BEST AND WORST BETS
JANE MANGAN BEST
NICK LUCK BEST
A triumph for reading the trainers as much as the horses. When Master Minded won the handicap chase preceding the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January 2008, I was sure Paul Nicholls wouldn’t be able to resist going for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and took the 25-1 on offer. A victory over Voy Por Ustedes in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury confirmed the target and, like everyone else, I was in shock aſter Master Minded’s 19-length win at Cheltenham.
WORST I’ve had a long-standing affiliation with the Gifford family and so my interest in Straw Bear for the 2006 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was more than merely a financial one. Leicester and Folkestone weren’t the obvious places to look for Grade 1 winners in Cheltenham but Straw Bear and AP McCoy jumped the final obstacle with a three-length lead. Cue more Ruby Walsh magic as Noland came from the clouds to land the spoils by a neck.
The 23-5 scoreline in favour of the Irish at last year’s Festival would have been more emphatic but for Porlock Bay’s win – by a short head from Willie Mullins’ Billaway – in the Hunters’ Chase (watch here). This was one race I was happy to see stay at home with the Brits – the Irish had dominated it in recent years but didn’t have a stand-out candidate and I was very keen on Porlock Bay. It was a desperately close finish and I had an anxious few moments before being able to celebrate a 16-1 winner.
WORST Not so much a punting experience – as I was too young to bet at the time – but a crushing one nevertheless. Beef Or Salmon went up against reigning Gold Cup winner Best Mate in 2003. I idolised the horse, who had just won the Irish Gold Cup, and didn’t hesitate to put all my chips on him in the family tipping competition, which I had led from the start. Beef Or Salmon came down at the third and I got caught. Tears before bedtime!
Jane’s tip Porlock Bay (near) was a rare winner for the Brits last year - but only just 10 RACING TV CLUBMAGAZINE
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