Events / Wayne Bailey / 23 October 2008 / 1

Keep your options open by backing the two market leaders at an overall price of nearly [2.5], writes Wayne Bailey...

I hate to use the word 'value' in my articles, as everyone on God's green earth seems to have a different opinion on what the concept involves. However, I believe there's plenty on offer this Saturday in the Racing Post Trophy. For me, there's no in-depth dissertation needed to define value. I simply ask myself what I believe the chances of an event happening are, convert it to odds, then look to back at odds that are greater.

I've tried hard this week to separate Jukebox Jury and Masterofthehorse, but I must admit I'm finding it difficult. If you were to ask me what are the chances of one or other horse winning, I'd say it's fifty-fifty [2.0]. But backing both horses offers an overall price of nearly [2.5], so why bother trying to separate them when you can simply dutch them?

I do realise that dutching is not everyone's cup of tea and some frown upon backing more than one horse in a race, however when it comes to trying to make racing pay, you must stick to what works best for you and dutching has provided small but steady profit for me over the years.


Masterofthehorse

A full brother of Alexandrova, the colt was a tad disappointing in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh last month, but O'Brien admits that he's only started to take his training more seriously since that race, and Ballydoyle should have him primed and ready for Saturday.

The big danger in this race for me was Gan Amhras, but I've just heard on the radio that Jim Bolger has decided to give it a miss. Masterofthehorse won his maiden at Gowran in early August, but a price of [1.23] was never going to make anyone rich! With Murtagh away, it's Seamus Heffernan who will take the reins, and if he's as well as reported, he'll be hard to beat.

Jukebox Jury

In retrospect, the [10.17] Betfair SP in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes for Jukebox Jury was an absolute steal, and a late burst of energy pushed him forward to beat the favourite. It's no secret that Johnston has big plans for this horse, and it looks about time to step up to Group One company. Royston Ffrench will be on board, and after giving such a good ride last time, I'm confident that he'll follow up on Saturday.

Sri Putra

Despite a disappointing performance in Newmarket's Tattersalls Timeform Million, Sri Putra deserves a mention as a possible place bet. The horse is better than that performance suggests, and it must be remembered that the Group Three Solario Stakes that he won previous was quite a competitive affair.

Advice: 4.5 points on Masterofthehorse at [5.5]; 5.5 points on Jukebox Jury at [4.5].
Total cost of bet: 10 points.
Return (including stake) if either horse wins: 24.75 points

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1. Bernard | 25 October 2008

   Hi Wayne, I am keen on Masterofthehorse as well.

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