Patrick Lynch
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Dec- 2018 -5 December
Big Race Previews
Who Will Win the Mini-Grand National, a Showcase for the Real Thing?
The Becher Chase, a 3m 2f handicap Chase race, takes place this weekend at Aintree. It was only established in 1992, but since then, it has become something of a ‘training ground’ for future Grand National winners. Why? Because it is run over the same fences as its iconic bigger brother. It is not as long or as gruelling as…
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Nov- 2018 -28 November
Betting Knowledge
Can the Ladbrokes Trophy Find a Future Superstar?
The upcoming Ladbrokes Winter Carnival is Newbury’s winter highlight, and racing lovers especially look forward to the feature race, the Ladbrokes Trophy, which is for horses aged 4yo+. Although it is ‘only’ a Grade 3 handicap event, this 3m 2.5f test of stamina has a habit of highlighting horses worth following in the season’s major events. The Ladbrokes Trophy was…
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21 November
Betting Knowledge
Forgiving a Forlorn Run: Should You Risk Money on Horses That Failed to Finish Their Last National Hunt Race?
Admit it: You have dismissed horses in the past because they failed to finish their last National Hunt race. In some cases, it is a dangerous omission because there are a variety of reasons why a horse doesn’t complete a race. Perhaps the Going was all wrong, or the jockey misjudged a fence. Did you know that over 18% of…
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14 November
Big Race Previews
The Cheltenham Open – Finding the Next National Hunt Superstar
Although there have been numerous National Hunt events already, the Cheltenham Open is often regarded as the true beginning of the jumps season. In recent years, the Open’s importance has grown, and it is now a three-day meeting that attracts challengers from all around Europe. There are multiple Class 1 events and highlights include the BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase…
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7 November
Betting Angles
In the Long Run – Is Stamina a Defining Factor for Longer Races?
The weather is cold and wet which means one thing: The National Hunt season is upon us! The hurdles and fences are out, the going is sometimes Heavy, and the races are longer with every mistake capable of taking a horse out of a race. After backing a horse to win a 3m 4f Chase race on Heavy ground, your…
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Oct- 2018 -31 October
Betting Knowledge
Halloween Horror Show? Get Over it by Nabbing National Hunt November Profits
By the time you read this, the British Flat season will officially be over which means it is time to switch focus to the National Hunt scene. While summer Flat racing is associated with fancy hats, Pimm’s, and the occasional sunny day, we’re about to get deep down and dirty. National Hunt racing in the UK is traditionally a mucky…
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24 October
Big Race Previews
Doncaster Racing Post Trophy
Also known as the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes, the Racing Post Trophy takes place at Doncaster on October. It is a significant race for two reasons. First of all, it is the final Group 1 race of the British Flat season. Secondly, horses that perform well in this one-mile race for 2yo colts and fillies often feature prominently in at…
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17 October
Betting Knowledge
Ascot British Champions Day – The Home of World Class Horses
In UK Flat racing, it has become traditional to end the season with a spectacular feast of racing known as the QIPCO British Champions Day on October 20. Although there is a two-day meeting at Doncaster the following week which features the final Group One race of the season, the Champions Day at Ascot is now regarded as the end…
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10 October
Betting Knowledge
Should You Godolphin at the Dubai Future Champions Festival?
The Dubai Future Champions Festival has become an annual event and takes place at Newmarket each year. It is a celebration of the best 2yo horses in Britain and is a fitting appetiser for the following week’s Champions Festival at Ascot. Although these horses are unquestionably the future, punters are also interested in how these magnificent talents perform on the…
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3 October
Betting Knowledge
Bad Run or Bad Runner? Should You Back Horses That Failed to Finish Last Time Out in National Hunt Races?
For some punters, the form is everything which means dismissing a horse if it had a poor race last time out. Over the last year, I have analysed a lot of major races and found that most winners performed well in their previous race. However, this may only hold true for races at the highest level. In lower grade races,…
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Sep- 2018 -26 September
Betting Knowledge
Claiming Jockeys – Does the Weight Off a Make a Difference?
