The "jumps" season proper starts today

The 348th edition of the Wayward Lad blog.

On this day 2-years ago, I embarked (due to a period of prolonged unemployment) on a campaign of endeavour: to make money from wagering on horseracing - be it betting, laying, back-to-lay, place-laying, exchange price movements. You name it, I tried it.

This day sticks in my head as I had a fairly successful day at the races 2-years ago finding the 15/2 winner of what is today's 3:10 at Ludlow (a 3-mile class 4 h'cap chase) which was Winsley Hill. Today's meetings at Ludlow and Towcester mark, for me, the start of the "jumps" season proper. Unfortunately, the firm going at both tracks has put a dampener on the day's racing and some of the races have not attracted many entries. In the 3:10 at Ludlow, I like the chance of CALYPSO BAY who is easy to back at 4/1 generally, but he has tended to drop-out early in his races and Ludlow, being a tight right-handed track, may not suit him in getting back into the race if there is some pace on. That pace will likely come from BOLD PERK, and he can run better than his odds of 14/1 suggest (for a long way at least).

At Towcester, the 4:50 - a class 5 h'cap chase over 3-mile-plus - is a race I would normally avoid having just 6 runners. As it happens, the last time OVERTON LAD won (over C&D) in May 2010, I had a wager on him. That was only the 2nd win in his career off 38 races and he's a horse that needs coaxing along. VAN GALEN won this race last year, but he's not won since nor ever looked like winning. That leaves MARKED MAN, who may be a 15yo but he's in form that looks good enough to win this race. He's 7/2 generally, but 4/1 with Sportingodds if you can get a few quid on.

No recommended wagers for me but, if you want an interest in the afternoon to warrant some attention, then BOLD PERK and MARKED MAN should give you some entertainment.

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