Track Talk: Ger Lyons seems to be the man to follow for the biggest profit
Last week we touched on the success of Gordon Elliott's placing policy when it comes to sending horses here, there and everywhere for the best opportunity and Adrian Keatley is another who seems to be following suit but when it comes to making a profit on the flat this season, it seems that Ger Lyons is the man to follow.
Now of those trainers or jockeys with 10 or more winners this season only two of each have managed to return a profit for a €1 level stake.
Before racing at Killarney yesterday €1 on each of Ger Lyons' runners in Ireland this season would return you €5.80 and considering his amount of runners that is impressive.
Pat Martin is the other trainers into double figures that returns a profit and that is no surprise to those following Irish racing of late because Martin really has had his team in fantastic form of late and for €1 on all of Martin's runners this season you would have €4.08 profit.
What is probably most pleasing for the trainers themselves is that they've managed an impressive strike-rate for winners to individual horses.
Lyons has run 60 horses this year in Ireland with 28 of them winning giving him a 47 per cent success rate while Martin has sent out 12 different horses and six of them have won, both are ahead of Aidan O'Brien who is at 45 per cent for the same stat.
Other trainers that may be worth keeping an eye on over the coming weeks are the likes of Pat Flynn, Charles O'Brien, David Marnane and Ken Condon who have had five, six, six and seven winners respectively but for a €1 stake on all runners from their yards you would have a return of €15.50, €13.75, €11.50 and €13.62.
Looking at the jockeys and Shane Foley has enjoyed a brilliant season this term and currently sits fourth behind Pat Smullen, Colin Keane and Kevin Manning in the jockeys championship an Foley has a €56.17 profit for a €1 stake but it probably is worth remembering that he did enjoy a 100/1 winner at the Curragh on Bill Farrell's Ramone earlier in the season.
Looking at the jockeys with 10 or more winners Seamie Heffernan is the only other boasting a profit with followers of him €3.82 up on their initial stake.
It is more difficult to find jockeys that return a more regular profit but Ian Queally he is a jockey enjoying a good time of things lately.
Now based with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle, none of his rides have come for O'Brien but he credits the invaluable experience he's getting down there to his recent run and a good record with trainer Donal Kinsella see's him on five winners for the season with a €33.75 profit for a €1 stake on his 16 rides this season.
It goes without saying that Jack Kennedy is the man of the moment when it comes to punters though.
He has mixed it on the flat and over hurdles for his boss Gordon Elliott and others and with a very valuable 7lb claim he shows a €22 profit on the flat and €14.63 over hurdles.
Of course all of this is irrelevant to the trainers or jockeys themselves as all they're worried about is winners but it might be some guide to punters at least.