In-Running Week: Who wants to be a Millionair?

Neil Munro
24 October 2012

It could pay to oppose David Pipe's Weekend Millionair

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Who wants to be a millionair? I do. No, I haven't become illiterate (some will say 'what do you mean become?') but wanted to talk about the horse Weekend Millionair, amongst other horses that could cost you millions if you keep on backing them...

Now, that day I noticed that as soon as the winner went past Weekend Millionair his head appeared to come up and he started to wander slightly...

Weekend Millionair

David Pipe's five year old was rated 74 on the flat (under David Evans) and managed to pick up a maiden hurdle at the back end of last season at Ffos Las before surprisingly being sent over to Punchestown, on horrible ground that they only race on in Ireland, where he tried to lead from the front but eventually got caught and finished in second. Now, that day I noticed that as soon as the winner went past Weekend Millionair his head appeared to come up and he started to wander slightly. I put that down to the ground but he repeated this at Wincanton on his final run of last season. So I was interested to see what happened on his seasonal reappearance at Huntingdon and again we saw the strange head carriage when passed. Now some people may mark this up as being down to the first run of the new season but I will be more weary and play on him in the run.

For Weekend Millionair's next three runs back him pre-race at BSP and then attempt to lay out all your potential winnings at odds-on in the run. Alternatively just lay him in the run.

Lukeys Luck

I presume he is named after his breeder, Luke Cooper, but the six year old gelding has not been lucky since being raised by the handicapper to a mark over 100. That mark was achieved for two wins over hurdles, and he went on to run three more times over hurdles, being in the shake-up but not being able to get his head in front again. Connections have now tried Lukeys Luck over the bigger fences and he has gone off favourite both times. Although his jumping is still in the process of being refined, he has run well but, as when hurdling off a mark of over 100, he has just failed to find in a finish. He is flexible in his tactics but does seem a natural for back-to-lay trading at the moment.

As long as his mark is above 100 back Lukeys Luck pre-race at BSP and then lay out your stake at ½ the BSP with a further offer to lay at odds on to have the field winning for you.

Exning Halt

At the moment, James Fanshawe's three-year-old should be played with caution, whether as a pure punting horse or even an in-running trade. Exning Halt has gone off favourite three times over ten furlongs and has suggested that this trip, or further, is what he wants but for me he doesn't look completely genuine. He is still a maiden after ten starts and tends to travel well into his races before failing to find. This is why over the longer trips he has hit half his BSP 67% of the time, but last time out at Leicester he didn't seem to want to be put in the race and this makes me slightly worries about how we play him.

On his next three starts, back Exning Halt for small and then lay out double your stake at ½ the BSP with a further offer to lay at odds-on.

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