Following our successful angle at the Aintree Grand National meeting whereby we back those horses at Aintree that failed to perform at Cheltenham for one reason or another, I have another such angle for the Punchestown ‘5’ day meeting that started on Tuesday. It’s one that I shared with my Betting Doctor readers a few years back and has proved successful since.
It revolves around laying short priced selections and at Punchestown this usually involves laying the big stars of the National Hunt season, the ones that have been winning consistently over the previous months and that are again appearing at the last major National Hunt festival of the season over in Ireland.
For more years than I care to remember I’ve been totally puzzled why so many so-called experts continue to tip heavily ‘Odds On’ selections at the back end of the National Hunt season – particularly at the Punchestown. The same can be said when backing ‘Odds On’ at the end of the official Flat season.
I, too, was guilty of following these short-priced favourites many years ago on one of my many visits to Punchestown. I’ve since learned my lesson and won’t touch them with a bargepole. Instead I will look to ‘Lay’ such selections after their long and hard campaign with many running at most of the major jump meetings like Cheltenham and Aintree not long before Punchestown.
These animals are not machines and it appears this meeting is just a step too far for most of the major stars and as such are ripe for laying. You could argue then why are they entered? Well, that can be down to various reasons, not least the prize money on offer, trainer championship and of course owners pressure from ‘some’ owners. Anyway who cares about the reasons, the fact is they offer very bad value.
Below are two on the first day already that have been beat, Douvan finishing 2nd at 4/5!
…and Getabird been unplaced at11/10!
So do look out for any short priced favourite around 6/4 or less and consider laying if they’ve had a long hard campaign.
Until next week!