BE CAREFUL OUT THERE

Right – so we all have our bets on, do we? Now consider this :

Big race meetings are , on balance , poor to average punting opportunity events. So you need to determine whether it is fun or profit you are seeking before you over commit to your Met day activities; otherwise Saturday evening could have you feeling both deflated and broke.

I recall that when I was a ‘hardcore’ racegoer the most pleasantly memorable Mets were those when I had NOT ONE BET but rather spent the afternoon socializing or trying to save the once a year racegoers (I backed him because I like the colour of his tail) from ruining themselves and taking out lifetime membership of the ‘It’s a crook sport’ society.

To prove my point I go right back to 1973 – the first time that the Met became a conditions race as opposed to a handicap.

It didn’t start well in 1973 ( my very first Met ) when we had the ODDS-ON wonder horse In Full Flight rolled by Gold Flame. Including that date we have had no less than 10 Met winners whom you could safely label as ‘proper roughies’; in that they started at 10/1 or bigger. They were :

Gold Flame, Queen’s Elect, Charles Fortune, Fearless Streaker, Pas De Quoi, Imperious Sue, Bunter Barlow, Alastor, River Jetez & Martial Eagle.

That’s 10 out of 41 or 24%(!) if you prefer and I haven’t even touched on the winners that were fancied but not favourites.

What I am really trying to say is this : You have an extraordinarily good chance of finishing in the money in this event if you look beyond the top of the boards despite the widely held contention that the conditions favour the better rated horse. The facts suggest otherwise.

The best thing about Met day is that you do have a genuine ‘get out of it’ opportunity in the last – the J & B Reserve Stayers event. My records are not as accurate on this one but I cannot recall more than one favourite winning this one since its inception. So draw a line through the favourite and start from there.

I spent years loading my accounts for the big festival meetings,saving up to gamble more at Ascot and Cheltenham.
Even taking annual leave around the big meetings,only once can i remember a happy ending !

Do they have racing in Thailand Bob?

Haaa haaa.. @ Scotia X(

Garrick - you very busy with your posts!! Are you racing on course tomorrow?

No. Can't even decide on 'which drink?' at big, busy meetings let alone 'which horse?'

What's in a name?
Last year, the theme of the Met gave a strong hint to the winner - made to fly = Martial Eagle
Have the marketing department of J&B done it again this year?
Made to Conquer:
Master of my Fate is from the poem Invictus and clearly fits the theme. Add to that the connection to Madiba as this was reportedly a poem that inspired him and hence the title of the movie, in the the first Met after his passing, and the case is for this one is even stronger.
Jackson, presumably named for General Stonewall Jackson would also fit the bill.
King of Pain and Royal Zulu Warrior would also be in keeping with the theme.
So, perhaps this year they have gone one better and the theme predicts the quartet.

So who needs to study form ?