Two 20-1 winners in 10 minutes!

The first triple meeting AWT day of the season and subscribers should have come away with very large smiles on their faces. Although the number of selections was best described as ‘unprecedented’ and far removed from the norm, winners at SP’s of 22-1, 20-1 and 5-2 made for a very profitable afternoon.

It was a day where we traded strike rate for profit, and the afternoon results, I feel, vindicated this decision. Never the less, I am acutely aware of the discomfort that is commonly felt with such a sacrifices.

A very eventful start to proceedings saw the most emphatic of victories from Lyfka who made amends for our losses 10 days ago. On that occasion she had lost all momentum, trapped on the rail and was forced to swerve violently around horses to deliver her challenge but still finishing a creditable second under Luke Morris. This time there was no mistake under Martin Lane as the selection strolled to a 9 length victory.

Prior to Lyfka’s race, over at Lingfield Park we witnessed carnage in the 2:30 when Velocitor, who had the whole field on the stretch turning for home, almost ran off the track taking the 10-11 favourite Percues with it. Unlike the favourite, Velocitor picked up enough momentum to still finish in the frame and should be one for the notebook.

We then had our golden 10 minutes. Most would be grateful for one 20-1 winner in a week. To get a 20-1 winner a day would be magnificent. We were about to get two 20-1 winners in 10 minutes!

First up another horse that we are familiar with after also being a selection LTO. My reading of the situation was that Anna Hesketh was being given another chance to get it right on Methaaly after doing too much, too soon 4 days ago. This time she got it spot on. 11yo Methaaly was left bowling along at its own pace while being edged steadily to three wide from its wide draw. As the field turned in to the straight Methaaly had simply coasted in to the lead. Whether this is Anna’s usual languid style, I'm unsure but little effort was made to keep the selections head in front at the line, scoring by an uncomfortable head at SP 22-1 from the late finishing Mambo Spirit.

10 minutes later we were collecting again as 20-1 Royal Acquisition took the 4:00 at Lingfield Park. The manner of the ride by Adam Beschizza would suggest that there was more money than just ours riding on the result.  Royal Acquisition sat in mid division before coming under a Luke Morris type drive for the final 2 furlongs with Beschizza's arms and legs flailing all the way to the line for a comfortable 1 length victory.

Like a game of football, it was a game of two halves. After Wolverhampton and Lingfield Park provided the profit in the afternoon. We found ourselves in a position where the evening selections at Kempton Park were running for fun to boost the day’s profit.

In stark contrast Kempton Park offered little excitement with only two seconds recorded. After completing the day’s returns, what became apparent is that although only a hop, skip and jump apart, and I can only assume suffer (or enjoy) similar weather conditions, Lingfield Park returned times slightly faster than my standards, whereas Kempton Park returns were extremely slow.

The fact that we are back at Kempton Park this evening should act as a note of caution. If deep harrowing has taken place between the last meeting and yesterday, I would be expecting a rather steady return to the normal conditions. Tonight might see a degree of improvement, but by what degree we are yet to find out!