but I'll spare you - and me! - the details.
Moving on, if there is a good reason to adapt an angle I will. For example, certain trainers may qualify at specific tracks or under certain conditions but they have a poor record with horses first or second time out. In such a situation, I would have no qualms adjusting or improving the angle by excluding these, because that decision would be evidence-based. But those subjective, opinion-based exclusions need to be consigned to the wheelie bin of history.
Staking Plan
Before closing, a line or two on staking. There are countless words available on this subject and no doubt the vast majority are better informed than what follows. However, I hope my relative inexperience can be of some reassurance to those of you who are still finding your way.
Quite frankly, in terms of staking, keeping it simple is the most important for me. I have researched and read a fair amount on optimising stakes but, in all honesty, I don’t understand a great deal of it! I certainly have no real idea how much value there is in each bet to adjust stakes accordingly, and I’d be guessing if applying something like the Kelly Criterion in the real world. I’ve tried measuring value by creating my own tissue prices but I’m a million miles away from making that work for me effectively.
Basically, the less I think about from a staking perspective the better. In general, level stakes keep it a thought free process for me. That said, there is some room for manoeuvre, depending on the category of bet and my track record with them. My current staking plan is as follows:
The only subjective part is what makes a premium or standard angle. That’s down to performance and chi score (one for another day) which is a statistical measure to indicate the likelihood of results being attributable to chance or not.
An example of a premium angle is the Derek Shaw, Chelmsford Class 4-7 at 11/1 or shorter contained within the below edition of punting angles. That is proven over a period in a live environment.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/punting-angles-chelmsford-city-racecourse-part-1/
I think staking plans boil down to understanding ones strengths and weaknesses, and betting accordingly. If you do struggle or worry about staking, then in my experience a level stakes approach takes a lot of the noise and confusion away.
In fact, I think that’s what this article is predominantly about. Strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Writing it has certainly helped me to think about my betting - specifically, what I’m good at and what I have as development areas (corporate speak).
Even if the experiences I've shared in this article don’t help directly, taking a bit of time out to reflect on your betting approach, strategies and performance is a sensible and pragmatic thing to do occasionally. And no better moment than during this break.
I hope you enjoy the festivities, and here’s to an exciting, fun and profitable 2020 racing. It really is a special sport like no other.
- JS
SotD Update, 16th to 21st December 2019
/in Horse Racing Blog/by mattbisognoFrom a "picking the right horses" perspective, it wasn't a bad week really. A non-runner plus three placers and a well-positioned faller from our six picks isn't bad going at all. Sadly, Monday's 10/3 success was the only winner on the week, meaning another small overall loss.
So, as a result, December continues to be tough for horses, riders and punters alike and the upshot is that I'm going to need at least two, if not three winners from the last five picks of the year to make December profitable. It won't be easy, but it's not impossible!
The coming week is a short one, due to the Christmas break, leaving me with just three picks, so come back next Sunday to see if I've made any inroads into the winners I need!
Selections & Results : 16/12/19 to 21/12/19
16/12 : Out The Glen @ 10/3 WON at 3/1
17/12 : Maxed Out King @ 5/2 BOG 3rd at 10/3
18/12 : Hatcher @ 11/4 BOG 6th at 2/1
19/12 : Elzaam's Dream @ 9/2 3rd at 3/1
20/12 : Atwaar @ 6/1 BOG non-runner
21/12 : Glittering Love @ 7/2 BOG fell at 7/2
16/12/19 to 21/12/19 :
1 winning bet from 5 = 20.00% SR
P/L: -0.67pts
December 2019 :
3 winners from 17 = 17.65% SR
P/L: -4.84pts
ROI = -28.47%
2019 to date :
66 winners from 285 = 23.16% SR
P/L: +40.46pts
ROI = +14.20%
Overall:
656 winners from 2461 = 26.66% S.R
P/L: +536.87pts
ROI: +21.82%
P.S. The full month by month SotD story can be found right here.
P.P.S The review of SotD's 2012 performance is here.
Whilst the details for 2013 are now online here.
And the figures for 2014 are now available here.
Our review of 2015 can be found right here
Whilst 2016's details are right here
And here is the full story from 2017.
2018 was the latest full year for SotD and the yearly review is right here
Stat of the Day is just one component of the excellent package available to all Geegeez Gold Members, so why not take the plunge and get involved right now?
Click here for more details.
Monday Musings: Hughie Not So Sleepy with Aspirations
/in Monday Musings/by mattbisognoAs I look out of my office window at 8 a.m. this Sunday morning with the pre-Christmas gloom and apparently endless belts of rain still sweeping across the land, it’s hard to believe that the days are getting longer again, writes Tony Stafford.
