Glory days back for Daily Bargain

2022-08-31

After spending the first seven months of 2022 skulking in the shadows of stablemate Probets, Daily Bargain emerged triumphant in August, registering a 36.5-point profit, the highest monthly Besttipping return for fifteen months.

Runaway title leader, Probets, made it eight winning months in succession with a 3.88-point return, while the two Personal Info services, Mainline and Saturday-Only, also posted August profits.

But there is no doubt about August’s headline-maker: Daily Bargain. The reigning champ has been in wretched form for much of 2022, posting losses in six months out of seven. August, though, saw the Daily Bargain of old with six winning selections from 31 and a return on investment (ROI) of 117%.

The popular ten-year-old, Sir Chauvelin, kick-started the revival with a 12/1 win at Musselburgh on 5 August. This success was followed three days later by 9/2 advice Dungar Glory, who scored at Ripon. On 16 August, Ballyconneely Bay registered his first win for two years (6/1 advice, Hamilton Park), pushing Daily Bargain’s monthly profit into double figures.

The best, though, was yet to come. During a five-day spree (21-25 August), three further winners were found – all at eye-catching prices. Duke Of Verona got up to win by a nose at Sandown (21 August). The sp was decent enough – 17/2, but when Daily Bargain posted the advice, 16/1 was available. The next two days saw near misses – a third at 12s and an 8/1 runner-up – but the winning thread was regained with Caesar’s Comet (14/1 advice, 16/1 sp) landing the odds at Bellewstown. This success was followed the next day by Show Me Show Me (9/1 advice), who just got up in the final strides at Newcastle under impressive newcomer, Harrison Shaw.

Although Probets’ sequence of seven top spots ended with Daily Bargain’s August renaissance, this was another solid effort. There was nothing to fault about the opening with the first seven days producing four winners, including 7/1 Manaccan, successful at Ascot’s Shergar Cup meeting (6 August).  Dancing Bay (9/2, Lingfield, 11 August) added to the win haul. However, from that point on, it was an agonising ride. Despite eleven out of eighteen selections going close, only two actually crossed the line in first place: Dora Penny (2/1, Windsor, 15 August) and Fresh Hope (5/1, Newcastle, 25 August).  

Personal Info Mainline posted a 1.92-point yield with four winners: Elena’s Gift (9/2, Windsor, 1 August), Whistle And Flute (9/2, Brighton, 5 August), Moonlit Warrior (4/1, Lingfield, 6 August) and Fairy Cross (2/1, Goodwood, 27 August). The month’s ROI was 34%, significantly higher than Probets’ 13%.

And thanks to Moonlit Warrior and Fairy Cross, Personal Info’s Saturday-Only service also ended the month in credit (0.14 points). That made it seven profitable months in a row for Saturday-Only and keeps them in second place in the 2022 challenge with a 4.67-point profit, albeit a distance behind Probets (70.14 points).

The big question, though, is can Daily Bargain continue with the form shown in August? And, if so, is a late title-challenge still on? At the start of last month, Daily Bargain trailed Probets by 111 points; currently the difference is less than 80 points. To stand any chance of overturning Probets, Daily Bargain can’t afford any further losing months, and, at the same time, will need to rely on Probets hitting the rocks. On the form of 2022 (rather than August only) both requirements seem unlikely. One thing’s for sure, Steve Jones, the mastermind behind both Probets and Daily Bargain, is in-line for title number six.