The merciless barrage system – Horse Racing Betting System

Betting Advice

BETTING SHOPS HIT 50 YO.

I remember the first betting shops.
Crackling voices giving pre-race odds and commentaries.
Boardmaker putting up latest shows and results. Always assuming you could see through the smoke-haze.
The scramble for the window "BET HERE" window when "under orders" was called. If you weren’t "on" by the "they’re-off" you didn’t have a bet on that race.

Many shops worked on a "Clock-bag" system. All bets were placed in the bag at the "off" and securely locked. These would usually be collected by a courier taken to the head office settled and returned to the shop for payment. So you might get your winnings from the 2 o’clock race about Half Past Three.

"A one man shop" would operate a little differently. You would tender your bet which would be stamped with a serial number as would your receipt ticket. At least with this system you were paid out when "weighed-in" was announced. How we’ve moved on since then.

Now it’s almost "normal" to be paid almost as the winner crosses the line.
Often you would be expected to provide your own paper to write your bet on and also provide your own pen/pencil. Even when I first worked in a Betting Shop, two years later, it was quite usual to take bets on a cigarette packet. Normal bets were 6d (2 1/2p) each-way Yankee and an average single bet would be half a crown (12 1/2p) win or each-way. The local big-wig might chance £1 on his single.

How these compare with today’s staking levels. Even in the small shop I managed until I retired eight years ago, £100. to win was quite an everyday affair. Even £10. win Lucky Fifteens weren’t unusual.
The other big change is regarding Football Bets. Almost any shop which offered a weekly Football Coupon were acting as agents for one of the Big Three. Even then they were trying to lord it over the small bookie. Win on Saturday, get paid on Wednesday. Plus severe restrictions on every type of bet. Add to that, no mid-week bets accepted either.

After the very severe winter of ’63/’64 some bright spark decided it was worthwhile putting Greyhound Racing on the system. From such well known places as Dunstable and Park Royal. You even had to wait till just before each race to get the trap draw. Any wonder it never really caught-on until live pictures were beamed into the shops.

The merciless barrage system – Horse Racing Betting System

So whilst all this was going on, or not, as the case may be, those who really intended to make money from betting, not punters as you may have thought, but System Sellers started to offer their UNBEATABLE WINNER FINDING METHODS.

Their words no-one else’. Most, as it is today, never delivered their promises. I have a sheath of Unbeatable Systems and as you can guess there is hardly anything worth looking at.
However one system stands out by the proverbial mile. This is probably older than the Betting Shops. It’s also the only one that has proved capable of living up to it’s promises. I even found it re-hashed in a book on betting systems a couple of years ago. Unfortunately I don’t have the original documentation. That was lost in one of my house moves. I do however, have a good memory and can virtually recite the very basic rules of selection.

This is a straight forward no nonsense method that really has stood the test of time. The beauty of it is, it was never sold but given away FREE as make-weight to a book of backing methods. (More about these later).
Despite the possibilities which abound with this system it won’t be of any use to some people. basically it would now be called a Dutching System.
In the far off days Dutching was the domain of the PROFESSIONAL backer. This was called a two horse system.

As mentioned before I found it re-hashed in a book of horse-racing systems but it wasn’t the "FULL MONTE" so to speak. The author didn’t give some of the fine details.
Now I have your attention the system was named THE MERCILESS BARRAGE SYSTEM.

To operate this system you will need to use the same newspaper betting forecast every day. So just occasionally one paper may select a different horse to another paper. I would suggest that for ease and continuity the Racing Post is the chosen paper.
It’s based around Two-year-olds ONLY. The original system had a list of tracks at which it was recommended you backed at. Unfortunately many of those tracks no longer exist. Such exotic sounding places as Lewes, Hurst Park, Stockton and Alexander Palace.
As an alternative I would suggest that any qualifying race should have returned either the first or second favourite at least three times in the last five runnings.
Or as a different approach, choose the highest prize money on offer for TWO-YEAR-OLD RACES on the day.

Qualifying races are TWO-YEAR-OLD STAKES RACES. Any race with maiden, novice, selling or handicap in it’s title are NOT CONSIDERED.
From the chosen betting forecast note the first three in the order listed. e.g. the first, second and third forecast favourites. Co or jointly quoted selections, only the first THREE quoted are considered.
Of these discard the one with the worst placing last time out. If no clear choice discard the one with the biggest forecast price.
Of the two left the first choice is the one with the best placing last time out. Here again if there is no clear selection choose the one which quoted at the SHORTEST ODDS.
If you aren’t into Dutching you can back the first choice for say, 2 pts and the danger for 1 pt.

