You might have thought a week after Royal Ascot things would be quieting down for a week or two – but not for this scribe.
Prepare for my latest Good, Bad & Ugly column!
Probably the only time this will ever happen – but this week this part of the column features me. But not just me – me and Tom Marquand. I can’t have people thinking I’m too important!
As many of you will know, I do tips for Sun Racing on days when there is racing on ITV, and it’s fair to say I smashed the bookies on Saturday.
Five out of the seven went in, including Who Dares Wins in the Northumberland Plate at 12-1 (tipped at 14-1), Staxton (15-2), Invincible Army 10-11 (my nap backed in from 15-8), Limato 11-4 and Summer Romance, backed from 6-4 to 5-6.
I’m not gloating about the winners, as we all know there are plenty of losers along the way. Nature of the beast and all that.
But it was so nice reading small-stake punters who had made a fabulous profit, like Paul who sent me the picture above – he staked £19.20 and won £1288.50. That is pretty cool.
Who Dares Wins was given an absolute peach by Tom Marquand, who is having a breakthrough season.
He’s champion jockey material for the future, although don’t tell Oisin Murphy!
News this week that funding for a crucial jockeys’ insurance scheme, which has helped the likes of top man Freddy Tylicki and Ryan Hatch after their careers were ended by injury, is in jeopardy following the decision by long-term backer the Stobart Group to end its association with the Professional Jockeys Association.
When a jockey goes out to ride, he or she risks her life every time. That is the simple fact of the matter. Insurance is absolutely key, although not all riders will be able to afford what no doubt someone like Frankie Dettori can.
If you have a company thinking to invest and boost profile this will give you loads of publicity. Think about it.
The Irish Derby at the weekend was a total shambles.
Jockeys riding tactically shambolic races and a horse put in the field to provide each-way betting were the main two factors in a farcical event.
Anthony Van Dyck is a lot better than we saw, and my view that Broome needs a week in The Priory was confirmed. His starting ability is limited to zero. A race for the dustbin.
