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With October signifying the return of trench coats and flat caps to the racing scene, we thought we'd introduce you to two of our in-house racing experts, Steve High representing the Flat, and Andy Richmond in the NH corner, to go head-to-head.Gentlemen, Britain and Ireland have many devout followers of Flat and National Hunt racing, but not necessarily both. Why do you prefer one over the other? 
SH: To me it is the excitement of the Flat and, in particular, two-year-olds - the youngest racing recruits. It means I can start anew every year when the fresh racing legs stretch out on Doncaster's Town Moor in their first attempts to win a race. When the stalls open for the first race - traditionally the Brocklesby - no-one knows any more than anyone else about how the juvenile form will unfold. From that day forward, new clues are revealed and those who assess them best and adapt the quickest will win out. New stars can appear on any day with a clock-stopping performance at Pontefract or a scintillating wide-margin victory at Ascot. The challenge is to find that special one that will catapult your season into profit or encourage you to part with that sparing ante-post Guineas bet. 
AR: For me NH racing has a far more down to earth appeal, it is a better spectacle and has a far greater longevity than anything the flat has to offer. The fact we have a manageable amount of NH meetings means it's a lot easier to keep tabs on the form with horses coming back year after year. Finally, quite simply I feel that any day at a NH meeting can produce a new star, quite unexpectedly - what I call the "wow factor". This was never better exemplified by two horses from last year - Denman whose performance at Cheltenham was breathtaking and the unbeaten Black Jack Ketchum who never stopped improving. October is a month of transition with the Flat season coming to an end and the National Hunt gearing up - does this mean a period of celebration or hibernation for you? SH: It's my final reckoning. My betting stops abruptly when the hooves of next year's Classic prospects pass the post for the Racing Post Trophy in an attempt to make an impact in next year's Derby betting - normally back at Doncaster where we began. After that, the rain gets into the ground and I leave the final couple of weeks to the needy and the greedy. The time comes to re-acquaint myself with my family, clear out my Betfair account (leaving a little to build up my ante-post Classic interest) and assess whether next year's holiday destination will be Bermuda or Bognor. AR: Celebration!!...although I'll use this section to admit that I do like some flat racing, once Champions Day at Newmarket has come and gone its full speed ahead for Wetherby and the Charlie Hall Chase, closely followed by the first big Cheltenham Meeting of the year. Hunt fans have Cheltenham and Flat enthusiasts have Royal Ascot - but are there any other jewels in your season you love to get involved in? SH: I always have an interest in the Guineas meeting (see below), but there are a number of high profile two-year-old races which fill me with anticipation. At Glorious Goodwood, the Richmond and the Molecomb are historically lucrative races, and there are a couple of high-class nurseries which provide an exciting challenge. It often marks the turning point of the season for me. Towards the end of the season it all centres around Newmarket - firstly the Houghton Meeting at the end of September - featuring the Middle Park and the Cheveley Park Stakes as well as a good Sales Race - and then Champions Day, which promises to be particularly noteworthy this year. However, there is one race that stands head and shoulders above all others in terms of pure profitability. For whatever reason, the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy has been an extraordinary revenue-earner and has to rate as my favourite race. AR: Well after Cheltenham we still have the Aintree National meeting to look forward to so I would have to say that was a highlight along with the Ayr Scottish Grand National Meeting which I have always enjoyed. Any meeting at Cheltenham is always a pleasure - one of the best amphitheatres for sport anywhere in the world. But part of the appeal of NH racing is also to be found at the grass roots of the sport and smaller courses such as Plumpton, Newton Abbot and Wincanton are always a delight too. For those of you lucky to travel or be in the north, make sure you discover the unique experience of Cartmel and the hidden jewel of the Scottish borders, Kelso. What factors do you look for in the formbook, both for and against a runner? SH: With two-year-olds it is all about form. You can speculate whether a horse likes one distance better than another or whether it will prefer soft or firm ground, but all of that is generally insignificant compared to getting the value of getting the form right. Back the best horse (at the weights) in every race, regardless of conditions or trip and you will win in the long run. You just have to get the form right. AR: Formbooks are only part of my armoury now and there are lots of other sources of information that I use, with trends and statistics forming the bedrock of my punting approach. Having said that, the majority of my NH punting is based around handicap chases and I've used four general principles to keep things simple: weight is not a factor, having the horse in the right class is; pay particular attention to young chasers; horses need to be suited by both track and trip; and they and their stables need to be in good form. 