There are an estimated 750 jockeys in the United Kingdom. You may be surprised to learn that approximately 300 of them are amateurs while the other 450 are professionals. At the start of their career, all professionals are licensed as either Conditional (National Hunt) or Apprentice (Flat and All-Weather racing) jockeys. Initially, inexperienced jockeys receive a helping hand in the…
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19 September
Big Race Previews
Winning the Lottery – How Can You Pick A Winner of the Ayr Gold Cup?
It is no exaggeration to suggest that picking the winner of the Ayr Gold Cup is almost as tough as predicting the Grand National winner at Aintree! Just one favourite has won since 1996, and only two have emerged victorious since the 1970s! To be fair, the race is priced accordingly, and all but two winners since 1996 have done…
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12 September
Betting Knowledge
The St. Leger Stakes – Britain’s Oldest Classic
Autumn is truly a wonderful time of year for racing fans in the North of England. There is little time to rest after the excitement of the Ebor Festival at York, because the last of the Classics, the St. Leger Stakes, is upon us! It is part of a four-day festival which takes place at Doncaster Racecourse from 12-15 September.…
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5 September
Betting Knowledge
32 Red Sprint Cup at Haydock
The 3-day Sprint Cup Festival takes place from September 6 – 8 this year at Haydock Park, long regarded as one of Britain’s most attractive racecourses. The feature race, the Group 1 Sprint Cup, is the last top-level sprint race of the year and the 6-furlong dash normally brings a world-class field with Championship honours at stake. It is one…
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Aug- 2018 -29 August
Betting Angles
Should You Go Dutch? A Guide to ‘Dutching’ in Horse Racing
Legend has it that the term ‘dutching’ comes from the mobster Arthur Simon Flegenheimer, better known as Dutch Schultz. He was Al Capone’s accountant and was involved in various rackets including a racetrack. Schultz is credited with coming up with the idea of dutching in the 1920s. It is a system of betting used mainly in horse racing and football.…
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22 August
Betting Knowledge
Is York the Greatest Track in the UK?
Although it is only the third biggest racecourse in the UK in terms of prize money, and second (behind Ascot) regarding prize money per meeting, York racecourse is widely regarded as the #1 course in Britain. During the year, York hosts three Group 1 races: The Nunthorpe Stakes, the Juddmonte International Stakes, and the Yorkshire Oaks. All three take place…
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15 August
Betting Angles
Sprinters on the Rail – Should You Back Horses Drawn Low in Short Races?
Stalls were first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1965 for Flat races. For decades, stall #1 was always furthest to the left from a jockey’s perspective. For left-handed courses, it meant #1 was by the rail while on right-handed courses, #1 was drawn widest. The BHA changed everything, however, and since March 30, 2011, the #1 stall is the…
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8 August
Betting Knowledge
Horses New to Trainers – Who Performs Best?
Every so often, you will hear about a horse winning its first race with a new trainer. Does this mean the trainer has produced racing alchemy to boost the performance of a hitherto underwhelming horse? Perhaps the horse’s former trainer didn’t know how to get the best out of the animal. Alternatively, maybe the new trainer simply picked the right…
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Jul- 2018 -31 July
Betting Knowledge
Draw Bias at Goodwood
Of all the major festivals on the UK racing calendar, it is suggested that Glorious Goodwood has arguably the most extensive level of draw bias. It is something that has been spoken about for years. Back in 2009, Simon Rowlands of Betfair wrote about the bias for horses near the rails in the Mile Handicap; primarily due to a large…
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24 July
Betting Knowledge
Fitting the Bill: Does Your Selection Make Sense? A Simple Way to Analyse Your Horse Racing Picks
Even a 10-runner race can take a significant amount of time to analyse. Back in November 2011, Michael wrote a brief article entitled Finding Selections – The Beginner’s Guide and pointed out that professional bettors look at a vast array of factors. He mentioned eight of them and noted that in a race with ten horses, you would have 720…
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