When Is Protection NOT Protection - When The Gambling Commission Get Involved

ALL VIEWS ARE MY OWN

It has been a busy old week with plenty to talk about, but the majority of my time has been spent wrong a small book for Cheltenham 2025 which will (hopefully) be available on Amazon in the next week or two and in plenty of time for the Festival. It will (surprise surprise) be statistically based, no tips, no selections – just lists of past performances and facts that have applied to all or a large percentage of the winners over the last27 years or so – watch this space as they say!

On to the news and good to see the HBF getting a mention in the headlines in the Racing Post this week – with a small article on Bookmaker Protection of Funds followed by a piece by the excellent Chris Cook today https://www.racingpost.com/news/opinion/comment/if-we-go-under-were-taking-your-cash-with-us-how-appalling-that-some-punters-money-remains-unprotected-arLUY9l7W6wH/ I wont spoil it for you but suffice to say, in too many cases if your bookmaker goes bust they may well take your money with them!

Meanwhile, it was sad to read that His Highness The Aga Khan passed away this week at the age of 88. Best known perhaps for the legendary Shergar, who won the Epsom Derby by a street before disappearing, allegedly after being kidnapped by the IRA. A fanatical and effective owner breeder who really loved his horses, we await the fallout through the industry as we wait to see if his successor carries on in the same manner – or pulls out of racing altogether, a constant worry for us all as the richer “old school” owners age as do we all.

Anyway, enough chat for now - and on to the racing…

Saturday

Newbury 1.15pm

Someone at bookmaker HQ is having a laugh pricing up two horses as 5/4 joint favourites as I write, but of the pair (the Paul Nicholls trained Tutti Quanti is the other), I am all over Kientzheim even if I have no idea how to pronounce it. The winner of two bumpers in France at Pornichet-La Baule and Angers before being snapped up by J P McManus, the daughter of Zanzibari made a winning debut over hurdles for Nicky Henderson at Kempton where he ran on strongly to scorer by a couple of lengths despite pulling too hard for her own good. With her market rival a likely front runner there is every chance Nico De Boinville will be able to get her to settle here, and I that is the case I am hoping to see her pounce late to win going away at the line.

Newbury 3.35pm

Some have claimed my profiling of a big race sends them to sleep (thanks for that), but I have done exactly that with the big Newbury handicap this afternoon when using the usual statistics based on past runnings, I have come up with a shortlist of four - Favour and Fortune, Fiercely Proud, Secret Squirrel, and Navajo Indy. Backing all four would be profitable if any of them win of course (and Yes I will mess about with 10p tricasts before anyone asks), but it is Secret Squirrel the lucky pin has finally come down on. Carrying a 5lb winners’ penalty after scoring by a couple of lengths last time out at Windsor with a bit in hand, he arrives here at the top of his game and as he was inclined ty jimp to his left that day, a switch to Newbury will hopefully see him in an even better light – 6/1 looks an each way steal to me with any luck.

4.10pm Newbury

One from left field to end our Newbury interest when the 16/1 in an 8 horse race for the Novices’ Handicap Chase at 4.10pm when I am hoping Hillcrest will (finally) get his jumping act together. Three starts over fences so far have seen him come home fourth at Haydock before pulling up at Cheltenham and being brought down at Ffos Las. It is interesting that connections have decided to persevere over the larger obstacles where is, potentially, very well handicapped. Rated 148 at his peak over hurdles, he has fallen to a mark of 135 this afternoon and if he can get his act together (a huge IF I confess), then he is clearly massively overpriced.   

6.00pm Newcastle

Lastly it seems fair to say those running on the all-weather look a fairly ropey bunch overall, with one possible exception as the Gosden’s introduce Warrant Holder on the 6.00pm at Newcastle. Bred by The Queen and owned by The King, the son of Frankel is related to plenty of winers including dual winner Portfolio, and it looks as if connections have found him a winnable race to start his career with a bang.

Sean’s Suggestion:

Secret Squirrel each way 3.35pm Newbury