36% strike-rate secures March glory for Probets

2023-03-31

Profits all-round last month with Probets again taking the honours with a 9.96-point profit and an excellent 36% strike-rate. After two poor months, Daily Bargain hit back with a 4-point yield while the two Personal Info services, Mainline and Saturday-Only also secured March winnings.

When Steve Jones takes a well-earned break, it often pays to take heed. Last month was no exception; a six-day rest charged up the winner-finding batteries for Probets. Three of the first six post-holiday selections were successful, a run the featured two Willie Mullins-trained Cheltenham Festival victors, Impaire Et Passe (7/4, 15 March) in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and Gallopin Des Champs (15/8, 17 March) in the biggest race of the week, the Gold Cup.

The winners continued to roll in with Jetoile (100/30, Chepstow, 19 March, Alnadam (4/1, Haydock Park, 22 March) and Looe P Looe (4/1, Wolverhampton, 28 March) standing out.  As well as the month’s tally of nine winners, eight selections came in second or third. That’s a cool 68% win/place return.

After a period in the doldrums, Probets are back in the winning groove. March’s positive return followed a table-topping 3.1-point return in February – the first back-to-back profits since last June and July. And the month’s yield was Probets best since last July’s 14-point harvest.

Antony Brittain’s four-year-old, Murhib, secured Daily Bargain’s March profit when scoring a third career win under 3lb claimer Harry Russell at Wolverhampton on 28 March. In his eve-of-race notes, Steve Jones remarked that: “From a handy stall 4, he looks to have been underestimated in this company.” At the off, the gelding was a 9/1 shot, but, happily, Daily Bargain subscribers were advised of early quotes of 20/1.

Daily Bargain’s only other March winner was Starshiba (6/1, Newcastle, 24 March) which ended a 17-bet losing streak for the 2022 champ. Nonetheless, the month ended with a first profit of the year; regular followers will be reassured by the events of last year when all looked lost before a momentous recovery over the second half of the year secured the title with a profit of more than fifty points.

It almost goes without saying that Personal Info Mainline will turn a profit at the Cheltenham Festival. And, sure enough, 2023 was no exception as Energumene (13/8, Champion Chase, 15 March) and Stage Star (Turners Novices’ Chase, 16 March) delivered the goods.

Mainline and Saturday-Only both advised the 4 March Lingfield Park winner, Iconic Moment (11/8) to start the month in smart fashion. Personal Info ended March 0.97 points to the good (14% return on investment, while Saturday-Only secured a 0.53-point return, which translated into a very useful 42% return on investment.

 Cheltenham might be done and dusted but there’s still plenty of quality action over jumps with Fairyhouse, Aintree, Ayr, Sandown and Punchestown providing a rousing finale to the 2022/23 season. Dates to set the heart racing for Flat fans include 18-20 April, when Newmarket opens its doors for the first time this year with a programme that includes several important Classic trials. Guineas and Epsom clues also at Newbury’s two-day meeting which immediately follows on from the action at HQ.