Only just signed up to this forum as the flat season (bar a few of the festivals) doesen't really excite me all that much. Good to see so many of the old 606 crowd on here though. I know to quite a few people on here ante post betting is up there with allowing convicted serial killers to perform vasectomy's using only a pair of garden shears, but this is aimed as those that like to dabble. I'm not a massive punter (more a £5, £10 win better) but I like to adopt a drip, drip strategy where I put £5 on here, £5 there and ultimately end up with a portential tidy return should the bets come in (and if they donât I've not really missed £5 a week). This has worked handsomely in the past Denman's first Gold Cup, Spain at Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010. It has also not worked so well Binocular's first crack at the Champion Hurdle, Master Minded in last seasons Queen Mother are good examples. So far I've been lucky in terms of my racing bets as I have always at least got a run for my money and none of my long term staking plans have got injured. Inevitably this is going to come to an end sooner or later but touch wood this continues for a good while yet. So far this year I'm running staking plans on Germany to win next years Euro's but from a racing perpective Peddler's Cross to win the Arkle. So far I've backed him at prices ranging from 14/1, 10/1, 8/1, 5/1 and was delighted with his first performance over the bigger obstacles at Bangor 2 weeks ago. Just wondering if people were to hypothetically pick one horse with a long term target to put a mythical £5 a week on who would it be and why? This is just a bit of fun and not designed to provoke any massive arguments about the pitfalls of ante post betting and the folly of backing a horse 4 months before the race takes place, we're all well versed on the arguments for and against on this.
Nice idea mate For me it would have to be Fingal Bay, some question mark about "which race" but he won so well over 2m5f the other day I would think the Albert Bartlett over 3 miles at the Festival is the logical target. Here's what connections said: Phillip Hobbs: "He won't want to go back in trip and might want three miles. "The Challow is an obvious target and we might even look at the Winter Hurdle at Sandown as well." Johnson added: "He did it well apart from the mistake - maybe I was in front too soon but he is very straightforward and the more you ask, the more he gives you. "He is a three-mile chaser in the making and is a very exciting horse." Also heard that Hobbs rates him the best horse he has ever had. What impressed me most was the way he went on down the back when Johnson asked him to quicken - relentless in front and would have won any distance had he not clattered the 2nd last. Even then he quickly regained his stride and powered up the hill
This was published yesterday. Decent read and perhaps even a half decent starting place http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/nov/17/ten-to-follow-jumps-season
Peddlers Cross for me too. Already have a decent antepost bet on him. Very happy with my position and the prices i got (9/1 with Labrokes). He is a worthy favourite and they will have to go some to beat him because he looks well capable of being every bit as good over fences as he was over hurdles. Obviously delighted with his first attempt at the bigger obstacles where his jumping could only be described as immaculate.
Welcome to not606 Furiousiceman I'm also in the Pedders camp, although some of mine in the Ten To Follow lists will oppose each other! I'm impatient for Spirit Son to show up as well
I suppose, if you're sensible (and can be bothered) , you put £10 every week at evens on Big Bucks for the next 17 weeks to the Festival; collect your £170 profit- thank you very much. It certainly beats those robbing High St banks! The rest of Cheltenham's ante-post races, well, they're just maybes and hopes and dreams. Big Bucks will win. Not a certainty, but you lay me Big Bucks and I'll take all the others.
Wayward Prince in the Gold Cup and Grand National. No certain to go for either race, not certain to be good enough to win either, but I'm sure they'll be looking at both these races for the horse as he has stamina to burn. A few fivers won't be missed but the price this horse is likely to be you could net yourself a very nice return....
