In an uncertain world, can you bear the loneliness of the value-seeking punter?
There was a time, not so long ago, when the world was a simple place to negotiate. There were only two types of coffee; chicken tasted like chicken; and delusional orange narcissists didn't get elected to high office.
There were certainties you could rely on – death, taxes and a low draw in sprints at Chester was my own mantra – but even the Chester thing is looking a little shaky these days.
I was reading a tipping piece in the Post on the first day of the May meeting at the Roodee, in which our expert pointed out that since everybody knows about the benefits of a low draw, it's not much use as a betting tool anymore. In fact, it's only handy if you're prepared to subvert it, on the basis that low numbers are overbet and therefore high numbers are the way to go. Which is all very well until your horse drawn 11 gets into more pockets than the Artful Dodger and runs on frantically to finish a never-nearer fourth.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
- Cash injection or switching dates might be needed to stop the Guineas becoming irrelevant
- The Derby day winner from North Yorkshire who is making the training game look easy
- Ascot's smart approach to selling racing tells us we can be royalty - even if just for one day
- Sectional timings for the Derby suggest City Of Troy isn't the only Ballydoyle star worth following
- It's clear mainstream coverage of the Derby is lost at the weekend - so perhaps it's time to move it back to Wednesday
- Cash injection or switching dates might be needed to stop the Guineas becoming irrelevant
- The Derby day winner from North Yorkshire who is making the training game look easy
- Ascot's smart approach to selling racing tells us we can be royalty - even if just for one day
- Sectional timings for the Derby suggest City Of Troy isn't the only Ballydoyle star worth following
- It's clear mainstream coverage of the Derby is lost at the weekend - so perhaps it's time to move it back to Wednesday