You've obviously been keen on racing for many years - but how has Betfair changed the way you bet? SH: Betting at Work policy notwithstanding, it has completely revolutionised my betting. Until Betfair arrived I would bet four or five bets a week and only one bet on each race. Since Betfair, my turnover has gone up at least tenfold and profits have leapt. Now I will bet on most days (during the flat season) - probably betting between two and four selections in a race. I can put up speculative bets at an optimistic price - just in case a favourite drifts out to a backable price. Laying is another option, but one I use sparingly now. If you lay a horse, you are effectively backing all the others in the race, and usually there are some you really don't want to be backing. AR: Greatly, not only has it given me greater freedom by being able to lay horses outright - every day I see examples of horses which will not be suited by the track, trip or need longer between their races - but also employ strategies that involve the running styles of horses, such as lay to back or occasionally the reverse and obviously you have more time and a race takes longer to develop over the jumps to employ these tactics. It also allows me to play the ante-post market - to modest stakes over the winter - and ensures that if I do get one right I'll be able to lay off and cover my stakes, almost impossible in pre-Betfair days. What is your favourite race/meeting of the year - both locally and abroad? SH: My betting might stop, but the two-year-old season doesn't really end until the Guineas. To me it is the Championship for juveniles - the culmination of my year's work. One of each sex and all comers are welcome - bluebloods from Godolphin or Coolmore or bargain beasts residing in less illustrious surroundings such as Pam Sly's Cambridgeshire stable. I normally have an ante-post slip to take me through the winter and, whether it ends up being a Celtic Swing or a Haafhd, it is a truly magical weekend. As for racing abroad, the Breeders' Cup has to be the highlight. It may not be the most lucrative in strict betting terms, but the quality of the racing cannot be faulted. The magical moments from the Breeders' Cup keep coming and year after year it doesn't disappoint. I will be there one day. AR: Locally - well sorry to be predictable, but it would have to be Cheltenham, quite simply the best four days of racing anywhere in the world. A particular race is far harder to pick out as there are so many highlights throughout the season, but any of the big NH handicaps would be right up there, from the Hennessey through to the Whitbread, sorry, BetFred Gold Cup (old habits die hard). Abroad, it would have to be over the Irish Sea where the meeting at Leopardstown in early Feb is required Cheltenham viewing with the Punchestown Festival a close second. Favourite jockey and trainer? Any under-rated ones you care to share with us? SH: My own view is that the effect of jockeys is overstated and therefore backing a traditionally unpopular jockey such as Richard Hills can be profitable. Many Betfair users will lay him regardless of the horse and when the horse is up to the job, it can give you better value. Other than that, I will always look for a decent apprentice who will give value for their claim. Marc Halford is an obvious example this year, whilst Kirsty Milczarek is well worth her claim. I don't have any particular favourite trainer - though I like to see Bryan Smart do well as I used to have a share in a couple of horses with him when he was in Lambourn. I will assess the horse first and then look at the trainer form. There may be some I will avoid, but the trainer will more often give me a clue as to what price I can expect. Horses from the bigger stables are often backed so taking a price as early as possible is advisable. Where the trainer is less familiar - perhaps James Bethell and Ian Semple - bigger prices may be available as the market develops. AR: I take it we are talking present tense here, so I'll take the jockeys first with an Irish duo Ruby Walsh and Timmy Murphy, two incomparable horsemen - Murphy on a hold-up horse is a magnificent sight, the training one is a little harder but Paul Nicholls is always much respected along with the ever improving Alan King, whose handling of his two stars Voy Por Ustedes and My Way De Solzen was superb this year. In the under-rated category I'd like to put in a word for Robert "Chocolate" Thornton who again contributed much to the success of the King yard last year. Finally keep an eye on these three amateurs...S P Jones, R Tierney and D England, all worth their current 7lb claims, in particular you should try and see the Jones ride on Sonoma at Fontwell and the Tierney ride on Nabir at Market Rasen and in the training ranks if chasers are your game pay attention to the up-and-coming Ben Pollock stable. |
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