AMATEUR PUNTER
Ben Morgan starts the month with a big pick-up
Ben Morgan reveals more ups and downs in the life of a punter
Ihighlighted the York Ebor festival as the meeting where I was going to reverse my fortunes which had been troubling me for weeks. The first bet I placed for the week was in the Acomb where I fancied an outsider, Wells Farhh Go. He won first time out at York where he was very impressive coming from last to first inside the final two furlongs and after Tim Easterby spoke highly of him I was confident that he would outrun his odds of 16/1. I placed £10 each way and hoped for the best.
I was actually holidaying in Tenby that week so didn’t get to see the action live,but I certainly got some positive vibes when my phone started pinging. The pinging turned out to be notifications from Twitter as people were liking my tweet about Wells Farhh Go as I stated how much I fancied him earlier that day.
I never got to see the race until later on and crossing the line I thought he had just been denied by James Garfield,but as the photo came up it was evident he held on well.Mass celebrations ensued as my girlfriend looked on in bemusement. A welcome boost to the satchel which gave me the confidence to bet freely once again.
The next day I was pretty keen on the chances of Great Prospector in the big sales race. He ran a good one from Aidan O’Brien’s yard close last time out and this seemed a big step down in grade. I placed a £40 win bet and was delirious when I saw Paul Hanagan taking a pull two furlongs out as he was sauntering to the front too soon.Looking back he probably should have just let him go as he stays 7f well, but he may have been tricked into thinking it was a one horse race at that stage.Unfortunately,Tangled was zooming up the rail and had too much speed for Richard Fahey’s horse, who is blatantly more effective over 7f.
I was adamant I wouldn’t have a bet in the Nunthorpe, because I wanted Lady Aurelia to win but at 6/4 she was too short for me in against a competitive field.A few people asked me in the run up to the race who I fancy, and I said I love Lady Aurelia but at 10/1 Marsha each way, is the best bet. And she was just that, as she lunged late to steal victory away from Frankie and Lady Aurelia. I was slightly frustrated that I didn’t have a small each-way play but I took a lot of satisfaction from seeing my Dad grinning ear to ear all day Friday as I bought him a share in Elite Racing Club last Christmas, and he is slowly making a tidy profit from it. It’s fair to say I am expecting more than a pair of socks this year.
After a solid week at York, I was glad to see last month’s best bet, Maori Bob, entered up at Beverley the following day. As I mentioned last month I think Michael Bell’s horse is a blot on the handicap and even after his mark was raised he still looked well in, especially with Lulu Stanford’s claim taken into account. The 11/4 offered me the night before was taken and I stuck £40 on the nose with maximum confidence.
He bounced out of the gates and Stanford positioned him on the shoulder of the leader, keeping it nice and simple. From then on, it was never in doubt, she shook him up to take the lead up the straight and simply punched him out to cease victory.
Michael Dods’Barwell (£40 win) made it two wins from two September best bets as he dotted up at Thirsk at 7/4.He clearly appreciated the step up to 12 furlongs and I would be pretty confident he would be able to go in again so readers take note.
I didn’t expect to see Maori Bob entered up again so soon after his previous run but that did not put me off backing him at Leicester. He was in against some similar types this time which allowed his price to contract to 9/2 as punters and bookmakers alike were unsure which unexposed, improving sort was the one to be on.
I stuck £20 each way on my old friend and Lulu Stanford was again jocked up as she has struck up a good relationship with him.She anchored him out the back away from a solid pace and slowly creeped her way into contention before producing him
up the straight.
The shaking of the reigns that Lulu insisted on was probably not needed but will hopefully stop the handicapper from hiking him up too much. I stated when he was rated 65 that I thought he had about 30lbs in hand and he is slowly proving me right.
This big win put me nicely in front going into the St Leger festival and the first day threw up a few small profits as Laurens (£10 win) and Great Prospector (£15 e/w) bought home good money.
Day two looked a tough day on paper but I had some big fancies. Firstly I thought Heartache was too good for Havana Grey in the Flying Childers so staked £30 on the nose at 6/4. I was concerned when I saw Ryan Moore on the wing of the field racing alone with no pace in front.He slowly tacked across and had a bit of ground to find with Havana Grey but as soon as she eyeballed Karl Burke’s tough colt she pulled out a little more and won going away, suggesting the 6f in the Cheveley Park shouldn’t be a problem.
Slightly later in the afternoon, Time To Study looked a good bet in the Mallard at 3/1.He was receiving weight off the field as he is a three year old and his run the week before would have put him spot on as he had been off the track for a couple of months.
That fitness was key as in the final two furlongs, he and Byron Flyer went at it hammer and tong.PJ McDonald drove him bravely to the line and he just held on but at the same time he left the impression he would progress again.
I think next year will very much be his year but he could still pick up some prizes before the season is out.
I generously gave some of my winnings back to the bookies as Defoe (£25 e/w) clearly wasn’t himself in the St Leger and faded tamely up the straight.The tactics in the race were questionable as The Anvil was given no chance to win the race and arguably by sprinting off that far in front and tying up 4f out is more damaging to a horse than receiving a clump to the back of the neck for its own safety? One for the powers that be to sort out I think.
The jump season is upon us which will music to many readers’ ears, so I will hopefully be reporting on some early season profits next month!