Each day Malcolm Boyle, the author of 'How To Win at the Tote Placepot' and a former odds compiler, will give his unique analysis of the feature meeting from a Placepot perspective.
His general preview for the following day's racing will appear at around 5pm the day before with the actual selections available around two hours before the first race on the day of racing so factors such as non-runners and going conditions can properly be taken into account.
LINGFIELD – FEBRUARY 4
Recent toteplacepot dividends pertaining to this meeting:
2011: £171.00
2010: £56.00
2009: £102.60
2008: £61.20
2007: £3.50
2006: £39.00
2005: £7.80
2004: £11.00
2003: £37.60
2002: £248.80
Average toteplacepot dividend at this meeting (10 years) £73.85
Average toteplacepot dividend at Lingfield (flat) in 2006: £296.53 (91 meetings)—in 2007: £1,116.95 (98 meetings)--in 2008: £153.68 (90 meetings in total NH & flat)--in 2009: £224.87 (69 A/W meetings)--in 2010: £205.34 (65 A/W meetings)--in 2011: £159.77 (55 A/W meetings)
12.55 Five of the nine available toteplacepot positions have been secured by horses carrying weights of 9-1 or more, stats which include all three (9/1--9/2--4/1) winners. CRISTALIYEV, SAUCY BUCK and KUCHAROVA are three of the four horses which will definitely run off the ‘superior marks’ given that others might drop below the 9-1 weight via claims.
'Favourite factor': Three of the four favourites have finished in the frame thus far (two winners).
1.25 Michael Bell saddled the winner of a race at Southwell the other day which is an important factor when discussing trainers who are only just emerging from their winter break. Michael’s Bahamian Bounty gelding TWINKLED appears to be best treated here, with connections probably having most to fear from MARVO on this occasion.
'Favourite factor': Favourites have won five of the last nine renewals with nine of the last 10 winners scoring at odds of 8/1 or less. Eight of the 11 market leaders have finished in the frame though the shortest priced favourite finished out with the washing at odds of 8/13.
2.00 I’m not surprised that trainer David Evans is represented to defend his crown having won the first running of this contest 12 months ago via a 16/1 chance. I doubt that the layers will be so generous about David’s course and distance winner CAPTAIN DIMITRIOS. Others to catch the eye at the overnight stage include WAABEL and WATERLOO DOCK.
'Favourite factor': Last year’s 2/1 market leader could only snare the bronze medal in the inaugural running of this race, though third place was good enough to secure a toteplacepot position.
2.30 David Evans is represented by MEMPHIS MAN in heat two of the previous event and once again, David’s inmate boasts each way claims to a fashion. More obvious winners on this occasion include the recent course and distance winner DIAMOND VINE, though it’s worth noting that the four-year-old has failed to record back to back victories via two earlier opportunities in his career. THE WEE CHIEF and COURT APPLAUSE are others that enter the equation at the time of writing.
'Favourite factor': This is the second division of the previous race on the card whereby the same favourite stat applies.
3.00 Richard Hannon’s course winner NUMERAL was only half a length away from landing a four-timer at the back end of 2011 and Richard has found a decent opportunity of finding out if the handicapper has his measure here, though the Holy Roman Emperor raider showed tenacious qualities when securing the relevant three victories. SHIFTING STAR and TITAN TRIUMPH are two other horses down the list which attract the eye.
'Favourite factor': Last year’s 5/1 favourite finished behind nine of his 10 rivals in the inaugural event.
3.35 Five-year-olds boast the best vintage stats in the toteplacepot finale, with relevant representatives having secured four of the last eight renewals. All three of this year’s vintage representatives should go close, with EXEMPLARY marginally preferred to ART SCHOLAR and LAYLINE.
'Favourite factor': Six renewals have slipped by without a winning favourite being recorded, albeit the biggest priced winner during the period scored at 8/1. Six of the 13 favourites have finished in the frame during the last decade.
FFOS LAS:
Recent toteplacepot dividends pertaining to this meeting:
2010: £14.10
Average toteplacepot dividend at Ffos Las (NH) in 2010: £1,655.07 (13 NH meetings)--in 2011: £701.87 (19 NH meetings)
WOLVERHAMPTON:
Average toteplacepot dividend at Wolverhampton in 2006: £379.47 (111 meetings)—in 2007: £499.42 (120 meetings)--2008: £447.58 (100 meetings)--in 2009: £505.07 (94 meetings)--in 2010: £204.35 (96 meetings)--in 2011: £254.21 (100 meetings)
Biggest toteplacepot dividends in 2012:
Catterick (NH)--£5,770.70--Thursday January 12
Chepstow (NH)--£5,510.50--Friday January 20
Musselburgh (NH)--£5,069.20--Sunday January 1
Lingfield (A/W)--£4,337.20--Friday January 6
Taunton--£2,359.70--Monday January 9
Newbury (NH)--£1,857.20--Wednesday January 18
Kempton (A/W)--£1,630.60--Sunday January 22
Ffos Las (NH)--£1,523.00--Wednesday January 11
Wolverhampton--£1,220.00--Monday January 30
Hereford--£1,159.60--Wednesday January 25
Cheltenham--£1,125.10--Sunday January 1
2012 Average toteplacepot dividends (up to and including Thursday February 2)—A-Z racecourse guide:
A/W venues:
Total A/W meetings (£301.57--41 meetings)
Kempton (£365.91--10 meetings)
Lingfield (£441.75--11 meetings)
Southwell (£132.94--9 meetings)
Wolverhampton (£191.75--11 meetings)
N/H venues:
Total NH meetings (£509.82--60 meetings)
Ascot (£80.60--1 meeting)
Ayr (£174.23--3 meetings)
Bangor (£782.20--1 meeting)
Catterick (£2,279.63--3 meetings)
Cheltenham (£635.05--2 meetings)
Chepstow (£5,510.50--1 meeting)
Doncaster (£206.50--2 meetings)
Exeter (£28.70--1 meeting)
Fakenham (£36.90--1 meeting)
Ffos Las (£849.75--2 meetings)
Folkestone (£238.50--3 meetings)
Fontwell (£189.55--2 meetings)
Haydock (£39.50--1 meeting)
Hereford (£609.30--2 meetings)
Huntingdon (£133.13--3 meetings)
Kempton (£454.90--1 meeting)
Leicester (£115.65--2 meetings)
Lingfield (£70.15--2 meetings)
Ludlow (£88.85--2 meetings)
Market Rasen (£52.50--1 meeting)
Musselburgh (£1,832.30--3 meetings)
Newbury (£1,857.20--1 meeting)
Newcastle (£119.23--3 meetings)
Plumpton (£40.07--3 meetings)
Sandown(£36.50--1 meeting)
Sedgefield (£24.90--1 meeting)
Southwell (£32.95--2 meetings)
Taunton (£798.20--3 meetings)
Towcester (£11.20--1 meeting)
Uttoxeter (£75.50--1 meeting)
Warwick (£274.55--2 meetings)
Wetherby (£102.00--1 meeting)
Wincanton (£211.25--2 meetings)