Calculated gamble pays off in fine style for perspicacious Portman

You could be forgiven for thinking racing is simply a game of chance.

It's a game in which thousands of horses are entered for races every week, and one in which the winner is often determined by myriad circumstances ranging from prevailing underfoot conditions to the early pace, the draw and any number of peripheral tactical nuances.

You pay your money, roll the dice, and hope everything on the day aligns in your favour.