Angus McNae
Going the shortest way - the lesser of two weasels!
30 July 2012
Today's Selection
7.35 Wolverhampton - Rising Legend
It was good to be back in the Racing UK studio yesterday after two weeks of being a man of leisure. I would like to say that I slipped seamlessly back into the groove, but in truth I was a little ring rusty. Yesterday will have blown the cobwebs away ahead of my involvement in Glorious Goodwood this week. I enjoy the Glorious meeting even if from a punting point of view it is trickier than a bag of particularly recalcitrant weasels.
Unlike some I do not have a set of punting rules when it comes to Goodwood. As ever backing the fastest horse in the race is the best way to go. I do believe, however, the theory that you need to have a wide trip in order to avoid trouble on the inside is bogus. Whenever I have a bet I want the jockey on my horse to go the shortest way and save ground and the configuration of a track does not alter that view. Yes going around the inside carries the inherent risk of getting boxed in or not getting a run, but the trade-off is to lose valuable ground by traveling wide and thereby having little chance of winning. At least if you go the shortest way round you are giving yourself a chance to win, going wide around turns gives you next to no chance. Make sure you watch Racing UK’s excellent 3D analysis of how to ride Goodwood by clicking here.
Our selection on Saturday finished second, beaten a neck, which was a tad frustrating. Hopefully we can have a decent start to the week with Rising Legend in the 7.35 at Wolverhampton. This Richard Hannon-trained horse made a promising debut at Newmarket before not really handling the track at Epsom on his second start and he then got bogged down in really heavy ground. This is an ideal opportunity to get his career back on track for it looks to be a modest event.
I am at home today and am planning on getting a few jobs done to leave the way clear for me to concentrate on my Racing UK duties later this week. If I can I will be trying to get my eye in as far as racing is concerned by watching the action from Ayr today and if I have a bet let’s hope my jockey does not take the scenic route.
Have a good day.
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