JUMPS BOOK

I’m glad to announce that my new book ‘Racing Trends Revealed 2008/09 – The Road to Cheltenham’ hits the bookstands next week.

The format is similar to the Flat book but with a few extra features, including the official rating, along with the running style of the winner – front, prom or held.

The Future Pointers is also the same, apart form the extra emphasis given to what the winner, runner-up and third of each event went on to achieve at the Cheltenham Festival. This is a valuable tool that I have used in the ante-post markets.
For instance, once the Christmas Hurdle at Sandown has taken place and the winner predictably shortens in price for the Champion Hurdle, the stats in this book will highlight if past winners went on to glory at the Festival, or whether the race is a red herring? In some races, the runners-up actually have a better future record than the winner.

‘Racing Trends Revealed 2008/09 – The Road to Cheltenham’ is on sale now at a reduced price from High Stakes.
The opening race is on October 25 – the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow.


Moving back to the Flat, and though it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the Melbourne Cup takes place on the first Tuesday in November, making this Saturday of real relevance as it sees one of its key trials at Flemington in the Caulfield Cup.

Although there aren’t any International races such as the Melbourne Cup in the current Racing Trends Revealed Flat book, I’m hoping to introduce plenty for the third edition in 2010. Until then, I thought I’d highlight the record of the Caulfield Cup as a trial with a view to spotting a Melbourne Cup candidate.

There are currently prices available for the Melbourne Cup, and with Attheraces likely to show a recording of the race on Sunday, it could be worth viewing in the search for some value before the British bookmakers react on ‘lazy Sunday’.
I was on Purple Moon last year after a storming sixth in the Caulfield Cup and he went agonizingly close in the Melbourne Cup. Interesting to note that Luca Cumani goes again this year with Mad Rush who was an above-par winner of the Old Newton Cup (page 112 of the book). Cumani’s three winners of that Haydock event all went on to score again, including Alkaased. I wouldn’t expect Mad Rush to win the Caulfield, especially after these comments on Thursday: "Mad Rush is using the Caulfield Cup as a stepping stone to the Melbourne Cup," said Cumani. "He's in good form by all accounts but he's drawn a bit wide (17). But obviously we hope that he has an uncomplicated run and we can finish in the money somewhere."
Mad Rush currently trades at 12/1 for the Melbourne Cup.

Year – Melbourne Cup winner with age, weight, draw – (Position in Caulfield Cup)

2007 Efficient 4yo 8st9lb stall 10 of 21 - (NR)
2006 Delta Blues 5yo 8st11lb stall 11 of 23 - (3rd in Caulfield)
2005 Makybe Diva 7yo 9st2lb stall 14 of 24 - (NR)
2004 Makybe Diva 6yo 8st11lb stall 7 of 24 - (2nd in Caulfield)
2003 Makybe Diva 5yo 8st stall 15 of 23 - (4th in Caulfield)
2002 Media Puzzle 5yo 8st4lb stall 3 of 23 - (NR)
2001 Ethereal 4yo 8st2lb stall 13 of 22 - (won the Caulfield)
2000 Brew 6yo 7st10lb stall 24 of 22 - (NR)
1999 Rogan Josh 7yo 7st12lb stall 24 of 24 - (4th in Caulfield)
1998 Jezabeel 6yo 8st1lb stall 16 of 24 - (6th in Caulfield)
1997 Might And Power 4yo 8st11lb stall 2 of 22 - (won the Caulfield)
1996 Saintly 4yo 8st10lb stall 3 of 22 - (NR)
1995 Doriemus 5yo 8st8lb stall 23 of 21 - (won the Caulfield)

That’s all from me this week, I’ve not been in great form during the past two weeks including the cricket – which was triggered by Prince Kalamoun’s blowout – so will be taking the punting easy until the Top Of The Form chart starts to catch fire again, along with the start of the jumps season in early-November. But good luck to anyone having a bet at the weekend and I’ll be back with more updates early next week.

ps. at the risk of sounding obvious, Godolphin’s horses are belatedly flying with form-figures of 1122311711111234121 from their last 19 runners.