Stat of the Day, 27th July 2012

Stat of the Day: 27th July 2012

No excuses for yesterday. It was, quite simply, a clunker. Sent off 12/1 having been recommended at 8/1, the jockey could never get a position and Perfect Mission was anything but. Stuffed out of sight. It was no consolation whatsoever to note that Cuteasafox, Stat of the Day on her last run when beaten, bolted up at 12/1. Hmm.

Stat of the Day

Onwards and downwards, and on this most auspicious of sporting days, with the Opening Ceremony for our own London 2012 Olympics, I’m headed to one of the most auspicious tracks in the land, and the…

4.40 Ascot

Well, Andrew Balding couldn’t help us out of our mini-slump yesterday, so I’m siding with another friend of SotD today, in the unmistakable shape of Johnny G. That’s John Gosden to you.

Gosden has an overall negative record at Ascot, but that tells only half the story. You see, while his two and three year olds are quite significantly unprofitable, he has continued to bang in older horse handicap winners.

Since the start of last season, Mr G has saddled seventeen 4yo+ handicappers, and six of them have won for a very healthy profit. I’m almost certainly slicing the data too thinly now, but note that of those seventeen runners, William Buick – the man of the season for me in the riding ranks – has only ridden seven of them

From those seven, he’s won five! For a 36.38 unit profit.

Like I say, there’s little value in convenience data like that, but Robemaker has a fair chance nevertheless. Placed on both starts on good to firm (so I’ve no idea what the Racing Post comment writer is banging on about!), the trip also looks ideal, and he should cope with this class too (second over class and distance two starts back).

His sole win came in a six runner contest, and I think a small field will help Robemaker today, especially as Buick may well elect to try to make all in a race with little to no obvious pace angles.

All things considered, 7/1 BOG with Ladbrokes looks entirely reasonable, and Buick should drive Robemaker close this afternoon. Each way the play.

As ever, make sure you get the right price, so…

Click here for the latest odds for the 4.40 Ascot.