Top Ten Horse Racing Posts of 2012
There have been a whopping 1,403 posts written on geegeez this year, so far. And 2012 has seen things change, from yours truly writing pretty much all content, to the introduction of a ‘new breed’ of racing writers (mixed in with some timeless classics!)
The likes of Tony Keenan (Punting Confessional), Ian Sutherland (daily news), and Dan Kelly (Racing Debrief), are new kids on the block. They join the more experienced Mal Boyle, Andy Newton, Ross Birkett and, of course, Tony Stafford, on the writer’s roster.
And then there’s Chris Worrall – my Stat of the Day partner – and myself, plus a number of occasional guest posters. Yes, the team has grown this year, and I hope you’ve found something to enjoy within the expanded reporting ranks.
Below are my favourite posts of the year, for various reasons. They were meant to be ten of my own, but I could only find eight that I thought were good enough, so I’ve included a couple of Tony Keenan’s excellent Punting Confessionals to the mix.
You may find yourself with a few spare minutes over the holiday period and, if you do, then there is some interesting reading herein. I hope you enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment recalling any favourite posts of your own from any of our distinguished team of scribblers!
How to Bet: 10 Steps to Betting Better
Strictly speaking, this was written last year. But, as it was penned on the 22nd December, it is within a year of this post… just. Whatever, it’s one of the best posts I think I’ve written and – even if you read it back then – it’s well worth another read now.
How to Bet on Horses: Reading Form / Creating Betting Systems
In this video post, which runs to around ninety minutes (!), I go through various elements I’m interested in when reading form, and when trying to come up with a system angle. If that’s your thing, you might find this one of interest. A cup of tea and a notepad are recommended.
Champion Hurdle 2013 Preview/Tips
My first Cheltenham Festival ante-post preview for 2013 – written before last weekend’s races which shook up the market – and I recommend you read this in conjunction with the below post.
Ante Post ‘In Running’ Betting
The most recent of the ten, and worth a read if you’re thinking about getting involved in the Cheltenham Festival ante-post markets, or indeed any ante-post market. This could save you money.
Racing people to follow on Twitter
Twitter is a brilliant place to stay in touch with racing. Yes, there is an infinite number of people who want to talk rubbish, so the key is to choose who you ‘follow’. This post contains my suggestions.
Whither The Grand National?
One of my occasional ‘think’ pieces. A bit more political, and divisive as a consequence. After the loss of Gold Cup winner, Synchronised, and According to Pete in this year’s Grand National, I looked more closely at what had actually happened and added my suggestions to the pot with regards to what next for the world’s greatest race.
Glorious Goodwood 2012 Preview, Trends and Tips
It is the nature of racing that generally we have more losers than winners. This week was a glorious (in every sense of the word) exception, as many readers paid for holidays and the like on the back of some good thinking, and inspired fortune.
Arc Weekend 2012 Preview and Tips
This was actually a pretty moderate ‘tipping’ piece, but the central race, the Arc itself, is worth reading. Not just for the mere trifle that I nominated Solemia, the 33/1 winner (available at 66/1 when posted, and paid 40.5/1 on the French tote), but also because – for the nth time – I advised deep caution about backing a horse made favourite on the basis of paper talk rather than actual ability. Remember Camelot?! (Sent off the 2/1 favourite in a strong field of 18 – ouch!!)
The Punting Confessional: The Price is Right?
A view from Tony Keenan on how to isolate value. It’s the easiest thing to define, but the hardest to detect. Here, Tony attempts the nigh on impossible.
The Punting Confessional: The Follies of Racing Fandom
This second Keenan kontribution muses on the problems of ‘loving’ a horse. Not in the carnal way, you understand, although that would indeed bring its own array of problems… but rather in the betting sense. This piece resonated with a number of readers at the time and it is worthy of inclusion on that basis alone.
So there they are. My pick of the 2012 posts. Feel free to agree, disagree or abstain!
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This will be my last post of 2012, Stats of the Day notwithstanding. So please allow me to take a moment to thank you most sincerely for your support, readership, and contributions via the comments these last twelve months.
Geegeez.co.uk is continuing to evolve all the time, and I have some truly game-changing plans for 2013, some of which are already in development. I hope they’ll make your enjoyment of geegeez even greater and, at the very least, if they don’t you’ll still have the current crop of writers and features for your edification.
Don’t drink too much (unless you want to). Don’t eat too much (unless you want to). And don’t bet too much (even if you want to)!
Right, I’m off for a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine. Tis the season to be jolly, after all!
Merry Christmas, and a very happy New Year from me and all of the team at geegeez. 🙂
Matt
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