Tight at the top as Daily Bargain regain the initiative

2020-09-30

Five winning selections, with prices ranging from 7/1 to 12/1, earned Daily Bargain a 24-point September yield and top position in the September listings.  It also meant that Steve Jones’ ultra-reliable service, knocked Mark Your Card off top spot in the 2020 Besttipping Challenge.

Though deposed, Mark Your Card also enjoyed a lucrative month, returning a 17.21 gain, while Jones’ second service, Probets and Personal Info Saturday-Only also secured September profits.

After last month’s modest reversal, Daily Bargain began September in low key fashion. The first eight days efforts produced five losers and three non-runners, but the Scarborough Stakes success of 12/1 advice Tarboosh at Doncaster on 9 September, settled nerves. Thereafter the winners followed in quick succession: Bell Heather (7/1, Wolverhampton, 14 September), Bringitonboris (11/1, 18 September), Cloak Of Spirits (7/1, Newmarket, 25 September) and Clifftop Heaven (9/1, Newcastle, 28 September). The overall return of 24 points was Daily Bargain’s first monthly top position since February and was the best monthly profit since Mark Your Card’s March yield of 40.1 points.

It’s not often that a 17-point yield is rewarded with demotion but that was the case for Mark Your Card. They started the month with a 1.9-point advantage over Daily Bargain, but ended it around 5 points adrift. Nevertheless, after last month’s 21.7point return, this was another indicator that Mark Your Card is currently in good shape.

September’s winning selections were headed by 22/1 Princeton Royal (Stratford, 5 September) and a brace of 16/1 beauties, Billy No Mates (Haydock, 4 September) and Ibiza Rocks (Newbury, 19 September). Tarboosh (9/1, Doncaster, 9 September) and Tommy G (Musselburgh (27 September) also helped to swell the profits, as did a number of each-way selections that finished in the money.

Daily Bargain’s stablemate, Probets secured an impressive 33% September strike-rate and an overall return of 4.23 points. A further eight selections claimed second or third positions. Winners included 4/1 Wichita (Doncaster, 12 September), 6/1 Maid Millie (Chelmsford City, 17 September) and 11/4 Anna of Lorraine (Wolverhampton, 29 September). An impressive feature of the month was the regularity of winners – the longest losing sequence being just four.

Personal Info’s Saturday-Only service made it five winning months out of seven with Riffa Wonder (7/4, Chester, 12 September) and Ascension (5/2, Ayr, 19 September) contributing to a 0.25-point yield.

Meanwhile, Personal Info’s Mainline service suffered a sequence of near misses resulting in a modest loss. October, however began in bright fashion with the month’s first selection Getaway Trump (6/4) returning to form with a victory at Warwick (1 October).