Over Christmas Bet Alchemist members enjoyed the huge thrill of seeing their 20/1 Ante Post bet Minella Foru win the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown. It was all the more special considering 28 runners went to post competing for a valuable pot and Barry Geraghty rode Minella Foru out the back behind a wall of horses for the majority of the race!
In races like that it pays to use the skybox to re-watch a race several times as that particular race is always well contested and throws up many a winner down the line. Thankfully, a horse called My Murphy caught my eye despite being pulled up before the last.
A standing start does not suit all horses with many missing the kick and therefore the race is gone from them before the first fence. My Murphy was one of those that missed securing a prominent position but another was Empire of Dirt. These chasers are very good jumpers in the main but do like to have room and not be crowded when jumping.
Well, as Murphy’s Law would have it (excuse the pun) My Murphy and Empire of Dirt have both bounced back to win next time out at very juicy prices. Last Weekend Empire of Dirt jumped like a stag in a small field to win a 100k Grade A handicap around Leopardstown at 10/1 and yesterday My Murphy landed the 100k Grade A Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park backed at 20/1 Ante Post!
Gowran Park is my local track and it was a huge buzz to cheer home My Murphy as they battled hard to hold off the Gordon Elliott trained Mala Beach. My Murphy was a very popular winner despite winning at a big price which just shows how sporting the Jumps racing followers are. The most repeated line yesterday was “isn’t it great for someone besides Mullins or Elliott to win a big race”.
The winning trainer Willie Burke said it was only in the past two days that My Murphy really bounced and a trip to the beach the previous day sparked him into top form. Trainers like Willie Burke who is the Dad of jockey JJ (Johnny) Burke are the real stars of the jumps racing fraternity with a never ending love of the sport.
My Murphy’s win in the Thyestes Chase is his biggest win since Oscar Rebel won a Mares Hurdle at Punchestown back in 2008. Willie Burke did train Sir Frederick to win a Galway Plate in the summer of 2007 but that is almost a decade ago now!
Overall, a cracking few days of racing and punting for Bet Alchemist Full Members with Roi Des Francs, Empire of Dirt & My Murphy winning. It’s looking good for back to back profitable Months in over a year and confidence is high that the tide has turned and the Bet Alchemist service has returned to business as usual.
The Cheltenham Festival is just 7 weeks away and we have some top class action this weekend to cough up more clues regarding potential Cheltenham winners. Races like the Grade 2 Mares Hurdle & Grade 1 Sodexo Clarence House Chase at Ascot along with three grade 2 races at Haydock including a Champion Hurdle Trial make Saturday’s racing obligatory viewing.
Of course in Ireland this Sunday there are two Grade 1’s taking place at Leopardstown with the Irish Champion Hurdle an intriguing race as Faugheen, Nichols Canyon & Arctic Fire battle for supremacy in Ireland and within the Closutton Stable of all conquering Willie Mullins.
Have a great weekend and maybe now is the right time to become a Full Bet Alchemist Member by clicking http://www.betalchemist.com/join-now/
Nicky
P.S> My favourite email this week from Patrick
OMG, not content with giving Minella Foru last month for the Paddy Power which I backed at 20/1, you’ve then given My Murphy for the Thyestes today which again I backed at 20/1! What can I say, other than I am all but dumbfounded? Heartiest congratulations – and more like those please. Patrick