Any horse disqualified in its last race maintains it’s original placing for this system.
Any horse finishing worse than FOURTH PLACE in it’s last race is considered as UNPLACED as is any horse which has never run before. All such horses are considered if they qualify under "first three in the betting forecast".
How this system might fare under All Weather Racing I wouldn’t like to saw. Although I think using the principles laid out it should have a reasonable chance of coming up trumps.

The system has always done very well at the larger meetings. To para-phrase and old saying, Where there’s brass there’s winners. Ascot usually throws up 3 winners from 5 principle two-year-old races. prices up to 6/1 are not a rarity I would advise starting no earlier than Chester’s May meeting. Curtail operations when showing a profit for the month of October.
Never go beyond the Cesarewitch meeting at Newmarket.

First bet this year was today (4/5/11) at Chester.
Qualifiers were, 

  11 Lily’s Angel  quoted Favourite.
  31 He’s so Cool  quotes third best.
  12 Redair        quoted second best.
 Applying the rules we discard Redair. Worst placing last time out.
 As both remaining selections have the same, last race, form figure we refer to the betting forecast.
 The shortest quoted is Lily’s Angel.   Which duly won at 7/4.

I hope you can either use this method or even improve on it. There’s always room for improvement.

Remember, bet carefully and bet sensibly.

 

BARRAGE RESULTS.

                              Selection 1 carries 20 pts.
                              selection 2 carries 10 pts.

4th May  Chester. 2.15        Lily’s Angel  1
                              He’s so cool  2           Lily’s Angel  won 7/4.   Plus   25 pts        Plus   25pts.

5th May.  No Selections,

6th May   No Selections.

7th May   No Selections.

8th May   No Selections.

9th May   No Selections.

10th May. No Selections.

11th May  York  4.30          Moonayer     1
                              Hamza        2           Hamza 2nd  11/2            Minus 30 pts         Minus   5pts

12th May  No Selections.

13th May  130. York(Listed)’  Miss World of Art 1
                              Pyman’s Theory    2      Miss World of Art won 6/5. Plus 14pts           Plus     9pts

14th May  4.00 Newmarket      Lilbourne Lad 1
                              B.Fifty Two   2          B. Fifty Two   won 7/1     Plus 50pts.          Plus    59pts
                                                       Lilbourne Lad  2nd 4/6.

15th May  No Selections.

16th May  6.30 Windsor.       Bannock   1
                              Signifier 2              Bannock won  8/1           Plus 150pts          Plus    209pts

17th May  No Selections.

18th May  No Selections.

19th May  No Selections.

20th May  No Selections.

21st May  4.20 Curragh.        Power     1
                               Fire Lily 2              Power  won 6/4            Plus 20 pts.          plus    229pts

22nd May  No Selections  

23rd May  6.10 Windsor         Starfly   1                U/p
                               Lord of the Shadows 2      DH 2nd.7/2              Minus 30 pts.         plus     199 pts
24th May. No Selections.

25th May. 7.30 Beverley.       Lily’s Angel 1             2nd.                    Minus 30 pts          plus     169 pts
                               Queen’s Revenge 2

26th May. 6.30 Sandown         Bannock 1                  2nd 5/2                 Minus 30 pts          plus     139 pts
                               Sixx 2.

27th May. 7.30 Pontefract.     Misty Conquest 1           Misty Conquest won 7/2  plus 60 pts           plus     199 pts.
                               Casper Netscher 2          Casper Netscher 2nd

28th May. 3.40 Beverley        Gabrial 1
                               Arnold lane 2              Gabrial won 6/5         plus 14 pts           plus     213 pts.

29th May. No Selections.

30th May. No Selections.

31st May. 5.50 Yamouth.        Mabroor 1
                               Wise Venture 2.            Wise Venture won 9/4.   plus 12.5pts          plus     225.5 pts

BARRAGE JUNE 11.

1ST June. No Selections.

2nd June. No Selections.

3rd June. No Selections.

