STEREOTYPICALLY ‘80s pop band Five Star famously sang about being System Addicts.
It’s not known if the Romford siblings were on about their punting tactics when they wailed their way to number three on Top Of The Pops.
If not, they certainly missed a trick on Saturday. Had they gone through the stats and systems for the Ladbrokes Trophy they might well have come up with the winner.
De Rasher Counter wins the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase! pic.twitter.com/sZ8dvpyEG0
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) November 30, 2019
Perhaps, a fondness of bacon sandwiches after rehearsals would have led them to plump for De Rasher Counter but, I’m guessing, their love of all things ‘five’ would have been a better system.
That’s because young jockey Ben Jones produced a five-star performance on Emma Lavelle’s ace to land the historic Newbury prize.
Predicting the 20-year-old Welshman, who only turned professional in the summer, would come up trumps for his supporters was far from impossible if you followed a profitable pattern.
The hottest young riding prospect, who impressed when making all the running to win an Ascot Listed hurdle last month, has been easy to spot in the winners’ enclosure this season as he’s been an increasingly regular visitor.
He’s up to 28 winners so far and punters would be well advised to keep a close eye on his big-race rides in the coming weeks.
His 5lbs weight allowance will reduce by a couple of pounds after 12 more winners and will disappear entirely when, not if, he hits 75.
It’s a big help and the stats say ALL 5lbs claimers need close inspection in class one handicaps.
Jones, son of Ffos Las clerk of the course Dai, was one of only two conditional jockeys to ride in the 24-runner Ladbrokes Trophy.
Jonjo O’Neill Jnr, claiming 3lbs, was the other rider to get a weight allowance. It’s aimed at giving inexperienced riders a helping hand but it can be just as beneficial for punters.
Backing all riders claiming 5lbs in Class 1 handicaps over jumps since the start of 2018 would have returned more than 23 per cent profit with 12 winners from 121 bets.
The likes of James Bowen, Bryony Frost and Jonjo O’Neill Jnr have all taken advantage of the weight allowance. They’ve all waved goodbye to the 5lbs claim but the likes of Jones, Connor Brace and Danny McMenamin all still fit into that category.
I’ll be keeping a close eye when savvy trainers call on their services in class one handicaps in the coming months.
It’s not only the jockeys that need following from the weekend’s action.
Newbury’s big race probably didn’t live up to the class of the glory years when the likes of Denman, Bobs Worth and Native River went on to Gold Cup glory but there should be a good few winners come out of the contest.
The Conditional moved as well as anything through the 3m2f race and I’m confident he’s still well handicapped despite a 3lbs rise for his Newbury efforts. Testing ground clearly suits him and I’m sure he’s got a decent prize in him.
The same can be said of Two Taffs. He only beat one other finisher but there was a huge amount of promise in his effort.
It was his second run after a break of more than two years so he was always going to be a candidate to ‘bounce’ in a below-par run and it was the longest trip he had tackled.
The way Dan Skelton’s nine-year-old moved into the race from the rear was most promising and it was clear to me that his stamina just gave way. I think he will be well overpriced next time when he’s likely to be dismissed on his finishing position in 16th. That won’t put me off.
My other eye-catchers were more obvious. Epatante looked a potentially top-class hurdler when leading home a one-two-three for Unibet ambassador Nicky Henderson in the Intermediate Hurdle.
A day earlier, the five-times champion trainer was a relieved man when Champ got the better of Black Op in a dramatic finish to the Berkshire Novices’ Chase.
It wouldn’t surprise me if that pair ended the season as the two top staying novices’ in Britain and, perhaps, Ireland. They are both serious racehorses.
They should all pay their way in the coming months – and you won’t even need shoulder pads, hairspray or seven inches of vinyl to enjoy this Five Star show.