I’m writing this a day earlier than usual as nothing will be happening in the racing world before Boxing Day – four days of marking time, unless of course you are working in a racing yard.
Horses have to be fed, their boxes cleaned and their fitness regimes maintained, all for our delectation in the coming days, weeks and months. The new 2020 programme books, for the first time separated into Flat and Jumps have finally arrived but with conditions as they are – apparently Huntingdon had one of its periodic mini-floods this weekend – cancellations will be likely.
When I spoke to Hughie Morrison on Saturday morning he was full of gloom about the chances of Ascot’s going ahead. We were between inspections and, with Not So Sleepy due to contest the last race, that pessimism, admittedly a characteristic of the East Ilsley trainer, seemed justified.
Arriving at the foot of Ascot High Street at 11.45, at least the cars were still going up and in rather than down and out, signifying a positive outcome to the 11.30 ‘look’. That it was tempered with a “monitoring the situation race by race” could have had little mollifying effect on connections of the home-bred gelding.
Not So Sleepy has a deserved reputation for being “quirky” and when you consider that after his third career start, in the Dee Stakes at Chester – stopping point of Derby winners in the past – he had a flat-race rating of 107. In 35 subsequent starts on the flat, he has added only one more victory – on Oaks Day at Epsom, 2017 - but fourth of 30 in the Cesarewitch this October signalled some progress four and a half years after Chester.
In the meantime, he’d had three runs over hurdles, sandwiching a wide-margin all-the-way victory at Wincanton with hard-pulling 20-length defeats at Kempton and then on a return to the Somerset track. So when he turned up at Ascot last month in a handicap hurdle, necessitated by the abandonment of the November Handicap at flooded Doncaster, he was pretty much either a handicap snip on the correlation between flat (94) and jumps (122) ratings or a powder keg waiting to implode again.
He was allowed to set off in a clear lead and while a couple of his rivals eroded some of the advantage up the straight. Not So Sleepy never appeared likely to be caught.
I’d also spoken to Hughie before that race and the “handicap certainty, with a health warning” was our mutual assessment. Hughie didn’t have the extra bias of my high regard for Speed Company, an Ian Williams improver who had also been on schedule for the November Handicap. I’d caught him right at Chepstow; knew he’d go on the soft and he also had a reasonable jumps mark in relation to the flat. Two runners – trust me to go the wrong way.
Speed Company loitered at the back that day and was again disappointing last weekend at Doncaster, while Not So Sleepy returned to Ascot yesterday and was still on a detached bottom weight having been raised only 5lb for that previous win over course and distance. Many commentators believed he would struggle to get far ahead in a stronger and more highly-populated (13, or rather 16 with three ground defections) field.
Johnny Burke again got him off alertly and apparently settling better than hitherto, if understandably still a little novicey at some of the early obstacles – it was only his fifth hurdles start after all – he maintained a narrow advantage until the bend turning for home as the bunch tried to close.
It was soon evident though that nothing was going more comfortably and all the way up the straight the margin was extended, finally to a full nine lengths over Monsieur Lecoq at the line. He was in receipt of 23lb from the runner-up and no doubt the handicapper will be nowhere near as lenient next time. That eventuality is not worrying Morrison who has newly-ambitious plans for the seven-year-old.
Owner-breeder Lady Blyth had a major part in the decision to keep Not So Sleepy on the go over jumps and now the aim is for Champion Hurdle glory. Morrison went close with Marble Arch many years ago and Not So Sleepy is clearly capable of making steps towards that lofty ambition.
The ground was very testing – it caused the absence of Paisley Park, the one horse that many of the always large Ascot crowd had come to see. Yet Not So Sleepy’s winning time was less than three seconds slower than Mohaayed’s in the same race 12 months before. Mohaayed, back on the same mark as last year, was a long way back yesterday. All the other times were considerably slower – the best being the very smart Riders Onthe Storm, who comfortably beat On The Blind Side in the Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase. He was seven seconds slower than Kildisart’s 2018 time.
Even the real possibility that racing might not go ahead couldn’t deter a seasonal family attendance at a track which seems to hit the right note at every meeting during the year. As I’ve said many times here before, from Royal Ascot down to their humblest fixture, Ascot is unique and the punters just love going there. I do too.
***
One of the most eagerly-awaited moments in my household is the trademark three loud bangs on the door that heralds the annual arrival of the M & S Christmas hamper from the Editor of this publication. If you work for him and he doesn’t send one to you then sorry if I’ve caused envy, but maybe his generosity has something of the “he’s a poor old sod that needs some Christmas cheer” about it.
