It’s fair to say that recent winning form is in short supply in the Daily Specials & Price Boosts Starsports.bet Handicap (2.20) at Lingfield on Monday, but Betsalottie won a couple of handicaps – including one over course and distance – over the winter and looks feasibly weighted on his return from a short break. For those looking at the racing tips, it should be apparent that Veteran trainer John Bridger does well with his small string of moderate horses and after three fairly nondescript efforts on turf – most recently in a 0-75 contest at Goodwood in June – Betsalottie returns to Polytrack off an identical handicap mark to when winning over 1 miles 4 furlongs in February.

Consistency isn’t his strong suit but, on the whole, Lingfield suits his closing style and the faster they go, especially over 1 mile 2 furlongs, the better for him. With the possible exception Special Mission – who forced the pace at Redcar last time – the absence of an obvious front runner, together with a high proportion of hold up horses, introduces the possibility of a slowly-run, “messy” race, which is a slight worry. So, too, is the form of the stable.

Nevertheless, the booking of Kieran O’Neill, who has a 7-29 (24%) strike rate on older horses for the yard this season, suggests a positive showing is on the cards. With the track riding slower than standard, stamina may be at a premium and, hopefully, Betsalottie can be delivered fast and late to record his second course and distance win of the year.

Selection: Lingfield 2.20 Betsalottie to win 9/1

The next time someone asks me what the definition of bad luck is, I think I’ll just show them this race!  #hardlines

The prolonged period of dry weather has led to a dearth of runners up and down the country this week, but eight have been declared for the Best Odds Guaranteed at 188Bet Handicap (6.55) at Sandown on Wednesday evening, which should provide the progressive Glamorous Rocket with an opportunity to regain the winning thread. Already a winner over the minimum trip at Wolverhampton, Windsor and Lingfield this term, Ronald Harris’ three-year-old filly was beaten, but far from disgraced, in a 0-80 contest at Haydock on Friday, off today’s revised mark of 74. The fact that connections turn her out again so quickly suggests that she may well have more to offer and, with conditions in her favour once again, she must surely be thereabouts against rivals who appear fully exposed.

The daughter of Dark Angel has already officially improved 16lb since making her seasonal debut at Bath in April, but her quick-fire hat-trick during June suggests she’s thriving with racing and, in receipt of a 4lb weight-for-age allowance, she may be able to show her elders a clean pair of heels. Admittedly, with just eight runners the draw shouldn’t play a huge part in the outcome, but Glamorous Rocket is well drawn to attack in stall 3 and David Probert, who’s won on her twice before, takes the ride. Ronald Harris has a none-too-shabby 4-15 (27%) strike rate overall at Sandown over the last five seasons, rising to 2-5 (40%) with three-year-olds in the same period, so Glamorous Rocket appears to have plenty in her favour.

Selection: Sandown 6.55 Glamorous Rocket to win 10/3

In the sport of horse racing, “shock” winners – or, in other words, winners that are largely, or completely, unconsidered by the betting public – are almost completely unpredictable. In addition to horses that win on their racecourse or seasonal debut, or are the subject of a planned gamble by connections, there are those who win by complete and utter fluke, or by virtue of being in the right place at the right time.

Of course, hoping to have lady luck on your side isn’t something that’s specific to horse racing either. It also applies to games of chance like casino games and bingo. In the context of games of chance you’re completely relieved of the aspect of analysis and instead can just enjoy the excitement of gambling and have your fingers crossed that luck is going to be on your side. Even with luck based games you can tips the odds in your favour with special offers such as by having a big winner bingo coupon code, or a new account sign up bonus.

In the equine world, perhaps the most famous example of ‘right place, right time’ is Foinavon, winner of the 1967 Grand National at odds of 100/1. Ridden by John Buckingham, Foinavon was the only one of the 28 horses still standing to jump the fence after Becher’s Brook at the first attempt on the second circuit, after a pile-up caused by a loose horse, and was gifted a 30-length lead. Commentator Michael O’Hehir famously reported, “And now, with all this mayhem, Foinavon has gone off on his own! He’s about 50, 100 yards in front of everything else!” Many of the jockeys remounted and set off in pursuit, but Foinavon was still 15 lengths ahead at the winning post.

The “Shock of the Century”, at least according to the Racing Post, occurred in 1990 when Norton’s Coin, owned and trained, under permit, by Welsh dairy farmer Sirrell Griffiths beat Desert Orchid and ten other rivals to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup at odds of 100/1. Norton’s Coin was one of just three horses in Griffiths’ care and, although not devoid of ability, had finished last of six, beaten 39 lengths, behind Desert Orchid in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on his only previous attempt in Grade One company. Nevertheless, he was always going well at Cheltenham and, although all out to hold Toby Tobias by half a length, reversed the Kempton form with Desert Orchid to the tune of 43½ lengths or, in handicapping terms, just over three stone!

We can’t really talk about shock winners without mentioning Equinoctial, trained by Norman Miller in County Durham. Admittedly, he didn’t win the Grand National or the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but his win, from 15lb out of the handicap, in a run-of-the-mill novices’ hurdle at Kelso in 1990 was no less of a shock than Foinavon or Norton’s Coin. In fact, his starting price of 250/1 made him the longest-priced winner in the history of British horse racing. The five-year-old had won an Irish maiden point-to-point the previous January, but had failed to complete the course on three of his four starts under rules and been beaten 62 lengths when eighth of nine finishers on the other.