Ridiculous Ideas for 2026

[Mike]

Hi
Just as well we waited as we have managed some extra places without to much hassle.
4.50 Desert Haven 7-1
4.50 McLoughlin 10-1
Both of the above for a top 7 finish @ 3-1 for the standard 1 point win.
5.23 The Dancen Kid is now availble @ 9-1 for 5 places
6.28 Anodandawink 10-1 in the extra markets is 9-1 for 6 places
Both of the above are 1/2 point each way singles.

[Mike]

Hi
Having one pull up did not help the cause and with only Anodandawink placing we lost -1.60 on the day on our last set of wagers which drops us back down to +6.29.
We have our main computer down at the moment but if my memory serves me well all of the following are “Extra Market” horses and go in the 3.05 at Punchestown tomorrow and we have gone straight in at 1/2 point each way on all three.

Accustomed 40-1 but we have gone with 15-1 for 10 places
Bright Legend 25-2 but 10-1 for 10 places
Fairlander 18-1 but we have taken 12-1 for 8 places

We will be looking for a bet builder on the above when the markets are published.

[Mike]

Hi
We finally have the bet builder option and for all three to finish in the top 10 (plus a 25% bet365 bonus) gives us 22.5-1 which we think is well worth a punt. The reasoning being that although a pound or two out of the market both Fairlander & Accustomed are running off bottom weight and both look as though they have a race in them. Add in the fact that Bright Legend is a not over penalised for having been a solid performer all season and it starts to look promising.

[Mike]

Hi
Well we did a good impression of Custer at the Little Bighorn last time out with all four bets going down and duly dropping 4 points which takes us all the way down to +2.29. This is probably going to be compounded tomorrow as the two runners we have at Down Royal are both on paper no hoper’s.
They are both in the same race and if both lose we will sink into a minus for the first time. This is especially concerning as in last years thread Ridiculous Ideas for 2025 at the start of May we were over +30 points up.

Down Royal 2.10 Crypto Crash 33-1
Down Royal 2.10 Leitzel 40-1

Crypto Crash looks the bets of the two at the weights but we stick with both as the system puts them both up as “Extra Market” bets. We will update as soon as we have some prices.

[Mike]

Hi
I am out this later this morning and with little happening in the extra markets the 40-1 being offered for 5 places on both horses is tempting enough to take on at 1/2 point each way. I will try and get on for the bet builder if the chance arises but will be looking for both for 10 places.

[Mike]

Hi
I still cannot get any bet builder options on my two “Rags” so will also go in on both with 1/2 point each way @ 12-1 for 10 places.
This could be a bad day at the office…..lol.

[Mike]

Hi
Surprisingly although I only got one of the each way extra places in for a loss on the day of -2.3 points I was actually happy enough as Crypto Crash was only a length of placing at 40-1.
The bad news is I am now -0.01 for the thread and have four possibilities going tomorrow which will take a bit of looking into as three are “Each Way Extra’s” of which one is running at Chester and one who was a “To Follow” horse but has now gone chasing before winning over hurdles which has set the cat amongst the pigeons.

Chester 4.20 Hamsiyaan 6-1 for 5 places
Downpatrick 5.35 Fool Me Once 12-1 for 5 places
Downpatrick 6.35 A Snow White Park 9-2 4 places
Downpatrick 7.05 Struck Oil 2-1

I am happy enough with most of the prices but will be hanging around for more options before going in and will update later or tomorrow.

[Mike]

Hi
Not an ideal situation to be in today as its now backs against the wall time so we have played the following 4x 1/2 point each way options. We have had a few drifters and the hope is that one of them will get a win and most of the others get a return.

Chester 4.20 Hamsiyaan @ 9-2 for 7 places
Downpatrick 5.35 Fool Me Once @ 25-4 for 8 places
Downpatrick 6.35 A Snow White Park @ 9-2 4 places
Downpatrick 7.05 Struck Oil @ 9-2 for 4 places

[Mike]

Hi
As I continue to get beaten up with only one of the last batch placing I lost another -3.05 on the day leaving us on – 3.06 overall and when your looking for a break having only one runner going and up against two smart horses it is not looking good.
The horse is Whats New and he runs in the in the 1.22 at Killarney North Shore looks the real deal and Portnahapple is a Mullins talking horse who could be the real deal. But it is what it is and we will try Whats New each way @ 11-2 without North Shore (in the desperate hope Portnahapple finds it all a bit much first time over hurdles).
The obvious bet is without both but that would not give us an each way price.

