Based on the comments from the Racing Post and other racing pundits, you could say that I have a valid excuse to talk out of my pocket having backed Tartan Bearer who lost by a head to New Approach in Saturdays Derby.

CORAL on Monday accusedJim Bolger of treating punters with “total contempt” following his decision to run New Approach in the Vodafone Derby, an about-turn that fellow trainer Sir Michael Stoute described as “good for the race”.

Unleashing a stinging attack, Coral claimed Bolger’s actions would “do nothing to maintain punters’ faith in betting on racing”, while Totesport spoke in similar vein and alleged that the trainer had given ante-post backers “the runaround”.

Coral spokesman David Stevens said: “Although connections of any horse are perfectly entitled to decide where they run, the saga surrounding New Approach and the Derby suggests punters have been treated with total contempt.

“First, we were told that the long-time Derby favourite would not be aimed at Epsom, then informed that New Approach had only been left in the Classic by mistake. Now we’re told he’ll run on Saturday, much to the frustration of many ante-post punters.

“Although there will be some backers who are delighted to get a run for their moneynow, any punter who placed a bet on this year’s Derby in the last six weeks did so on the understanding New Approach would not be running.

“Episodes like this, along with the ‘will they run, won’t they run’ comments about Lush Lashes, Casual Conquestand Chinese White in recent weeks, do nothing to maintain punters’ faith in betting on racing.”

If you put faith in what ”connections” said to the hacks then punting would just be a matter of reading the racing press reports.

Let’s face it, everyone knows that trainers and jockeys make the worst tipsters and especially applies to the lower grades of racing.

At higher levels of racing with breeding/stud fees at stake, reputations on the line why would trainers make their intentions public domain or not change not their plan/minds at the last minute?

I have a simple rule. Ignore trainer comments in handicapping!

Avoid Ante Post and back what you fancy just before the race. Handicapping is already hard enough without the added difficulty of trying to second guess trainers!

Related Posts