Ridiculous Ideas for 2026

[Mike]

Hi
I will post a full update of the different directions I am expanding this thread into over the next few days but am already in trouble with the bet builders but they are likely to produce the biggest profit if I can work the oracle. ? In the meantime I will post a another small bet builder to see if we can claw something back.

Down Royal 2.20 Aswellasabentley & Surrey Force both for a top 10 finish 3-1.

[Mike]

Hi
I am finally playing catch up after a few setbacks and updates etc and have just tallied my results to date which are not impressive reading but it is early days and I am still confident.
The Horses To Follow (until they win) portion of this thread that proved to be a money spinner last year on Ridiculous Ideas for 2025 has had a slow start but when following horses the clue is in the title. I back the horse (as last year) to win +10 points but the fact that only 43% of horses in training ever actually win a race gives you an idea of the problem. With this in mind I do not expect all of my to follow horses to win but that does not mean they will end up in negative equity (in deficit) on the thread.
The reasoning behind the above point is that statistically 70% of horses hit the frame (place) so as long as you can a get decent enough price you can still keep your selections onside. This brings up the not too popular idea of expanding the thread by dabbling with Chase races and going into the extra markets such as betting without the favorite’s Bet Builders etc and ultimately the dreaded exchange markets.
I make no excuses for altering the 2025 thread as its my pram and If want to throw my toys out of it I will…lol.
I just like a new challenge and I really want to make the most of the data base we use and are still altering/working on as we speak. But I will split the thread up as promised and here are the results to date which are going the way of the old enemy so far.
To Follow Horses (Hurdlers) -3.5 points
To Follow Horses (Chasers) -1 point
Bet Builders -2.2 points
Extra Market Wagers -0.95
Total to Date – 7.65 points
The last few bets Little Ivy (Extra markets), Aswellasabentley (Horse To Follow) and the bet builder with Aswellasabentley & Surrey Force all returned a small profit but all were subject to deductions due to non runners. It is what it is….

I do hopefully have a few options going tomorrow in the 2.20 at Gowran Park (subject to non runners) and will update tonight after finishing some tiling in the kitchen.

[Mike]

Hi
We have four runners in our target race tomorrow and a range of possible bets which we fill in as the extra markets and offers become available and with 6 places available are hoping for a good set of options.

Gowran Park 2.20

Harty Cup 7-1
Rackemandstackem 14-1
Space Warrior 14-1
Poets Oath 16-1

I am hoping for an each way single on the TFH horse Harty Cup and couple of Extra Markets wagers and/or a bet builder utilizing the other three selections.

[Mike]

Hi
With the first batch of non runners declared I have already lost Space Warrior and will have to wait a bit longer for my extra market bets . But I have taken the 13-2 for 6 places on Harty Cup as he has started to shorten. I will leave the thread open and edit when I get back as I have to pop out.
That was worth the wait with all seven non runners now declared Sky are still showing 6 places so our bets for the day now look like this….

Harty Cup 1.5 points each way @ 13-2
Rackemandstackem 0.5 points each way
Poets Oath 0.5 each way
All of the above for a top 9 finish at 1 point (4-1) plus 25% bet365 (bet builder) bonus for 5-1.

[Mike]

Hi
Rackemandstackem pulling up rather spoilt the day as Harty Cup placed fourth and Poets Oath placed sixth. Compund that by me rushing this morning and not putting up the prices or BOG attached extra’s and we end up with a paltry +0.25. However better than a loss and this brings the new total’s after my schoolboy mathematics from yesterday to the following running totals.

To Follow Horses (Hurdlers) -3.05 points
To Follow Horses (Chasers) -1 point
Bet Builders -3.2 points
Extra Market Wagers -0.15
Total to Date – 7.40 points

Harty Cup was the only To Follow horse today we just took the 6 places on the other two as the extra market prices were not great but there returns still count towards the Extra Market running total. I have updated this now as I have nothing until the weekend and it will clear the page for updates for the other threads.

[Mike]

Hi
We have two going tomorrow over at Punchestown and I will be looking for a small bet builder when the markets are available but until then we have one bet for tonight.
3.40 Dearg Mor 25-1 but we will go in at 1 point each way @ 23-2 for 5 places
3.40 The Dancen Kid 11-1
The second horse is looking a little high in the weights but we will reassess the option again tomorrow.

[Mike]

Hi
I will go in with the usual 1 point win bet builder on both Dearg Mor and The Dancen Kid both for top a 5 finish @ 17-2.
Also as The Dancen Kid has gone out to 16-1. I will also go 1/2 point each way without both Kobalt St George & Ellies Rock @ 15-2.
It’s risky as both are drifting like barges but it’s early days and you really have to go with the flow on new ideas.

