The markets failed to move far enough in the direction I was hoping today, and only one from six selections became a final bet. Padlocked turned in a disappointing performance at Goodwood, but only one point lost and no real damage done to the account.
There are currently four all-weather tracks in the UK, with a further course in development in Essex. This year there will be £5million in prize money on offer for the all-weather season, so racing promises to be the most competitive and exciting yet. In this article I will take you around the venues, and reveal my key tips and advice for making a killing when betting on horse racing on the sand.
All-weather racing often receives the same response from horse racing fans as Marmite gets from lovers of toast – you either love it, or you hate it!
Admittedly, the opportunity to watch low-grade horses running on the sand at a February meeting at Southwell may not have the same allure as the Gold Cup on Ladies Day at Ascot in the height of summer. But that is no reason for all-weather snobbery. In fact, the UK all-weather racing scene is going from strength to strength. And this is good news, hopefully, for punters who endeavour to grind out a profit betting on races run “on the beach”.
The four venues in the UK that currently stage all-weather flat racing are Lingfield Park in Surrey, Wolverhampton in the Midlands, Kempton Park near Heathrow, and Southwell in Nottinghamshire. However, this year that list will be boosted to five because a new track is opening at Great Leighs in Essex.
Forget the forecast
The all-weather horse racing championship kicks into gear just as the traditional flat racing turf season comes to a close in the autumn. The all-weather season gets under way in November and culminates in a grand finale at Lingfield Park in March with the running of the Winter Derby. With around £5 million in prize money, jockeys’ and trainers’ championships up for grabs, and opportunities for horses of varying levels of ability, this season has been the most competitive ever staged in the UK.
So which jockeys, horses and trainers should we be following on the all-weather, and how can racing at one artificial track differ compared with that at another? Hopefully, if you follow this abbreviated guide you will soon be on course to make some serious dosh from the sand!
It may boast a catch-all monicker, but all-weather racing actually differs slightly at each of the four venues which currently stage the sport in the UK. This is a factor well worth being aware of before you decide to have a bet at a particular track. With the exception of Kempton, the courses are left-handed. Racing at Wolverhampton and Southwell takes place around lozenge-shaped tracks, while Lingfield’s configuration is more triangular. I will expand upon the significance of this a bit further on.
One fundamental point you need to get to grips with early on is how the actual racing surface differs from one course to another. Two types of sand are currently used. All-weather races held at both Wolverhampton and Lingfield are now run on a material called Polytrack, which is a kind of rubberised sand which minimises the impact of ‘kickback’ – the effect the horses produce as they thunder over a loose-topped sandy surface. Polytrack’s consistent nature means that most races can be run at a good pace, so when having a bet at Lingfield or Wolverhampton it’s worth remembering the importance of backing a horse which will see out the trip.
With that in mind, it would be less of a concern for a horse with good form over 12 furlongs at these two courses to get stepped down to race, say, over 10 furlongs. But it may be more of a problem for a horse which has been doing well over, say, 6 furlongs if its next challenge was to run over a mile or further.
Horses for courses
However, a different racing material known as Fibresand is employed at Southwell. Generally speaking, this produces a more demanding surface compared with Polytrack. If all-weather racing at Wolverhampton and Lingfield is similar to running on the equivalent of fast going on turf, then Southwell’s Fibresand is closer to a turf equivalent of racing on soft or even heavy ground.
Take note of this factor when a horse which has performed well at Wolverhampton or Lingfield is then asked to contest a race at Southwell – even if the distance is the same. Before having a bet in this instance, you should be happy the horse will see out the trip on this different surface.
Lingfield’s sharp contours and relatively short finishing straight mean it tends to favour horses who can race up with the pace (or ‘handily’) rather than long-striding gallopers who need time to wind up their run. The layout of the track means that horses drawn in double figures tend to be at a disadvantage for races run up to a mile. Low-drawn horses who can race handily should enjoy a definite advantage when it comes to sprint races over the minimum trip of 5 furlongs.
It’s a similar story at Wolverhampton. Once again, horses drawn low in 5 and 6-furlong races usually have an advantage. It’s difficult for horses to swing wide into the straight without compromising their chances. But for race distances over a mile or more the impact of the draw diminishes rapidly.
We’ve already heard that the racing surface at Southwell is different to the other tracks and this means the kickback is far more pronounced here than elsewhere. The next time you go to the beach, get someone to throw handfuls of sand in your face and see how much you like it! For that reason, Southwell tends to benefit horses who can race ‘prominently’ or who are described as ‘strong travellers’ because they will avoid as much kickback as possible.
Sticking to these guidelines for all-weather betting should help you take a little more cash from the bookies’ satchels than the average punter. Happy punting!
A brighter day today and with it came some much needed returns. I backed five horses to win, and two returned as winners at healthy prices. Katie Boo running at Hamilton had been attracting some support and was sent off at 7/1, but 11/1 was freely available during the morning on the exchanges.
Running later in the day also at Hamilton was Magic Moth. I had gotten word of a plunge on this horse, and I was going to start laying bets around the 7/4 mark as I felt it was a weak selection. But the gamble never came, and the horse was actually returned at 11/2 so this goes down as a 'no bet'.
Despite this bet failing to materialise, I still managed a 11 point shift forward on the account today.
Three losing win bets today, and one successful lay bet.
Arabian Treasure was the morning favourite for the class 4 handicap at Nottingham over a mile. She was stepping back up to this class after a recently breaking her maiden, and this time she would also be racing in handicap company. I felt this would be a stiff task for her and she came in fourth. A point back in my favour at least.
