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Guest Selector – Des Coppins
Greetings John and Fortuna followers.
While understanding that the jumping races don’t always generate high turnovers I reckon we all still love watching high class jumping spectacles as was clearly the case at Riccarton last Saturday.
Maybe our punting mindset will change this weekend as all three winners of the jumps races at Riccarton posted a dividend of $3 or less!
DAVID AND GOLIATH EPIC AWAITS US
Like most jumping enthusiasts I’m eagerly awaiting the clash of “David” and “Goliath”in Saturday’s rich Grand National Steeples.
It’s the new kid on the block, Jesko, the “David”, the star of the winter against the “Goliath” , the reigning champion, West Coast.
They gave us a taste on Saturday in the lead up and while Jesko will start favourite you’d have to think the steady improvement that West Coast has shown this season will have him peaking for the race that has belonged to him in the last three years.
If West Coast wins he will become the first horse to win the race 4 times. In winning it for the third time last year he equalled that of Agent in the 1870’s.
However, if Jesko wins, he will give jockey Shaun Fannin his 4th to join Ken Browne and Shaun Phelan as the most successful.
To mark the 150th anniversary of the great race the stake is a very healthy $200,000 this year.
KORAL – A FLASHBACK TO RICCARTON’S FAVOURITE
Saturdays National is the 60th anniversary of the great Riccarton favourite, Koral’s win as a five year old.
When it came to Riccarton no horse will ever boast the record that this Kurdistan galloper gave to his fans at Riccarton, season after season.
Check this out. He won the National, the year after winning the Homeby Steeples as a 4-y-o. He then started to re-write history with Homeby wins from 1965, ‘66 ( second in ‘67), winning again in ‘68,’69, ‘70, ‘71 and finally in 1972 as an 11 year old. Each of those incredible 7 wins he was ridden by his trainer Bill Hillis. He also won four Lincoln Steeplechases at Riccarton ( later renamed the Koral) from as a 5yo to an 11yo. All told he won 12 open chasing events at Riccarton!
SIMPLE PUNTING GUIDELINES
For the record I’m a lifelong casual punter.
I’ve seldom bet on sports; my harness or greyhound bets are extremely rare and I bet on gallops as it all adds to a little extra excitement when watching a race.
In the 50 years I’ve been involved in a professional capacity in racing I’ve often had to chew the fat with fellow punters over why I backed this or that and what systems I have in place, if any.
I’ve fielded all sorts of questions in my time on punting strategies.
It’s not always easy but for what it’s worth allow me to pass on a few pointers when it comes to placing a bet.
Often my understanding of the game works but obviously not all the time but that doesn’t stop me facing such an enjoyable challenge Some of this information I’ve set out in question form you maybe well aware of and therefore treat it accordingly.
Q: How important is betting discipline?
A: Discipline is crucial. Always bet within your means. I’ve often said to newcomers to a race to take what they can afford to the races, say $100 for betting and $100 for food and drink and if you still have $100 in your kick at the end of the day you’re winner!
Q: How serious do you I take betting?
A: Every time I place a bet I’m out to win but the fun aspect is never lost. I’m a good loser. I might mumble under my breath on what might have been had the horse been ridden differently but it’s important to always take it on the chin and never stress about it.
Q: Should you bet on every race if you’re on a roll?
A: Never bet haphazardly. It’s not impossible but it’s very difficult to get a collect in every race on any given day and on the other hand if the day isn’t going well never chase your losses. There’s always another day.
Q: What about odds on favourites. Do you play them in say multi or exotic anchors?
A: Never assume that any horse has the race at its mercy but yes, I’m an anchor man with the exotics but that doesn’t always mean that my anchor is an odds on favourite.
Q: How much study goes in?
A: Hours upon hours for one race day for my email tipping service. I study the form of every horse in a race that’s opposing the horse I’m prepared to label. Horse racing is a game of opinions. If I can’t satisfy myself how a race will play out when nominating a potential good bet and understand why it should go close to winning I clearly don’t know the race well enough.
Q: What tools do I use to assist in the judgement call?
]A: Fifty years ago it was all about compiling form lines by attending the races and watching the races unfold. I did this through a short-hand system either watching the race and knowing the jockeys colours or through the race commentator. Thirty years ago the DVD racing tapes were used as a source of finding a next up winner; very time consuming but necessary. Today we’re blessed with quick access to all the variables we need and highlighted by quick replays of former races via the Love Racing website. I can’t do without the replays and again time consuming but a real blessing and well worth it.
I’m fortunate enough to set aside “time”: to watch these replays and I get it that not everyone has this “time” privilege.
>> Q: What do I view as the best types of bets?
A: I’m a fan of playing the exotics from time to time like quaddies, trifectas and first 4’s. There’s real value in each of these. I also try to play the insurance game to cover my investments on the exotics with 2 or 3 each way or even just a place bet or three when I think it matters.
Q: How important is the jockey?
A: A good jockey may not win you the race but a bad ride can lose it for you but if the horse is not up to scratch it won’t win and therefore it doesn’t matter how great the jockey may be. In the winter as we all know those full scale apprentice allowances on the winter tracks are worth their weight in gold. In summarising I always pick the horse for the race, not the jockey.
Keep enjoying the races and keep backing winners!
Spring is just around the corner and the Taupo trials the other day gave us a taste of some of the quality that’s out there and simply waiting for the right races on improved tracks.
THREE UNLUCKY RUNNERS FROM LAST WEEK
ABANDONMENT: slow to begin in the r65 at Riccarton last Saturday over 1600m. In just start number two you had to be impressed with the way he attacked the line to run third.
ROYAL VALOUR: Far from disgraced in the Winter Handicap ( 1600m). He was the quickest over the last 800 and only the winner was quicker over the last 200m
SOUNDWAVE: charged into second in his second run at Ruakaka last Saturday and he clearly is a one who won’t be a maiden for long. Watch him closely at the next Ruakaka meeting. He’s bred to be a star over ground. His grand dam Everswindell won in a NZ Cup.
Good punting!
Des Coppins
021 448 052
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