Follow That Jockey #1: Fontwell



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Horse racing is a sport that has been bet on for years and years, and can be hard to predict, not least because horses can be temperamental at the worst of times. I’m sure if you have ever backed a horse, there have been times when the horse you have backed has reared in the stalls, or it has become unsettled halfway through the race, or it might have fallen at the last fence when leading by ten lengths. However, we are going to use a system that is simple to try and get a winning Saturday on the British racing, what we are all trying to do.

So with that in mind, we are going to simply follow the jockey with the best winning record at Fontwell races today. The idea being that the jockey knows the course better than the rest, all the nuances and quirks, and they are also just a high class jockey. Luckily for us, that jockey is one AP McCoy, the most successful jumps jockey of all time. So the idea is simple, we will place a one unit bet on each of AP McCoy’s rides at Fontwell and we will see how we end up at the end of the day.

2:15 Equiniti Supporting Queen Alexandra Hospital Home Novices’ Hurdle

No ride for McCoy in the first race of the day, so we can keep our powder dry for now.

>2:50 Clancy Docwra Supporting Royal Air Force Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase

Our first bet of the day is on Vermouth Blue. This is trained by Jonjo O’Neill. First run over fences for the horse, its best result being a second place in its fourth start, while finishing unplaced in its other races. Not the horse I would normally select, but we will use the system.

First race and we get unlucky as Vermouth Blue falls four out. To be fair, he didn’t look convincing the entire race, so the fall didn’t come as a surprise.

-1 unit

3:20 Morrison Utility Services Supporting The Army Handicap Hurdle

Again, no ride for McCoy in this race, so we can sit it out.

3:55 MTS Cleaning Supporting Royal Navy Handicap Chase

Our next bet of the day is on The Nephew, the top weight in this handicap race. 11 starts with 4 wins, and it’s McCoy riding for Jonjo O’Neill again. Definitely one of the standout horses in the race, and a selection I’m confident backing.

The Nephew looked good as he made all, and we have our first winner! A nice return of 11/4 as he wins by just over a length.

+2.75 units

4:30 Costain-MWH JV Commemorating Royal Sussex Regiment Handicap Hurdle

This time we are on ORSM, which AP McCoy is riding for Laura Mongan. The horse has had 12 starts, with one win and one second place. Not a bad horse for us to be on in this race, and I’m happy enough to be putting my one unit wager on it.

Second! Orsm looked the winner, but was headed 100 yards out by the 33/1 shot Aaly.

-1 unit

5:05 BTU Commemorating Royal Army Medical Corps Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase

Obviously no ride for McCoy in a conditional jockeys’ race. Sit this one out.

5:35 Mott MacDonald Commemorating Womens Land Army Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race

Last race of the day, it’s the bumper, as you would expect and in the lucky last we are on Father Edward. McCoy is riding for John Ferguson, and the horse has had two runs, with one win which was actually at Fontwell. Not the pick of the field, but definitely a horse I wouldn’t mind backing. Again, definitely please with this selection.

Another second! And this one was unlucky. Father Edward looked like an easy winner until the final furlong when his tank emptied and we were left to rue what might have been.

-1 unit.

Overall, it’s been a fun challenge. We had the best jockey on the course, got a nice price and if we had one more winner, we would have been in profit for the day. Still, a loss of 0.25 units isn’t too bad for a day’s racing. We’ll try it again next week, this time on one of the flat meetings instead of the National Hunt.