Another winning month for Sprint Specialiser

2019-02-28

Sprint Specialiser, one of the three services that joined Besttipping last summer, continue to set the pace in the 2019 race. A second monthly title has ensured a useful early lead with another newcomer Early Price Profits also well placed in third, behind the 2017 winner, Daily Bargain.

A 40.3pt February yield secured top spot in the February listing for Sprint Specialiser. Six of the month’s 27 selections were successful with two successful 11/1 advices, Picks Pinta (Newcastle, 5 February) and The Establishment (Wolverhampton, 19 February) leading the way. 8/1 Equiano Springs (Newcastle, 18 February) also helped to push the strike-rate to 22% (up from January’s 16%), while the return on investment (ROI) was a rock-solid 54%.

Steve Jones’ Daily Bargain continue to fly the flag for the longer established services with February’s profit of 20.5pt earning second position in the month’s table. Five of 22 selections in February were successful including 11/1 Caledonia Laird (Wolverhampton, 4 February) and 10/1 Stonecoldsoba (Huntingdon, 17 February). Like Sprint Specialiser, the strike-rate was an impressive 22%, while ROI was an eye-catching 170%. Near misses last month included five advices priced between 9/1 and 22/1 which finished second or third – another indication of a service in robust shape.

Daily Bargain just shaded second ahead of Early Price Profits, whose 19.8pt monthly yield represented a return to form after two quietish months. This service prides itself on a steady accumulation of profit and February proved a good example of this rationale. Almost a third of the 195 bets in February finished in the first three with 47 winning, adding up to a 24% strike-rate. Best of those 47 strikes was Classic Ben, successful at Sandown on 7 February at 14/1. Dolly Dupree scored at 8/1 at Southwell on the penultimate day of the month, while three 7/1 selections also triumphed.

First Favourite resumed winning ways in February with two of the month’s three selections delivering the goods. Clan Des Obeaux (1/2, Ascot, 16 February) and Captain Lars (1/1, Newcastle, 18 February) secured the 67% strike-rate (16.67% ROI).

Probets missed out on a February profit despite posting a 25% strike-rate – better than any of the top three finishers. Frustratingly, seven selections finished second. Had one of these found a little extra I would be describing a profitable month rather than one which incurred a tiny loss of 0.8pt. Best priced of the seven winning selections were two 100/30 shots, Naralsaif (Wolverhampton, 23 February) and Martineo (Wolverhampton, 26 February).  

There was an odd feel to racing in February with the equine flu outbreak (hilariously described in Private Eye as Mane Flu) and the ongoing dispute with Arc, which caused field sizes to be decimated. Nevertheless, the Besttipping stable stuck to their guns and all can look forward to the excitement that March will generate. Fewer odds-on chances at the forthcoming Cheltenham Festival will make winner finding a tougher proposition than in recent years. Shock wins, perhaps? Will shall see. But let’s remember it’s not all about Cheltenham; as Sprint Specialiser have shown there’s money to be made on the all-weather as well.