Banking On Bookiesindex Boy

First In Command was a winner for this column last week, when he hacked up at advised odds of 7/4. In today’s 3.30 Southwell, he is odds-on and it shows how quickly a horse can go from a good bet to a bad bet.

He is a horse who finds very little off the bridle and although he can appear a comfortable winner, there might have been very little petrol left in the tank. Carrying 9-13, in a stronger race, at odds-on, is not a great bet.

Looking for horses to take on the favourite, Sandwith made the shortlist at 8/1 but at even bigger odds, Bookiesindex Boy tempts me at 16/1 with Stan James.

Placing bets on Bookiesindex Boy must come with a massive health warning. He is another horse who finds very little when push comes to shove but we are compensated by the odds. On his day he is a useful performer, he won over course and distance off a mark of 72 last year, but races off 55 today.

Connections rode him much more prominently last time out and although he didn’t get home over six furlongs, he was still leading at the five furlong pole. This newfound tactical versatility could make the difference as he reverts to the minimum trip.