The powers that be at GG towers have asked me to review my tipping performance over 2016, so here goes…
January got off to a flyer with two winners from three bets on New Year’s Day – Singlefarmpayment (9-2 from 8-1) was a winner for trend horses and Moon River (8-1 from 10-1) did the business for Track Bias Diary – and the good run continued throughout the month with a record profit of +90.31 points at advised prices. One of the most satisfying selections was the four points advised on Fujin at 15-8, who scored easily at odds of 8-11. I now use this as my ‘benchmark bet’ for four-point selections, asking myself the question “am I as confident as I was when Fujin won at Southwell?”.
February
I hit the front when Welliesinthewater scored at Southwell on 4 February but that was the only time that I was in the black for the month, though the final figure of –7.00 points was far from disastrous. Near misses included Azzuri (second of seven at 25-1 after advised win only at 50s) and Rockliffe (second at 20-1 when advised each-way at 25-1), though the most frustrating result was Miracle Garden finishing second at 2-1 after we were on at the early 15-2.
March
A profit of +18.17 points was secured (I’ve also included the 2pts win on Grand National runner-up The Last Samuri in these figures, even though the race was in April). My Cheltenham festival bets showed a loss but the bread and butter All-weather bets saved the day, with Swift Cedar (5-1 from 8-1), More Spice (9-2 from 6-1), Winterlude (7-2 from 5-1) and Pirate’s Treasure (9-4 from 4-1) the highlights.
April
April has often been a tough month, as it’s atransitional period – the jumps season is coming to an end and the Flat turf season has yet to reach full swing. That said, we did scrape a tiny profit of +0.5pts thanks to 16-1 winner (advised at 20-1) You’re Fired, who has an incredible record on his second start each season. I should have just have just backed this one then gone on holiday for the remainder of the month. Remind me of this in 2017.
May
Rio Ronaldo, a 14-1 winner on the penultimate day of May, saved the month and helped secure a profit of +11.00pts.
June
June started well with Gawdawpalin‘s 25-1 success at Epsom on the 5th but I failed to kick on and ended with a profit of +21.25.
July
A profit of +31.25 points was secured in July, largely thanks to Theo’s Lolly (2 points win and 1 point place at 9-1) and Dunnscotia (1 point each-way at 20-1) on consecutive days (6th and 7th July).
August
A loss of -6.5 points was recorded in August, though it was lookjng much worse until Alpha Delphini (5-1 from 14-1) landed the Listed Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes on the 27th.
September
August’s loss was recovered with interest thanks to a profit of +16.25 points. [New Bidder]()’s 22-1 Curragh win (0.5pt each-way) was one of the highlights and the profits could have been even greater had 33-1 shot [Zhui Feng](), advised each-way (five places), not been drawn on the wrong side in the Cambridgeshire.
October
33-1 Doncaster winner [Muntadab](), advised each-way at 50-1 (0.5pt each-way), helped to contribute to a profit of +55.35 points on the month. On the subject of o.5pt each-way bets, this was the second winner this year and I’ve cost myself a fortune by not going for the full one point each-way option.
November
December
The year ended with an +8.5pt profit on the month. Simon Dow saved the day, with three winners including 6-1 three-pointer Forceful Appeal and 10-1 shot Presumido. Disappointment was Magic City‘s third at 11-8 after I’d advised a three-point win at the early 7-2.
Summary
Please note: this is a work in progress and I’ll be adding the remainder of the results over the next week or so, along with the figures for January 2017