It is the Derby weekend. There can be no other weekend like the McDowell Derby weekend. The RWITC enclosures are going to be bursting in the seams with people flooding in from all sides. You had better leave for the racecourse well ahead of the scheduled time, as you are most likely to encounter the heaviest traffic snarl which is already burdened with bottle-necks and maintenance work being carried out further hampering the congested flow of vehicles. The roads leading to the Mahalaxmi racecourse will be chock-o-block with cars and fancy cars. Make sure you are not stuck in it. Leave Early.

Once inside, you can heave a big sigh of relief and head straight to the Signature bar, top the refreshing ‘Saddle up’ cocktail and smack your lips. Then spend a few relaxing moments in the air-conditioned hangar and calm your nerves before opening the race book to zero in on your bets for the day. Ideally, the first race is best left alone. However, if you want to yield to your betting temptations from the very outset, then Gypsy Queen should give you something to scream about at the finish. Whether she will fetch you a return is something you will have to wait until the white cone is hoisted, but Gypsy Queen is sure to keep you interested until the very end.

Hedging your win bet with an SHP and/or place bet would ensure that all your money is not down the drain. Their Lil Sister in the second would prove to be a money spinner. The filly is well-bred and with her pedigree has no business to run in the lowest class. If she fails to make her mark today, it will be a great disappointment. Place a win bet on her. On the side, a Tanala bet involving Prince of Troy and an outsider in Step By Step could prove to be a smart bet. Our Fortune in the next race should be your first serious bet. At 5/4 or above, Our Fortune should provide value for money.

Lusty is my pick for a fluke. She will be offered at lucrative odds and a small bet is well worth the risk. Now it is time for a quick bite and another ‘Saddle up’ won’t harm you. Pamper yourself and quell the gastric juices churning in the tummy. Avoid betting and concentrate on eating. Fresh from the break, head straight to the betting counter and place a good bet on Cambiasso at evens or more. If the odds are lower, then polish the drink if it is still rippling in your glass and watch the race. If you have been misled by what I have recommended thus far, stop heeding my ‘gyan’ from here on and indulge in your own instincts.

If you are not in the “plus” by now, I would have failed miserably and the chances of rebuilding to your starting capital get thinner from here on. So read on at your own peril, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Ares and Blue Danube in the seventh. Take your pick. My gut says Ares has the slender edge, but by now you know how good (or bad) my gut feel really is! An each way on Ordained One in the next and another each way on Vibgyor in the last should sum up your betting for the day. The bets suggested are strictly for fun and your investments ought to be within “spending money” limits.

Betting in more number of races is not the ideal advice. It can be a fun indulgence though if you stake an amount that would not pinch your pocket. It is my earnest endeavour to recommend bets that would allow you to exercise your vocal chords and to test your audio levels. Have fun and let luck be by your side, today and always!