amateur punter
Ben Morgan is hoping the gambling gods will smile on him again soon
Ben Morgan builds a pot - then hits seconditis!
Boxing Day is always a punting nightmare for me; I don’t think I have ever ended the day up on the bookies. The wealth of racing on offer overwhelms me somewhat and I end up getting involved in horses that I just shouldn’t be backing.
Boxing Day 2018 was going as expected as losses on Daario Naharis, Lough Derg Spirit and Whatthebutlersaw left me drowning my sorrows in another bottle port which was so gratefully received just the day before. A win, however, on Dynamite Dollars gave me faith that Santa still might deliver me a few late presents.
I had plenty of faith in Admiral’s Secret who looked a well handicapped horse at Wincanton. His run behind the ill-fated Watcombe Heights at Exeter the time before was promising and he looked to have been found the right opportunity to get his head in front. I had £10 on at 4/1 and a further £10 on at 11/4 but the way the day was playing out I was unsure if I would see my £20 again.
James Best had a job on early trying to settle him as he was very keen. Even half way down the back on the final circuit he looked to still be pulling for his head but it soon became clear he was full of running. Best did a very good job of preserving the margin of victory as he waited until he delivered his challenge approaching the last and Admiral’s Secret pulled clear nicely to bring home some much appreciated reddies.
With a confidence-boosting win under my belt, I stepped into my next tip, Erick Le Rouge. I placed £20 each way at 15/2 and sat nervously for three quarters of the race as my Christmas was very much in the balance. Chester Williams nudged him into the lead down the back, and started to shake him up turning for home.
Erick’s dead eye jumping put the chasing pack under pressure and it was clear, there weren’t many going to catch him. Mellow Ben gave chase the best but by the time the line came I was already picking up the Cadbury Celebrations which I had knocked over while celebrating. So I finished Christmas and 2018 in high spirits.
I wasn’t that impressed with what was on offer on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham and I knew I shouldn’t have got involved but, like most of us on January 1, I wasn’t quite thinking straight.
I thought Mr Pumblechook was value in the opener after a gallant run last time out against Kateson, a horse who I hold in high regard. £10 each way at 13/2 was a fair bet against the red hot favourite I Can’t Explain but turning for home my lad was a ‘goner’.
Being a sucker for punishment, I went back n the next on Rolling Dylan (£20 win), a horse who looked a much improved performer last time out at Cheltenham finishing within a couple of lengths of the winner. He jumped and stayed well that day, but unfortunately for me, his jumping went ‘up the left’ this time and he was under pressure some way from home.
I was starting to doubt that 2019 would be ‘the year’ like so many people were telling me. I had confirmation that 2019 would be just like every other year when Dans Le Vent trailed home fourth out of five in a weak event at Musselburgh. Jamie Snowden’s handicap hurdler continues to frustrate and I have now given up on him.
My betting slowed right down in the weeks that followed and my stakes dropped too. During one quiet lunch hour on a depressing Tuesday afternoon in early January I decided to have a flutter on the all weather action at Newcastle later on that day.
A £5 win bet on course favourite Outrage looked a shrewd bet considering Daniel Kubler and Kieran O’Neill made the long journey up to Northumberland for this one horse.
I quite fancied Casterbridge later on in the card as he was bang in form and loves Newcastle. I chucked another fiver on the double. By the time I got home, Outrage had already crossed the line in front, putting me up for the
night but the punting juices were now flowing as I was waiting on Casterbridge to bring home a healthy profit for a lunch time’s work.
After an hour and half of waiting around I was delighted to see Sky Sports Racing pan down to the starting stalls at Newcastle.
However, I was a little bit peeved to see Casterbridge rearing up. I couldn’t believe my luck as they decided to go without him and I was left with a small profit off the double. A profit is a profit, but I was left wondering what could have been.
I was keen to keep the positive momentum going so placed a £10 win the following day on Not That Fuisse who looked sure to benefit from the step up in trip.
A classy performer on good ground he looked a sound bet at 9/4 in a relatively weak race. By the time I got home from work and managed to watch the race I noticed he ended up being a well backed favourite.
Harry Skelton looked supremely confident aboard and delivered him late up the straight. Although not that tidy over the last, he was always going to find more and ended up winning a shade cosily. I was gathering a tidy little pot and, more importantly, gaining momentum.
I was pretty keen on Dell Oro at Huntingdon as he bought the best form into the race and looked to have been found the perfect opportunity to open his account over fences.
A £20 win bet was placed and Joshua Moore, much like Harry Skelton just two days earlier, rode his mount with confidence.
He never left the the inside rail and as his rivals made mistake after mistake he was happy to to ping his way up the leader’s inner and take it up entering the straight.
He wasn’t going to be caught and I had another £70 in the kitty going into a good weekend of action.
However, as loyal readers have become accustomed to recently, this month didn’t end well.
I came down with a terrible bout of seconditis overnight, much to the bookies delight. Star Of Rory (£40 each way) wandered up the straight to throw away victory at Warwick, Charbel (£20 win) couldn’t match Top Notch at Kempton and Magic Dancer (£10 each way) couldn’t hold on over the same course.
Together with two thirds, First Assignment and Calett Mad, I was left collecting pennies off the each way returns.
The frustration continues, but I am hoping the betting gods are going to send me a bit of luck in time for March 12.