20/7/2001 edition

Horse Racing Betting Tips

Jockey watch

Punters regularly form opinions of jockeys by talking out of their pockets. It is understandable, and very easy to do. But if punters want to improve their returns from the game they need to have an objective assessment of jockeys.

One way of doing this is by seeing how jockeys ride when they have good mounts starting from wide barriers. The best jockeys will regularly get a decent position in the running, not always of course, because it is difficult to do. The worst jockeys will consistently be trapped wide throughout on their horses.

Adelaide plodders

On Saturdays, Adelaide races over 2000 metres plus are usually some of the day's worst metropolitan betting races. Massive form reversals are the norm and consistency is unheard of.

It was no different last Saturday. The day opened at Morphettville with a restricted plodders' race over 2024 metres. Tawtrice, a five year old gelding, with the ordinary record of four wins from 32 starts, led throughout and won by six lengths. He was beaten by over 12 lengths at his previous start!

The $2.00 favourite, Showgazer, who had won his previous start, finished second.

Was that a good run?

Here is what Sky Racing's Graham McNeice said last Saturday. First starter Geiger Gold was beaten by nearly 13 lengths in a 1200 metres 2YO Open, yet Graham McNeice told Sky Racing viewers that the "run in the race" was Geiger Gold. Did he accidentally use the wrong name?

If you are looking for runs in races you don't look for horses beaten out of sight. That filly has to improve many kilos next start just to be competitive.

Next pages
Future winners at big odds
First class win
John Hawkes - let's win
Form analysis
Why you should not be too forgiving
And more...

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