".... but for mere inches...."

Wednesday, 15th July 2026

“…. but for mere inches….”

In ATC today….

I made a few points of profit from last week’s action….

…. I can’t say I’m happy – because I always want more….

…. but we weren’t so very far away from another stellar week….

Oh…. and I’m targeting a couple of races this weekend….

Read on….

-----

I did enough to garner a few points of profit from last week’s action at Newmarket, York & Ascot….

…. thanks in large part to The Lost King’s win at York on Saturday – advised at 8s and sent off at 3s….

I’d be lying through my back teeth if I said I was happy with the outcome….

…. because I’d have liked a bit more – I always want a bit more – regardless of any outcome….

But a profit is a profit….

…. it doesn’t pay to get too greedy….

…. nor is it advisable to raise expectations to the point where you think you’re going to knock a century every time you go out to bat….

…. because you’re not….

The game doesn’t work like that….

…. if you bet the handicaps it’s going to be ups and downs all the way to the end of the lane – that’s the only thing you can rely on….

…. and if you get out of any week a few points to the good – you’re doing the job and doing it well….

And – of course – but for very small margins things were almost so much better last week….

I don’t know where they get these winning margins from….

…. but – according to the form book – Pellitory was beaten a full short head at York on Friday….

To my measure the margin of defeat to Northern Express was more like a flared nostril….

…. and ultimately that quivering deficit was the difference between a perfectly acceptable week and a stellar one….

Largely ignored in the betting on Thursday when I put him up at 40s & 33s, David O’Meara’s charge was backed all the way into an SP of 14s….

…. and he ran an absolute belter – doing pretty much what I expected….

…. and only failing to land another big payout for this column by the very narrowest of margins….

If you can’t get it completely right, then get as close as you can….

…. and that’s what I did….

…. but defeats like that are hard to take – the place return not withstanding….

…. because you don’t come across genuine ‘live’ contenders at that kind of price every race day that comes along….

Most horses up at 40s & 33s should probably be bigger in price – such is their actual true chance of winning….

…. and when you get on a horse up at that price that should be plenty shorter….

…. and it goes out and runs the race you hope for….

…. and just fails to land the bet – well, it’s worse than coming last….

Behike at Ascot on Saturday wasn’t quite the same story – put up at a much shorter 7s and sent off at 3s (we got the best of the prices again)….

….. but we also got chinned on the line again – this time by Dubai Bling….

It’s always pleasing when selections justify your faith by running well….

…. but – like I say – the overall outcome across the three days could have been a good deal better – but for mere inches at the line in two races….

Of course, I also picked out a few horses that didn’t run as well as I’d anticipated….

…. but that’s always going to happen when you play the handicap betting game the way I do – it’s par for the course….

The important thing is to get enough right at sufficiently prices to get ahead on the bottom line across the session….

I got that job done again – I got through the door, and I wasn’t so very far away from kicking it right off its hinges….

C’est la vie….

After a stacked Saturday last weekend….

…. it’s as quiet as a tomb this Saturday….

I always have a go at the Super Sprint down at Newbury….

…. and there’s a 2m handicap that might yield a pick earlier on the same card – depending on how the declarations cut up….

…. but that’s the lot – I won’t be taking aim at Market Rasen because I haven’t been following the summer jumps form and I don’t feel the need to put up selections just for the sake of it….

We’ve got plenty of action coming up – see the upcoming schedule….

…. and – given how relentless the flat season is – it does no harm to have a bit of a breather when the schedule allows….

I hope you managed to make a few quid out of last week….

I’ll be back tomorrow – with some outtakes from what we saw….

-----

That’s all for today….

Stay tuned….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

Against the Crowd