Monday horse racing summary

With just the one meeting at Lingfield going ahead today, there were relatively few opportunities to find value. I proposed two win bets, which both lost, and one lay bet, which of course you guessed it, came home the winner! Half way through February and it pains me to see it, but the profits made earlier in the month I am currently giving right back.

I wanted to oppose Wizard Looking in the apprentice handicap. He had been off the track since June 2006 with tendon problems, and his last win at that point was a year previous and off an official mark of 55. So having been away for so long, and racing 5lbs higher today, with the additional "lottery" of an apprentice race, it would have to be some comeback and I was happy to lay bets at 4/1 or lower. Hats off to the trainer who had him spot on this afternoon, and he won to blow my theories clean out of the water.

A 6 point loss overall for my troubles today.

Trying to maintain a stiff upper lip

I cannot seem to buy a winner at the moment, and my form is severely under par. Apologies to everyone who will have started their free trial recently, what must you think? I have been in similar situations many times before, and I know the losing bad patch will end sooner or later, but none-the-less I still get depressed when I'm off form. Just like all of you, I like to come out in front each and every day. In my experience I have found it pays to believe in your abilities, remain disciplined, and you will come out the other side relatively unscathed.

This is borne out by the fact that despite a very poor week, I will still be posting a healthy profit for the month of January as a whole.

Today I posted three losing Win bets, and a successful Lay bet against Just Amazing at Chepstow.

Let's hope that corner will be turned tomorrow.

Odds-on Fiddling Again is a winner in my book

Another poor showing from the Win bets, with just the one short-priced winner from four selections. At least I fared a little better with two from two successful lay bets.

Fiddling Again had yet to win over obstacles, with just a couple of National Hunt Flat races to his name. To his credit he came close in a maiden hurdle recently, but in my book that did not justify a ridiculously short price odds-on this afternoon. I suspect the trainer/jockey pairing of Henderson and Fitzgerald will have artificially deflated the price. I was comfortable to lay the horse to lose at such short odds, and indeed the horse was the last to complete the race.

After seeing In Accord overturned at Towcester later in the day, I came away with a single point profit for my efforts.