[Mike]

Hi
Whats New placed but unfortunately so did Portanhapple but at least it was a nominal 0.05 profit as opposed to a loss. This puts us on -3.01 overall and it looks as though we might have (what could be) a make or break day tomorrow over at Cork.

2.05 Big Dispute 7-1
3.15 Speakasyoufind @ 33-1 for 4 places
3.50 Humble Brag 10-3
3.50 Maxicourt 22-1
5.00 Journey So Far @ 16-1 for 6 places

We have gone straight in with Speakasytoufind as this one is a “To Follow” horse and we have taken the 16-1 for 6 places on Journey So Far as that looks generous. The two in the 3.50 are likely to be a bet builder but as usual we will update the others when the extra markets come out.

[Mike]

Hi
Big Dispute has been taken @ 9-2 for 4 places which just leaves the bet builder but the prices are still not up and I have to pop out but hopefully will get a chance to finalise today’s wagers by lunchtime.

[Mike]

Hi
Having non runners when things are not going to plan can sometimes seem like a blessing but I always find it disappointing. We have lost both of last nights bets and are now left with the wager on Big Dispute and a last resort bet builder in on the 3.50

Humble Brag for a top 4 finish
Maxicourt for a top 8 finish

This one comes out at the usual 1 point bet at 11-5

[Mike]

Hi
Its been one of those days West Ham had a late goal disallowed via VAR and Maxicourt placed 9th instead of 8th which means overall we dropped -1.05 on the day. This now drops us down to -4.06 and we have a tricky few tomorrow.

Killarney 5.05 Splendid Fellow @ 11-2 (“To Follow” Horse)
Killarney 5.05 Happy Me 33-1
Killarney 5.05 Tiger Twins 33-1
Roscommon 7.53 El Regalo 20-1 for 4 places

We will have to go with the “To Follow” horse tonight but will update the others tomorrow with a possible twist on the Bet Builder.

[Mike]

Hi
It is unfortunate that both my 33-1 outsiders are running in a hot looking race by way of the 5.05 but it is an opportunity to try and explain why I am persisting with the expanded ideas in this years thread and how we are looking to turn it around.
Firstly we have gone with the 14-1 for all three to be placed in the top 7 it was going to be 8 places but there has been another non runner.
Splendid Fellow is self explanatory and is meant to be a banker for top 7 being the “To Follow” horse.
Happy Me has shown ability and has improved over hurdles and the swing factor for us (Suds has been involved) is the jockey booking Alan O’Sullivan. Now Alan is not a household name but has a decent 7lb claim and more importantly usually runs a horse to its best finishing position.
Tiger Twins is the flip side of the coin in that the trainer Eoin Christopher McCarthy has a decent record of getting his horses to finish in the top half of the field. Both of these were available @ 25-4 for 8 places which we thought was the best option.
I hope that gives you an idea where we are going with this as wheres there’s a problem (in this case bet builders) we believe there is a solution.
The topic of “riding out for the best possible place” (rule 151) has over the years been a bone of contention as the horses welfare (quite rightly) has become paramount. But unfortunately this has led to the rule being abused but our home work suggests there are some trainers and jockeys who still (fortunately) play the game.
Having now given you a few ridiculous reasons on 33-1 & 40-1 runners in a hot race I can quite happily sit back and watch both fight out last place (there’s no fool like an old fool) and hide few for a few days until the embarrassment wears off.
But for better for worse that’s what we do on here and I can always blame the medication I am on, old age, the ground condition’s changing or…divine intervetion. After 50 years of losing money I am never short on excuses……lol.

[Robmull]

Hi Mike,

Very informative write up and a good result, which will be a great confidence booster!!

All the best,

Rob.

[Author]

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