4th June. 2.10 Epsom.        Fulbright  1  won 3/1                          Supplementary    Es Que Love      1 2nd   
                             Norse Gold 2                Plus 50 pts.       Musselburgh      Frederick Engles 2 won 13/2       

5th June. No Selections.  

6th June. No Selections.

7th June. No Selcetions.

8th June. 2.00 Beverley.      Pint Size  1 Non-Runner                                    
                              Mousie     2 Lost          Minus 10 pts.   Running Total Plus 40 pts.

9th June. No Selection.

10th June.6.25 Chepstow.(Cl). Factory Time 1 won 6/4
                              Bling King   2.2nd 7/1     Plus  20 pts.      "     "    Plus 60 pts.

11th June.3.25 Bath. (N).     The Dancing Lords. 1 Lost
                              Red Hearts.        2 Lost  Minus 30 pts.      "     "    Plus 30 pts.

12th June. No Selections.

13th June. No Selections.

14th June. R.Ascot 4.20  Coventry Stakes. (St Gp2).
                              Power     1  Won 4/1
                              Mezmaar   2                Plus 70 pts       "     "     Plus 100 pts.
                                                   
                                                                       Supplementary 5.35 Ascot  Frederick Engels 1  won 9/4
                                                                       (St Listed).              Gentleman’s Code 2

                                                               
15th June. R,Ascot 5.00 Queen Mary Stakes (St Gp2).
                              Shumoos     1  2nd
                              Gypsy Robin 2              Minus 30 pts.     "     "     Plus 70 pts.

16th June. R.Ascot 2.30 Norfolk Stakes    (St Gp2).
                              Bapat Chinta         1 won 6/1
                              Crown Dependency     2 3rd 8/1
                                                         Plus 110 pts.     "     "     Plus 180 pts.

17th June. R.Ascot 2.30 Albany Stakes.     (St Gp3).
                              Teolane      1       U/P
                              Inetrobil    2       2nd 17/2
                                                         Minus 30 pts      "     "     Plus 150 pts.

18th June. R.Ascot 2.30 Chesham Stakes     (St Listed)
                              Maybe         1      Won 5/2
                              Falls of Lora 2      U/P
                                                         Plus 40 pts       "     "     Plus 190 pts.

19th June. No Selections.

20th June. No Selections.

21st June. No Selections.

22nd June. 8.20 Kempton (AW).(NS).   Mr Majeika   1      U/P
                                     Mabroor      2      Won 13/8
                                                         Minus  2.5 pts.   "     "     Plus 187.5 pts.

23rd June. 2.10 Newcastle (NS).     Parc de Launay 1     Won 6/4
                                    Piece by Piece 2     2nd 13/2
                                                         Plus  20 pts      "     "     Plus 207.5 pts.
 
24th June. 4.00 Doncaster (NS).     Basantee      1      2nd 15/8
                                    Wolfgang      2      Won 5/2
                                                         Plus   5 pts      "     "     Plus 212.5 pts

25th June. 2.15 Newmarket.(F. Listed).
                                    My Propellor    1    N/R
                                    Queen’s Revenge 2    U/P
                                                         Minus 10 pts.     "     "     Plus 202.5 pts
                                               
                                                      Supplementaries. 2.05 Chester (N).   Red Art          1 won 7/4
                                                                                           Courtland King.  2 U/P

                                                                       3.00 Curragh (FSt). Experience       1 won 1/1
                                                                                           Naseem Sea       2 3d  6/1.

26th June. 4.00 Windsor.(F.St).     Betty Fontaine 1     Won 10/3
                                    Precious Drop  2     U/P
                                                         Plus 56.6 pts.    "     "     Plus 259.1 pts.
                                                      
                                                      Supplementary.   2.10 Curragh (Gp2 St). Lilbourne lad 1  Won 9/4  
                                                                                              Choir         2. U/P

27th June. 3.15 Pontefract (C.St).  Betty Fontaine 1     Non-Runner.   
                                    Princess Banu  2     2nd                                       
                                                         Minus 10 pts.     "     "     Plus 249.1  pts.

28th June. 6.30 Southwell  (Cl St). Pint Size      1     Won 4/6
                                    Reina Sofia    2     3rd
                                                         Plus 3.3 pts.     "     "     Plus 252.4 pts

29th June. No selections.

3oth June. 3.00 Haydock.            West Leake Diman 1   N/R
                                    Stonefield Flyer 2   N/R               "     "         PLUS 252.4 PTS.