We’ve talked before in this space about the Racing Post’s ‘cold list’, which I think is both interesting and useful to followers of the game but which, as I’ve said before, is a controversial subject among racing professionals. So I thought I’d share with you some words on the question from Jim Bolger, as he waited for the outcome of the stewards’ inquiry into the 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh on Sunday.
“They label jockeys who are struggling to make a living as ‘cold’ jockeys. And trainers who are in the same boat, they label them as ‘cold’ trainers,” Bolger said.
“And to prove how ridiculous the whole thing is, a few days after I was second in the Guineas at Newmarket, they had me in as a ‘cold trainer’. And a week after that, they had Dermot Weld in as a cold trainer, so how ridiculous is that whole thing? It’s totally unfair to jockeys and trainers who are struggling.”
I don’t imagine Bolger meant to imply that either he or Weld are struggling. But it’s a fair point to make, that low-profile trainers are inevitably going to have long losing runs because of the weak material at their disposal and will therefore show up on the ‘cold list’ from time to time, regardless of the qualities they may have.
I admire Bolger and not just because, as a journalist, I’m bound to like someone who has never said a dull thing in his life. But, while he has a point, I can’t agree with him that the ‘cold list’ should be killed off.
After all, the list does not amount, and does not pretend to amount, to a judgement of anyone’s merit. It is simply a factual record, showing how long it is since a handful of people last had a winner.
The Post does not trumpet this information unduly. It is tucked away, deep inside each day’s paper and there are probably people who buy the Post every day without ever glancing at the ‘cold list’.
Of course, the people who are most keenly aware of the list are likely to be those who appear on it and I dare say it feels like salt in the wound when you haven’t had a winner for a while. But I don’t think that’s a good enough reason to hide the data from public view.
Successful sports make as much information available to fans as possible. Racing is extremely good at praising those who do well and, on the whole, there is almost no scrutiny of those who are failing, in contrast to football, in which relegation battles are the focus of endless comment and everyone knows which strikers are going through a dry spell. The ‘cold list’, all things considered, is not too much to bear.
Wednesday’s best bets, by Chris Cook
At Thirsk today, I’ll take The Wee Barra (4.40) in the mile handicap for three-year-olds. Kevin Ryan’s filly stuck on well after being prominent throughout when stepped up to this distance for her handicap debut in October and the two who finished in front of her, running on from the back, have since upheld the form, with the runner-up winning next time from a higher mark. The fourth horse won his next two races.
Ryan is going well just now and The Wee Barra has a good draw from stall two of 14.
At Cartmel, I’ll take a chance on Volcanic (3.50) at 12-1 against a David Pipe hotpot in the beginners chase. Three times a winning hurdler last spring, including around here, this six-year-old ought to make a chaser but the Donald McCain yard was going through a difficult spell when he flopped on his only try over the larger obstacles in Britain back in October.
His season was unproductive after he was returned to hurdles but there was renewed promise when he returned from a two-month break in April, leading to two-out at Hexham before getting tired. McCain is still not getting as many winners as he should but Volcanic is overpriced for a weak race.
In Cartmel’s closer, 5-1 looks fair about Gurkha Brave (5.35), who got his act together over hurdles on his return from a break to score at Kelso last month. He only won by a neck but the third was nine lengths further back, so a 6lb rise does not seem harsh.
Tipping competition, day two
Our winners so far:
Tuesday
Excilly 10-1
Aprovado 5-2
Minnie Milan 5-2
And our leaders are. . .
waltersobchak +8
GForce1 +8
... being the only pair to find Excilly. They are chased by 15244 and 23skidoo, who had the other pair.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 4.05 Thirsk, 5.00 Cartmel, 7.40 Kempton.
This week’s prize is a £25 bet on the Derby, kindly offered by those sporting chaps at Boylesports.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -3.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results. And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
