Saratoga Racing Tips: Mark Milligan predicts a win for Psychic Income

Saratoga 18:05: Psychic Income 1pt win at 5/2 or better

As regular readers will know, this is one of several columns I write for Betfair, and those same readers will know only too well that the last few weeks have been hard going from a punting perspective.

After a cracking start to the summer things started to unravel a little around the time of the Galway meeting, and the last ten days or so have also seen profits eroded at the current Del Mar and Saratoga meets in America.

Having punted for many years, I know that runs such as the one I'm currently on are inevitable and variance is all part of the game.

However, that doesn't mean they're any easier to take!

In times such as these, it's important to realise what gave you success in the first place and try as much as possible to stick with the methods that have been proven to bring success, knowing that things will turn sooner rather than later.

There's no substitute for hard work and rest assured I'll be working harder than ever to make sure this losing run is just a blip in the rear-view mirror over the next few weeks or so.

Now, on to business!

Second-time starter to take the opener

The opening maiden claimer at Saratoga features several horses whose form has an exposed look to it, and it would be no surprise were one of them to win.

However, I prefer to side with more lightly race types in spots like this and a couple fit the bill.

Both Ministerial and Psychic Income have made just one start, though they had very contrasting fortunes on debut.

The former was completely outrun in a turf sprint at Indiana on debut and it's disconcerting that connections are now prepared to offer this $700k purchase for sale at $40k on just his second outing.

I'll pass him over in favour of Psychic Income, who ran a winning race debuting at this level over C&D last month, opening up a clear lead in the straight before a bit of residual greenness and perhaps a lack of match fitness saw him collared right on the line.

If he's come on for that initial outing, he should take plenty of beating on this second start.