Three Things…

Good morning all.

Well, what to say? When you're in form, you're in form, and this week is turning out to be some week. 40-1 winner followed by 16-1 winner is some going, and I'm just delighted so many of you were on, judging by your kind comments again. Thank you, and I shall do my best to get the hat-trick up today!

There's a bit of humour on today's Punt as I recommend three things you'll need if you're going summer jumping any time soon. Back tomorrow with the Saturday Preview, the video for which should be up around 1pm latest, if you follow me on Youtube (search for David Massey, Saturday Preview).

1. A good book.

If you’re off to Worcester, make sure you take a good book with you. Not because the racing is terrible or uncompetitive (in fact, you’ll be amazed how many half-decent sorts you see in the bumpers – plenty of trainers give their good-ground horses an education in them before putting them away for the winter) – but for getting out of the car park later on. Unless you miss the last, you’ll be sat there for many a while as everyone, in one mental free-for-all, heads for the one exit out of the course onto a minor road that leads onto the main road that’s usually blocked.

You can, if your car has the suspension of a Sherman tank, head for the mythical North Exit (at the end of the back straight) but the potholes are that bad, I really wouldn’t recommend it. Plus, you’re still waiting twenty minutes for them to put the mats down across the course for you to drive over. Just sit and suffer, it’s all you can do.

    2. Stilts

Much as I love Stratford, the viewing there isn’t great, even in the stands, and your best bet is to take a pair of stilts and stand in the middle, if you’re looking to get a good all-round view. If it’s not caravans, it’s the building in the middle in the way. Stratford really is one of those courses that's better off viewed from the comfort of your own home. Which is a shame, as there’s a lovely pre-parade ring (where you can get a bit of shade, if it’s too hot), decent racing, and you’re sure to bump into Jonjo. Buy him an ice-cream, you’ll have a friend for life.

   3. A pair of socks.

Not for yourself, of course, you’ll be dressed perfectly, but for some poor young unfortunate that, especially on a Saturday, appears to have dressed himself in a hurry and forgotten to put a pair on. It happens a lot at Uttoxeter, one of my local courses, so much so that we’re thinking of running a book on the number of people we can count that aren’t wearing socks. Where’s this trend come from? Can you imagine how bad their feet must stink after a day at the races? (Mine are bad enough with socks on).

I’m half-expecting one of those adverts to come on during Sky Sports Racing in the afternoon that says “Just £2 a month can help one of these poor sods buy a three-pack of cotton ankle-length socks from Primark.” I’d donate.

On to today, and for the hat-trick, it's to Worcester we go, and the handicap chase at 6.10. Istimraar is an odds-on jolly begging to be taken on, as his jumping at Sedgefield two starts ago was, frankly, sketchy at best and awful at times. Either side of that he's won nicely over hurdles and I have no doubt he's well treated, but backing dodgy jumpers at short prices is a fast way to the poorhouse. Instead, give Un Beau Roman another try. He's run perfectly well on his last two starts and although he's clearly not the force of old, there looks to be another race in him. Another 2f wouldn't go amiss, but all the same, 12-1 looks a fair price.

Good luck with all your bets today,

David.