Hello Friend

I've just come across some interesting videos that may be of interest.

They've been recorded by Carl Nicholson who is the tipster behind the Value Backing services and the ITV Racing Tips service. 

He has an excellent long term record and now he's started teaching some of his methods for finding winners. 

The first two videos are about finding big priced winners in Handicaps and then he goes onto how to watch a race and pitfalls to avoid when looking for winners.

Carl has put them all on one page - You can watch Here >>>

If you like picking your own winners, or even if you don't, there's much to be said from seeing how other people go about making profits in this game. 

There's no catch here - this link takes you straight to the page where the videos are. You can have a look through, maybe pick one or two you want to watch, or make your way through all of them. I'd be surprised if you didn't pick up something which improves your own approach.

I've watched a couple of them, not all as yet - the final one 'Mistakes To Avoid ' - well, this is a game of opinion and in that video I think he's talking absolute nonsense! :) 

Have a watch, you may well agree with him. And in truth, given my current form and his long term record, I should probably ponder further his views. But still, utter nonsense. 

If you want, you can also sign up to Carl's free tips. 

In any case, free content from someone who undoubtedly knows what they're doing and has the long term record to back it up, is always worth adsorbing, and you can do that, all for free, HERE>>> 

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I've been pondering these - not so much my performance as that reflection is a given with me, but at least taking an approach which may be more useful/ engaging/ entertaining /fun for you, the long suffering reader... while the tips are the tips, a big part of what I do has always been to try and take us all on some sort of journey, trying to provide musings / stats etc to help in your own deliberations, or possible development (including clearly, what not to do! :)) I haven't been doing much of that.

With that in mind, the approach to some of these big handicaps is a bit naff - yes there are the trends/stats etc posted on a Thursday, which some of you use. Last Saturday's Portland handicap shortlist of 5 included Stone Of Destiny at 16s - I know some of you used those pointers to land on him, and thus used them better than I did!

So, i'm going to try something different this week -

Firstly for Saturday's I will try to just focus on one or two of the big handicaps, and start deliberating earlier in the week - these 7am-11am Saturday mornings are not sustainable, and even more so when in a rut. They really don't tee me up for a 'life is for living weekend':) 

I just need to properly get stuck into one of these big handicaps - two if time allows - I do enjoy attacking those, I always will, the hardest of puzzles and that's where I get my kicks, even when in a slump - so it's not a case of ignoring them, just less is maybe more. 

I've been missing things in recent weeks, and not doing all the runners justice - I didn't even watch back Stone of Destiny's Newmarket and Wokingham runs - deary me. The latter was clearly an indication that he could do what he did at Donny. 

I'm not sure I even properly asked - 'what horses are well handicapped' - my word. I mean it was a handicap, that's the first question you should ask! Many in that race were above their last winning marks, so had that to prove - in a race with no thoroughly unexposed horses in it - and he was one of the few who were below their last winning mark, and my a few lbs to book. A plan well executed i'd say, running him at tracks/a distance (6f/stiff) that he doesn't fully see out. And with SDS in flying form. There's always something to reflect on. But only idiots keep repeating the same errors. Work to do. 

Those errors are a result of doing to much on a Sat morning /looking at all the content/ not pulling my finger out enough on a Thursda/Friday, by taking a 'less is more' approach. I should ignore all my other Saturday content, for 'tipping' purposes and just focus on 1 or 2 big handicaps - and go to town on them studying wise, boxed off by 6pm Friday.

I will try and do a preview video on the Thursday afternoon or by Friday afternoon, of a big Sat handicap - not with my selections/thoughts as such - they may not be fully formed by then- but a 'walk through' of my trends/pointers and what you could consider when looking at said race - something actually useful to help you pick your own horses out - and indeed touch on other stats of interest etc that may be useful elsewhere/jot down. There hasn't been enough of that from me and I really should be doing better on that front.

And also, if i'm limited to one or two Saturday races, 1 to 4 points max, the weekend can only get so bad! :)

Said approach may also allow me to have more fun with Saturday's racing... and maybe some time for an 'ITV 7' 'through the card' - mainly a list of horses, the odd note, and odd stat of interest.

Well, that's what i'm going to try anyway, and we shall see if it goes down well/ is useful for your own punting.

I don't like my tipping being woeful, obviously (it is mainly variance... and 36 placed horses, urgh) - but when its combined with offering you good readers very little of utility, esp for those big race days, it's not really good enough. So, i'll try and start putting that right this week. 

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In the meantime, don't forget to watch Carl's free videos HERE>>>

(and get his profitable free tips if you so wish) 

I'll be back in touch Thursday or Friday afternoon, with something useful (hopefully!) to watch for Ayr - definitely the Gold Cup, maybe the Silver also. 

Cheers, 

Josh