The interesting thing for me with flat racing is seeing how progeny of quality performers get on, last year it was New Approach and this year we have Sea The Stars progeny hitting the racecourses. I think there are too many bad meetings, especially with small fields and uncompetitive races. We also have too many meetings on evenings, and too many "feature" racedays with bands and the malarkey. I much prefer going jumps racing, a day out at Cheltenham, Sandown, Wincanton et al is far more preferable than a day out with the drunks at Royal Ascot, racenights with The Saturdays, and dare I say it, even Glorious Goodwood.
Winning at Royal Ascot is easy – only bet on the first day when there are four or five quality Group races. Leave the handicaps alone. At Goodwood I think you just need to back Mark Johnston runners in the handicaps; and it does tend to throw up plenty of favourites and second favourites if the sun is out and the ground is decent. I learned to ignore the bookie fodder years ago – donkeys running on the all weather (when it is not flooded!) do not carry my money. If the stayers are not up to scratch, then St Nicholas Abbey could theoretically clean up; however, two warnings: St Nicholas Abbey needs fast ground (according to the trainer) and has a terrible record going right-handed (Ascot, Longchamp).
I'm inclined to agree with QM re St Nicholas Abbey. This horse has never run a good race at Ascot, and as we all know Ascot can be abit of a specialists track, and some horse's just cannot take to it. So I don't see him filling the cup horse gap for AOB, as the Gold Cup at Ascot is the pinnacle of that division and SNA clearly doesn't like the place
From a betting perspective York is my fav track on the flat & Goodwood (as much as it's beautiful)is without doubt the hardest to turn a pound note.
I think both Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood offer the best betting opportunities of the summer. As Quarter Moon points out if you stick to the group races then you have a good chance of making a profit. Also I feel by Goodwood the form from Ascot usually works out as there is a decent break between each meeting to rest the top horses. The same cannot be said for the gap between Cheltenham and Aintree. I really think there should be a month long gap at least between these 2 meetings.
Flat racing pisses all over jumps racing IMO it's all about how good the horse is on the day not that the other 8 have fell and I'm the winner . Your looking for the average 2 year olds turning into 3 year old big handicappers and then into 4 year old group horses then we have the 5 classics RA York Newmarket champions day GG and many more great flat meetings . Must admit the aw brings it down but not as much as some of the hideously poor jumps meetings on a Monday ! This country is privileged to have so much racing I think it's the downfall.
Agreed, apart from Cheltenham, Aintree and about 5 Saturdays there is **** all else any good about the jumps, **** weather, nobody there. I love evening meetings in summer even if the quality isn't that good and the midweek festivals come regularly as well. The AW should be ****ed off completely and anyone who bets on it is a mug.
well it looks like the Lincoln could be abandoned due to heavy snow forecast for the area on Saturday. if so it has got to be the worst Saturday for sport ever - no racing, prem league football and the 6 nations has finished
Yeah I'm in Leeds and the forecast is due to be quite bad here with snow, and even worse just south of us, can't see the Saturday having a chance to be fair. I'm not into the flat as much as the old jumps game, although I find it easier betting wise and love it when it gets going. Definitely would agree as above, Goodwood is an absolute nightmare for me when trying to win money, but York is a dream, I can count two occasions (I kid you not!) when I have walked away having had 4 of the 6/7 winners on the day.
I rarely go racing any more. I used to get free tickets for every Ascot meeting but the bank crises put paid to that. There are a number of reasons for not going but the primary one is that by the time I have got there and back and paid to get in etc I could have had a £100 bet in the first race. The only advantage to going in my book is atmosphere and paddock watching. Oh and I dont care if its it flat or jumps, turf or all weather, group or handicap. ....if I can make money from it then its all good for me! Agree with Galaxy.....I can never win at Goodwood
I like both equally so look forward to the start of the flat now after seeing the best NH horses at Cheltenham. Hopefully the weather illwill come good and we get to see good proper racing.