I rushed to the door and sure enough it was a “delivery for Stafford”. The big box duly came in and as I went to reach for the document to sign, he said: “There’s another one!” I took that in too, and it was in an apparently-identical container. These hampers, there are several to choose from, come in a wicker basket and by now we have accumulated a few and they adorn the lounge and among other things, conveniently house the Christmas decorations so they are readily at hand at tree-time.
I later called the boss and said he’d better check whether he’d paid twice. He came back with: “No, only once. Must be an M & S error, fill your boots!”, or sentiments to that effect.
Later, I was talking to Wilf Storey who I know is also customarily on the Geegeez hamper rota – he trains for them - and asked whether his had arrived. He answered in the affirmative, but when quizzed whether they were the same, confessed that far from containing a cross-section of Christmas victuals, his was purely of a liquid nature, with some exotic concoctions included.
Just as I was terminating the conversation, Wilf asked, “By the way, Brenda <Mrs S> wants to know if you received a parcel from her?”. Mystery almost over and when I finally found where to look for any message from the sender, one was indeed from the boss and the other from “Wilf, Brenda, Stella and all at Grange Farm”.
Of course it was identical. So as Mr Coincidence, I was able to add yet another unlikely tale to my lengthy litany of “can you believe it’s?”. Two people of widely differing backgrounds and age groups in two places almost 300 miles apart, simultaneously decided on sending the same person an identical item from M & S’s lengthy Christmas gift list, and they arrived in the same delivery. You couldn’t write it!
I hope the Festive season is as good for you as for Lady Blyth, the Morrisons and for me and mine!
-TS
Stat of the Day, 21st December 2019
/in Stat of the Day/by mattbisognoFriday's pick was...
4.20 Southwell : Atwaar @ 6/1 BOG non-runner (meeting abandoned after the refund cut-off point)
Saturday's pick runs in the...
1.40 Newcastle :
Before I post the daily selection, just a quick reminder of how I operate the service. Generally, I'll identify and share the selection in the evening before the following day's race and I then add a detailed write-up later on that night/next morning.
Those happy to take the early price on trust can do so, whilst some might prefer to wait for my reasoning. As I fit the early service in around my family life, I can't give an exact timing on the posts, so I suggest you follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook for instant notifications of a published pick.
Who?
Glittering Love @ 7/2 BOG
...in a 7-runner, Class 3, Handicap Chase for 4yo+ over 2m4½f on Soft ground worth £7,213 to the winner...
Why?...
This 7 yr old gelding comes here on the back of four straight wins, a run of form that represents his entire record from the last winter season and his entire chasing career to date. He was last seen winning by five lengths over much further (3m1f) on similarly soft ground and now attempts to pick up where he left off some 41 weeks ago.
I'm not too concerned about the layoff, as the first of those four wins came a year and a day ago, having been off the track for 36 weeks, so he's expected to go well fresh again today and with regards to his so-far perfect 4 from 4 record over fences...
Both trainer Nicky Richards and jockey Brian Hughes have good records here at Newcastle and that's a fairly well worn statistical path and is denoted on your racecard with the green icons, so I'm not going there today. Instead, I'm hopefully going to tell you something you don't already know about Glittering Love's suitability for the task, based on his breeding.
He's by Winged Love, whose offspring are 57 from 291 (19.6% SR) for 68.9pts (+23.7% ROI) in UK NH handicaps on Soft ground or "worse" over the last 5 years, including of note/relevance today...
...whilst if you wanted a 25-30 picks per year micro-system based around the above that used just 47% of the original 291 bets, but generated nearly 74% of the winners and almost doubled the profits, then 5-11 yr olds sent off at 6/5 to 12/1 at Classes 2 to 5 during November to February are 42 from 137 (30.7% SR) for 135.6pts at an ROI of 99%...
...sending us off for Christmas with...a 1pt win bet on Glittering Love @ 7/2 BOG as was offered by BetVictor & SkyBet at 6.15pm on Friday. To see what your preferred bookie is quoting later...
...click here for the betting on the 1.40 Newcastle
Don't forget, we offer a full interactive racecard service every day!
REMINDER: THERE IS NO STAT OF THE DAY ON SUNDAYS
Here is today's racecard
P.S. all P/L returns quoted in the stats above are to Betfair SP, as I NEVER bet to ISP and neither should you. I always use BOG bookies for SotD, wherever possible, but I use BFSP for the stats as it is the nearest approximation I can give, so I actually expect to beat the returns I use to support my picks. If that's unclear, please ask!