With Cheltenham just over a week away - and the ‘big’ races all taking place on Saturday - I wasn’t expecting a busy weekend.
However, there were some decent races at the 3 main meetings - and finding bets was a bit easier than is often the case.
Despite the usual difficulties with issuing bets, I ended up with 3 Best bets on the day - plus a host for the Matrix (half of which were defending the Best bets).
Bun Doran was the first Best bet to run.
He’s in danger of becoming a ‘cliff’ horse - as I’ve suggested him at least 3 times this season (once before as a Best bet).
However, he continues to run well - whilst falling in the handicap - so I figure he is going to win one sooner or later !
My angle today, that in addition to the dropping mark - he would have ideal conditions - and possibly an uncontested lead.
Well, I might have got the conditions right - but he certainly didn’t get an uncontested lead !
Instead he had to sit in behind the very well backed Cheddleton - and the seasonal debutante, Maylstic.
And ultimately, I think that won him the race - as the pair of them got duelling a long way from home.
I did briefly think that Malystics jockey was going to bring down Bun Doran, when he was unseated at the cross fence - but Bun Doran swerved him and just lost a few lengths.
That still looked like it might prove costly, when The Big Bite (who I had covered in the Matrix) and King D’Argent went clear up the home straight.
However, Bun Doran kept jumping and galloping - and when his 2 rivals made a mistake at the last, he pounced.
For a horrible moment, it seemed that King D’Argent was going to battle back and snatch the spoils - but thankfully Bun Doran managed to find enough to hold him off and claim a much overdue win for the Best bets…
Voix de Reve was the next Best bet to run - but I felt his chance relied on him getting an uncontested lead - and that didn’t happen.
First Severence took him on - and then Metier passed them both - leaving Voix de Reve back in third.
To his credit, he kept on battling - and ran really well.
However, the 3 of them almost certainly did too much, too soon - and the race was set up for the closers…
They were header by Cormier and Saint D’oroux - both of whom I’d covered for the Matrix - and it was the former who stayed on best, for a good win.
Meanwhile, Voix de Reve could only plug on for a valiant fifth…
Gold des Bois was the final Best bet on the day - but he was another who’s chance was messed up by the way the race unfolded.
Early on, I was quite happy, as he had an uncontested lead.
However, around half way, Seemorelights pulled his way to the front - messing things up for Gold des Bois.
In truth, if he’d been good enough, he could have responded - but he wasn’t and he didn’t !
I’d also covered favourite, Hardy du Seuil for the Matrix - but he jumped very poorly and it says much for his ability that he was able to run on to snatch second place.
Gold Des Bois meanwhile, finished a very disappointing fifth…
It was a mixed day for the other Matrix bets:
Encounter a Giant ran OK in the Newbury opener - but looked as if the run would bring him on.
I wouldn’t be giving up on him just yet (with the handicapper likely to drop him 5lb).
In the following Greatwood Gold cup, the Matrix got a one:two, courtesy of Tamaroc de Mathan and Paint a Dream.
I had a slight preference for the former - but he was no match for the latter, who bolted in by 15 lengths !
Boreham Bill and Commanche Red were late additions to the Matrix in a none televised race - but I would have been better off leaving them out !
In fairness, both horses ran quite well - but they weren’t good enough to get involved at the business end.
Mister Malarky was good enough to get involved at the business end at Doncaster - despite looking unwilling for most of the race !
In truth, he should have won - but his attitude left a lot to be desired and Undesupervision outbattled him after the last.
Whilst at Kelso, speculative punts on Wilde about Oscar and N’golo produced little to get excited about.
I felt the market was foretelling the likely fate of the former - though he didn’t run too badly.
The latter however, never featured….
As so ended another Saturday - and for once, there was a profit for both the Best bets and the Matrix.
It just shows what can happen if I get a few decent races to tackle !
TVB.
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