Sunday Series

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid

Senior Jockey
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
25,751
Is anyone following this closely?

I'm not much in favour of this kind of approach but the prize money is good.

I have a couple of difficulties with the thing.

1. The sainted Mrs O has bite marks all over her lips (not mine) at the best of times when I dig out all the form study paraphernalia, let alone when I drop unsubtle hints that I want to watch the racing. I've now taken to telling her about winners I've been backing, which heretofore I'd always kept to myself, so at least she thinks I'm making money for her to spend. I'm not in the habit of studying for Sundays so I don't want it to be too noticeable that I'm doing so. I'll need to shuffle my week about to make space for Sunday study on a Friday.

2. I notice quite a few of the races are for modest horses. I'm highly unlikely to have ratings for them. Most of my ratings are for Class 3 and better, ie those generally rated around 90 or more. It would pretty much double my study load to dig into the form and I'm not sure I want to do that.

Does anyone have strong views on the scheme itself or the racing? Is the form reliable?
 
Today at York was the Sky Bet Sunday Series which is taking place throughout the season, I think.
 
With 89 rnrs over 7 races today,it's been a roaring success, and the prize money should attract the better horses to make the form reliable.
It's an initiative that can only be good for family racing on Sundays, and anything that serves to popularise our sport amongst the young augurs well for its future.
 
I can't see too many negatives from it from a 'good for racing' perspective, other than perhaps it could divert runners from other races midweek?? (I think the answer to that would only be known over time, and maybe it's a daft thought).

From a form perspective, with the prize values attached, you'd have thought it should stand up (as far as any form stands up). The horses don't know which day of the week it is or what the race is named. I guess there is a possibility that some trainers could target specific meetings or races, which could skew the form in contrast to other races or take those horses away from other targets (see previous thought).

PS Can recognize the issues for you specifically, Desert. One of the stock arguments I get here is along the lines of 'well, you can forget so and so's birthday but you'll never forget what time a horse is running, will you.'

To which, of course, the answer is 'too ***** right!'
 
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I watched it last year too and do think it's a good initiative from the point of view of trainers/owners of 'lesser' horses as there are good prize money and bonuses available. From a betting point of view I'm not sure how relevant the form would be though - perhaps the best thing would be to follow certain trainers who tend to target it - Jim Goldie, Grant Tuer and Keith Dalgleish all did well last year I think.
 
2017diary said:
Of course it isn't. Wouldn't have got off the drawing board if it was framed to be a punter's bonanza (as opposed to the usual) now would it? .
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What the authorities fail to recognise is that punters (indirectly) are responsible for the bulk of its income, yet bookmakers continue to dictate the programme book, and the poor prize money, scattered over too many meetings, as a consquence.
Some of us go far back enough to recall when it didn't use to be like this.
Time for the BHA to wake up,imo.
 
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