Following Trainers and Jockeys |
Some people love following trainers or jockeys, or in certain circumstances trainers and jockey together!
Now some people rate trainers and jockeys quite highly when deciding what bets to make it is our view that whilst it is important, there are far more significant factors to take into account.
For example if you pick a jockey like Richard Hughes he always gets the most out of his horse and rides a professional race. Because of this he always get offered top horses to ride which obviously then further his reputation further.
That is not to say we wouldn't be happy if Richard Hughes was on our selected mount but we believe that a jockey can make no more than up to 5% difference at most to a horse's chance of winning. Our suggestion is that if you are looking at two equally capable horses then you should look at the jockeys. A good jockey can make a good horse better. A good jockey will have no effect on a bad horse.
That said the only time we may consider to wager a mount based soley on its jockey, is when that good jockey has got a choice to ride two horses in the same race and he picks one over the other - then we are keen to know why! This is even truer if he has had previous experience of both of the horses.
As you bet more on the horses over time, you will periodically back a horse with an apprentice jockey (or sometimes even an experienced one) that will make a silly error. For example, he will take the wrong course or he may drop his hands riding thinking he has won only to be caught on the line. If this happens all you can do is accept it as human error, and move on. You cannot plan for mistakes. It does happen and you have live with it!
Trainers are a mixed bunch which are hard to read. Some are honest and some aren't. They will hardly evey tell you anything useful about the horses they are working with as if they did the price of their horse may collapse together with their profits.
Trainer/Jockey Combination- Now this is something we do pay more attention to when making betting selections. For example Jarvis/Robinson has a very good strike rate with young horses when Mr Jarvis puts his best jockey (Robinson) you know that they are both confident in their horse. Again, referring back to our earlier point if Jarvis has two horses running in the same race then we would look to see what horse Robinson is riding. |