I had two from three finish in the frame today, but none walking into the winners enclosure, and so a three point loss to the account.
Tetouan was running in the class 4 handicap at Ripon. I figured a number of potential negatives against this horse - he was again stepping up in trip, he had yet to win at this level, and he was racing off his highest mark to date. To win today would have needed a career best run. Unfortunately his price did not fall to around 13/8 that I was looking for, and so I didn't lay any bets. He finished a close second.
This month sees the top meeting of the Flat Season with the festival at Royal Ascot from 19th to 23rd June. To mark the occasion I am running a tipster competition. For those of you who think you can do a better job than me (and I know you're out there, because some of you remind me in no uncertain terms from time to time!) NOW is your chance to prove it ;o)
The rules are outlined below, and if you are interested in taking part go to www.reddracing.co.uk/ascot
To kick off the Prize Fund I will be throwing in £100
Rules Summary
Competition entry costs £10
Entrants will select one horse in each race over the course of the 5-day festival. Points will be awarded to successful selections as follows:
1st - 10 Points
2nd - 8 Points
3rd - 6 Points
4th - 4 Points
5th - 2 Points
6th - 1 Point
Bonus points will be awarded on the Starting Price of successful selections as follows:
Up to and including 2/1 : 1 Point
above 2/1 and up to and including 5/1 : 2 Points
above 5/1 and up to and including 9/1 : 3 Points
above 9/1 and up to and including 14/1 : 4 Points
above 14/1 and up to and including 33/1 : 5 Points
better than 33/1 : 6 Points
The Winners will be those with the highest number of points at the end of the Festival.
Prizes
1st Prize 50% of prize pool
2nd Prize 33% of prize pool
3rd Prize 17% of prize pool
Bonus Prizes - various spot prizes donated by sponsors
To enter the competition and to read the Rules in full, go to www.reddracing.co.uk/ascot
A loss of two points on the account today. I backed two horses to win, both at around 6/1 but neither finished in the frame.
My only lay bet was Ancient Culture in the class 4 maiden at Leicester. This was to be the colt's third race. Having tried twice at 10f he was stepping up a further 2 furlongs, and the ground was soft today to make the trip that bit more testing. Unproven at this distance I was happy to lay him, particularly as I felt his price would shorten as a Sir Michael Stoute-trained horse. However, the price did not come down as low as I wanted, and so although he lost, it must go down as a 'no bet'.
After yesterday's profit bonanza this week fizzled out with a couple of losing win bets, and a further small loss to the lay bet account.
My first lay bet of the day was Country Affair in the novice hurdle at Herefor. He was still a maiden after 7 runs, and only one race under this code. In his first attempt over hurdles he raced in similar company to today's race, and over the same distance, and he finished third. I had no reason to believe today was going to herald his first ever win in any race. His price I suspect was over-bet with the booking of Tony McCoy as jockey, so he was a good value bet to lay, and again he finished third. I had two further successful lay bets, but still ended up behind as I hit upon Takitwo at Brighton for 2 points. His win at a little over 2/1 cost me more than 4 points.
Overall a loss of a fraction over 3.5 points to the account.
The past week has been truly under par, with a distinct lack of successful bets. Having said that I did manage to keep the account on an even keel courtesy of Commemoration Day at 16/1
But this is not how I like to produce my profits. I much prefer a steady stream of well-priced winners giving a consistent return. These are what I shall be looking to unearth this coming week.
Profit for the week - Win Bets: 1pt, Lay Bets: 0.5pts
I am so, so glad I got one of my lay bets wrong today! I was facing a real guilty conflict this afternoon - on one side I was willing Frankie to win his first Derby, but on the other hand I was suggesting opposing Authorized if his price fell below 10/11 odds-on. I really wasn't going to relish the prospect of betting against one of my sporting heroes.
Thankfully the best you could lay the favourite throughout the day was evens, and I could watch the race unfold without pressure. I suggested Authorized as a potentially good value lay, as he was stepping up in distance, over a course that is notoriously difficult to handle. The uphill start, then sweeping down to Tattenham Corner, and the adverse camber in the finishing straight, have all been the undoing of many a fine horse running here at Epsom. I was prepared to bet against him below 10/11 on the off-chance he would have an 'off' day. But today he was superlative! And well done Frankie!
My other two lay bets were successfully overturned for 3 points profit. And I had a sorely welcome day backing winners too. Two winners at Worcester, including Commemoration Day at 12/1 contributed to a haul of more than 16 points profit.
At the end of a memorable Derby Day I had managed to shovel back just under 20 points of profit back into the loss-hole I've created this past week or so.
Summer is here officially, but another really gloomy day in the Redd household. Another five losing bets, and it would seem that a horse having my name on it is like a 'kiss of death' at the moment.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow and the Derby. One of my sporting heroes Frankie Dettori takes the mount on Authorized and is favourite to win the only Classic that has so far eluded him. I don't think he will be worth backing, because he will doubtless be the big punters favourite, with everybody piling on and depressing the price. I would not at all be surprised if he goes off at a price odds-on - it would be a silly price, but hopefully the horse will not be aware that many hopes are pinned on him. One thing's for sure, I will not be tipping him to win. With my luck at the moment, I would not want to be in any way held responsible for a fifteenth unsuccessful attempt by Frankie.
God's speed Gianfranco!
