Spotlight, Robin Goodfellow and the Star enjoy early Christmas

After a lean year, the Racing Post’s Spotlight service claimed top position in November’s naps challenge. A yield of 13.8 pts secured the crown with Robin Goodfellow finishing second with a return of 10.4 points. Newsboy (4.1 points) and Ratings (3.7 points) claimed third and fourth places.

Robin Goodfellow’s record included an impressive sequence of seven winners in succession, but Spotlight’s value-based efforts ultimately proved decisive.

This was a welcome return to form for Spotlight which, apart from a small profit in May, has toiled thus far in 2023. Ten of the month’s 28 naps were winners with Nicky Henderson’s progressive Greatwood Hurdle winner, Iberico Lord (7/1, Cheltenham, 19 November), proving the pick of the crop. Other winners included 9/2 Houston Texas (Carlisle, 5 November), and 4/1 King Turgeon (Exeter, 20 November). Another pleasing feature for Spotlight was the absence of a losing streak of any significance, the longest lean period being just five.

Robin Goodfellow’s seven-win fiesta began with The Cola Kid (3/1, Kempton, 8 November) and continued with strikes at evens, 9/4, 100/30 (Gesskille, Grand Sefton, Aintree, 11 November), 1/9, 6/4 and 6/5. It equated to a 687/1 accumulator and was, perhaps, worthy of more than the runners-up berth. Overall prices were on the skinny side (best: 7/2), but there can be no complaints about the 48% strike-rate. And the longest losing run was three.

Like Spotlight, this has not been a vintage year for Newsboy’s naps; November’s yield was just the second of 2023. A return of 4.1 points would have been much higher, but for four four-day losing spells. When the winners arrived, they did so at decent prices with Bella Kopella (5/1, Newcastle, 10 November), Arclight (13/2, Exeter, 20 November) and Gallic Geordie (5/1, Wetherby, 29 November) catching the eye.

Racing Post Ratings made a sensational start to the year with three profitable months and top position in the 2023 race. Eight losing months followed before November’s welcome yield. After a steady start, Ratings hit rough waters with a dismal sequence of nine unsuccessful selections. Another losing month beckoned, but a strong finish - six wins from the last eight - edged Ratings into profit.

The Duke found 10/1 Ascot winner Knickerbockerglory (4 November) and was ahead of the game until a weak finish – two from eleven - condemned the Yorkshire Post’s correspondent to a small loss of 1.6 points.

A disastrous run of sixteen straight losers shattered Garry Owen’s hopes after an impressive opening while an eleven-day period which provided seven winners from ten (7-17 November) helped Glendale post a 38% strike-rate, but prices were again modest, hence the losing tally of 8.7 points.

Marlborough, the overall 2023 leader, jumped away well with 9/1 Regal Jubilee obliging at Newmarket (4 November). Thereafter, results were poor. Marlborough retains the lead in the race but has slipped into arrears and is currently showing a 4.4-point loss. Nearest active rival is Robin Goodfellow, who is almost 15 points adrift, suggesting Marlborough will again be crowned champion later this month.

No tipster managed a profitable return with all-tips. As has become the norm, Harvester topped the list with a loss of 14.6 pts. Of the British-based operators, honours went the way of The Times’ Rob Wright who topped the daily list on seven occasions and finished with a 23.5-point loss. By some margin, however, the best daily return was that of Marlborough, who finished 75.1 points up on 2 November.

Once again, several tipsters made big gains with selections priced 20/1 and above. Captain Keen was up 57 points, while Marlborough finished 38 points clear with such tips. The Star has the best overall record for big odds wins being 63 points up for 2023 (two 50/1 wins, three at 33s and four at 20s). Harvester also has a strong record in this category and is currently 60 points ahead.

Date Published: 05/12/2023