THE BERNIE THE BOOK COLUMN
LECLERC TO STEER THE PRANCING HORSE AND WREST FORMULA ONE CROWN FROM RED BULL
Last year was a dis- appointment for the Tifosi of Ferrari, a blistering start to the season with CHARLES LECLERC leading after three rounds but then reliability issues and some strange pit lane tactics ultimately led to total domination by Max and Red Bull. And let’s be honest, Formula 1 is the ultimate Marmite sport but for motor enthusiasts, it is the only sport. And let’s be further
honest, presently only three teams and six drivers can compete in a 20- horse field: Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, so from a betting parlance it is significantly more interesting than some other betting opportunities. And from a betting perspective where the each way terms are 1/3 the first 2, the likely profits at a price of 5/1 far outweigh the potential loss. Let’s look at the evidence; all reports in the press suggest Mercedes is still in catch up mode with its 2023 car still not performing to expectations. So strike a line through Hamilton and Russell, especially as Lewis is constantly in the press for none motor sport conversations and George is not prepared to be a number two driver, ipso facto… points divided (fine for the constructor’s title, not so fine for the driver’s). Ferrari though is beefing up its car and has a fine driver in Leclerc, who might be just coming of age. With reliability issues seemingly fixed, the 5/1 pre-season is an unbelievable price, especially as backing each way, a 10 unit each way investment (20 units) would still yield a return of 26.66 units if coming second. A win would return 86.66 units. And who is to say Red Bull is going to be as dominant as last year? Yes, take the 5/1 now before the Bahrain Grand Prix on 5 March.
The Champions League is certainly hotting up and I hope readers took my advice on Napoli at a whopping 14/1 in my column last month - they are currently 6/1. And now the first legs have been played, a lot of the more fancied teams are already effectively out…just ask Jurgen. With that in mind most firms are offering a TO QUALIFY
PHTM MARCH 2023
market and my eight to progress in an eight timer are: Benfica, Dortmund, PSG, Spurs, Porto, Napoli, Man City and Real Madrid. The acc pays a remarkable 96/1 and bear in mind there is no away goals rule in Europe any more, making the task of a team in a goalless away result slightly easier – got to be worth a tenner surely? And so to Cheltenham and my final suggestions. In last month’s column I opined the following: STAYERS HURDLE: TEAHUPOO (11/4). BROWN ADVISORY (formerly RSA): Serial Cheltenham winner, SIR GERHARD (7/1). CHAMPION CHASE: EDWARDSTONE (5/2). CHAMPION BUMPER: CHAPEAU DE SOLEIL (8/1). BOODLES: COMFORT ZONE (10/1). My view point hasn’t changed but allied to that is the following, especially as my previous fancies are running with the possible exception of Comfort Zone on Wednesday-Friday onwards. NB: All prices correct at time of writing (B365) and crucially NRNB. SUPREME: Why not start the meeting off with a bang with IL ETAIT TEMPS 9/2 with an each-way saver on HIGH DEFINITION 16/1. ARKLE:DESERT DYNAMO at a mouth watering 6/1…back each way as a certainty to be placed. NATIONAL HUNT CHASE: They say the favourite (GdM) is bomb proof….not for me, I think Gordon will turn him over with CHEMICAL ENERGY at 7/1. TURNERS: In a race sure to cut up back BANBRIDGE for O’Brien Junior again at a working man’s price of 5/1.
So there’s your 10 bets for this year’s Festival – but for occasional punters who want an interest for the week, most bookmakers are offering Specials. To my mind the stand out bet (at a price) is MOST WINNERS BY OWNER and the legend that is J P McManus, purely on
number of horses, will hose up AND I DO MEAN HOSE at an unbelievable 6/4. Sometimes value is not always at double figure prices. Good Punting…
Bernie the Book 83
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