[Mike]

Hi
I am beginning to feel like an ageing boxer who is making a comeback and stepping up a division in the weights. I am basically getting beaten up on this new thread as although today’s horses finished 7th and 8th at no time did they ever threaten to do anything.
This dropped me 4 points today and puts me on -11.40 at the moment.
I have two going tomorrow over at Limerick but the bet builder on both for 6 places looks likely to be the only option unless I can get a bet without both favorite/s.

2.49 Tiger Twins 18-1
2.49 Nukie’s Artic 200-1
nb
Just taken 1/2 point on Nukies Artic at 45-1 without both dEstruval & Spectaculaur

[Mike]

Hi
With Limerick being abandoned it has been a bit quiet week for me and then deciding that Blow Wind Blow on Thursday was too short a price (as it was only from my bet builder list) it turned out to be a grave mistake as he romped home.
But we do have a to follow horse running today at Leopardstown today so it will be 1 point each way on….

Carrried With Love in the 12.40 @ 12-1 for 5 places (BOG attached)

[Mike]

Hi
Another loss last time out takes us to -13.40 and the new thread is beginning to worry me slightly but we do have a lot of runners over the next few days and are still confident of turning this around. Tomorrow we head to Fairyhouse for the following….

3.30 Miss Mini Bee currently 18-1
4.05 Ready for Road @ 20-1 for 4 places (bet365) which we have taken straight away as it is a “To Follow” horse.

We have gone straight in with Ready For Road as most firms have him at 14-1 or less and we only need at 20-1 to go 1/2 point each way.
We will see what options are available for Miss Mini Bee later but unless anything changes in the next half an hour we will go 1/2 point each way @ 10-1 for 6 places.

Also a long shot and as Miss Mine Bee is one that still owes us a win from the Ridiculous Ideas for 2025 we will throw in a 1/2 point each way double (4 places) at the original 18-1 & 20-1.

[Mike]

Hi
You know how it goes, for the main bet and the each way double I wanted 4 places and they both finished 5th fortunately we had taken Miss Mini Bee for 6 as the each way extra so only dropped 2.5 points on the day. This does now make the running total – 15.9….
This is not a good situation to be in when all of tomorrows selections are in 7 runner races with only two places on offer.

Punchestown 2.13 Agameodtwohalves 9-4
Punchestown 2.13 Can Happen 4-1
Punchestown 2.48 Jacko Star 17-2
Punchestown 2.48 Take Stock 11-2
Punchestown 2.48 James The Brave 10-1

I will update the bet tomorrow as this will take some working out.

[Mike]

Hi
I have the feeling this is going to be an expensive day but here goes..

2.13 Agameoftwohalves is on the To Follow list but has become to short a price for me to back being as I am trying to steady the ship. But we will take him to win and Can Happen to finish top 3 in a 1 point bet builder at @ 4-1.
2.48 Jacko Star is the other To Follow horse and bet 365 are offering 3 places so it was worth the wait and as he is drifting we can get 8-1 so we will go 1 point each way (BOG attatched).
2.48 We will take a bet builder for top 4 finish on Jacko Star, Take Stock & James The Brave @ 10-1
We will also use the above wager for bet builder options including a double with the following selection which comes out at 27.6-1
2.13 Agameoftwohalves top 2 & Can Happen top 4 @ 8-5

[Mike]

Hi
Phew….that was close but means we cannot lose today which is huge relief. Both bet builder options in the 2.13 came in via Agameoftwohalves winning and Can Happen coming third it’s now Squeaky time whilst I wait till see if we can pull off a return in the 2.48.
Obviously that will be the second time I have missed a out by not going all in with the To Follow horse but steadying the ship was the idea until we get going.

[Mike]

Hi
Once again ultimately disappointing but that is down to the fact I did not follow the system from 2025 and have now missed two winners which should have been +10 points each. But we did not get slaughtered so start tomorrow on -14.60 and a three races to look at.
All the races are at Thurles and there are no To Follow horses so no pressure there.

1.42 Journey So Far 1/2 point each way @ 16-1 for 5 places
2.52 Pumas Dream 8-1
2.52 Nukies Artic 150-1
4.02 Anodandawink 1/2 point each way @ 12-1 for 5 places

We will update the 2.52 later tonight or tomorrow morning and will also be looking at possibly placing some each way multiples. ?

[Mike]

Hi
Ridiculously (but I am not complaining) Paddy Power are offering Pumas Dream currently 8-1 @ 9-1 betting without Vitorio Piel. ?
This has prompted me to go in tonight with a !/2 point each way single on Pumas Dream and three 1/2 point each way doubles on the following selections.

1.42 Journey So Far @ 16-1 for 5 places
2.52 Pumas Dream @ 9-1 for 3 places
4.02 Anodandawink @ 12-1 for 5 places

This is a risky option points wise for the second day running but I still feel bad for not having the “cojones” to go for it yesterday.

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