Probets celebrate return to action with top spot

2020-06-30

Since racing resumed on I June, there has been a sense of watching everything on fast-forward. First the resumption then in double-quick succession came the Newmarket Guineas meeting (with the Coronation Cup added to the mix). There was barely time to take stock before a ghostly Royal Ascot was staged, followed by the Northumberland Plate meeting at Newcastle. Meanwhile, over in Ireland, the first three Classics of the season were run in rapid-fire succession, while Irish jumping fans also got into the act. And, in amongst it all were Derby and Oaks trials.

No surprises for guessing that the early action unearthed some shock winners and the overthrowing of last season’s supreme juvenile, Pinatubo (although he wouldn’t be the first champion two-year-old to be brought down to the earth the next spring). In other cases, classy performers from last year have returned to action without tarnishing the reputations.

This mix of shock and certainty has tested the resolve of all punters, and tipsters, despite their specialist skills, have also found the early going testing.  

The Besttipping service that fared best in June was Steve Jones’ Probets. Often in the shadow of Jones’ multi-title winning Daily Bargain, this was to be Probets turn in the spotlight. A 5.5-point yield was enough to win a first monthly Besttipping crown for thirteen months.

Nine of Probets 30 selections prevailed in June (30% strike-rate) while a further seven finished second or third. The nine-winner haul included Becker (3/1), successful at Kempton Park on 12 June, Russian Emperor (7/2) winner of the Hampton Court Stakes on Royal Ascot on 17 June, Spanish Angel (15/4, Windsor, 24 June) and Petit Bay (15/4, Leicester, 30 June).

Personal Info’s Saturday-Only service registered a 0.04-point profit, making it three winning months out of four thanks to Happy Romance (5/4, Sandown, 13 June) and Toussarok (7/4, Newcastle, 27 June).

Mark Your Card also returned to action in June, posting a small loss. There was, though, many positives with winners such as Burtonwood (13/2, Beverley, 17 June), Right Action (7/1, Thirsk, 22 June) and Case Study (20/1, Leicester, 25 June) together with a number of good each-way returns.

Personal Info also suffered a small lost, after starting the month with a winner – Ghaiyyath (11/10, Newmarket, 5 June). Happy Romance (5/4, Sandown 13 June) and Toussarok (7/4, Newcastle, 27 June) were also on the scoresheet. And the last-minute withdrawal of the strongly fancied Paws For Thought at Chepstow on the last day of the month, robbed Personal Info of a serious chance of ending the month in credit.

Table-toppers Daily Bargain secured a seven-point June loss, and, as a result, saw a sharp reduction in their lead in the 2020 table. At the end of March, Daily Bargain’s advantage over old foes Mark Your Card was some 26 points. By the end of June this was down to less than 11.

As we enter the second month of post-lockdown action, the greatest race of them all, the Derby will generate huge interest. Then the action continues thick and fast. Time to take a breather? No chance.