[littlekona]

I actually backed one of these...interesting article...
https://www.racingpost.com/news/news/big-melon-drift-just-before-irish-champion-hurdle-to-be-investigated/318467?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Monday%20News&utm_content=

[Optional]

Big Melon drift in run-up to Irish Champion Hurdle to be investigated


Melon's major drift on Betfair, from 3.6 to 6.2 within the space of 90 seconds before Saturday's Irish Champion Hurdle, is under investigation by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

The betting patterns surrounding Yorkhill are also being examined by the IHRB after the gelding was easy to back before the Dublin Chase on the same afternoon. Both horses, trained by Willie Mullins, were soundly beaten.

Melon was trading at 3.6 on the betting exchange at 3.28pm on Saturday but was available at 6.2 just 90 seconds later. By the time the race went off at 3.30 he had shortened a little into 5.9.

But IHRB chief executive Denis Egan believes the betting patterns were suspicious enough to be looked into.

Melon market watch on Betfair

3.20pm – 3.95
3.22 – 4.0
3.24 – 3.85
3.26 – 3.75
3.28 – 3.6
3.28.30 – 4.9
3.29 – 5.5
3.29.30 – 6.2
3.30 – 6.2
3.30.28 (off time) – 5.9

Egan said: "There are two individual races where betting patterns caught our attention. There were a number of lay bets which require answers. We are investigating the matter and waiting on information from Betfair. Once we have all the information, we can decide whether to investigate the matter further."

He added: "There might be perfectly legitimate answers to explain the betting patterns but we felt that we needed to look into it. We hope to have answers very soon, certainly in the next day or two."

Melon's starting price was officially 7-2 and he produced the worst effort of his career, beaten 12 lengths into fifth behind Supasundae, who boasted an identical rating of 159 before the race.

The Dublin Chase was won by 11-8 favourite Min, with easy-to-back stablemate Yorkhill, who started the day odds-on, drifting out to 7-4 before the off and finishing sixth, over 80 lengths adrift.

[littlekona]

interesting how they monitor.... I had Yorkhill backed and that was a pathetic effort from a champion type horse something was a miss...Plus his stablemate wins easy. Makes you think they did that to get better odds on Min who would of been 3/5 without yorkhill...

[pabonaparte]

those crooks... I can't help but wonder how much money I lost through the years because of things like this

[littlekona]

those crooks... I can't help but wonder how much money I lost through the years because of things like this

In USA many tracks if it is same owner/trainer they make them run as a coupled entry to prevent games like...

[trytrytry]

great share littlekona appreciate this stuff

[littlekona]

As far as horse racing uk is the most corrrupt with USA right behind....Japan on other hand is most transparent and has much integrity plus one average weds card at happy valley has more dollars wagered on then Kentucky derby day in states....it’s insane the money wagered there...

[semibluff]

I'd like to know how much money changed hands at 5.9 or 6.2. If people were "in the know" i'd be surprised if they waited until the last second to lay that sort of price. Does someone need to lay that price? If the price is 3.6 wouldn't 4.4 suck in the money? All that said there's clearly enough to warrant an investigation.

[littlekona]

I'd like to know how much money changed hands at 5.9 or 6.2. If people were "in the know" i'd be surprised if they waited until the last second to lay that sort of price. Does someone need to lay that price? If the price is 3.6 wouldn't 4.4 suck in the money? All that said there's clearly enough to warrant an investigation.

It’s interesting esp with Mullins involved...but think if you are laying 5.9 you need a hefty bankroll and wager to make a big profit...plus they also hammered Mullins other horse to favorite in one race and he won easy while the classy yorkhill drifted and put out a pathetic effort....they new as yorkhill was just in to suck money from the ignorant public like me to get better price on Min

[semibluff]

It’s interesting esp with Mullins involved...but think if you are laying 5.9 you need a hefty bankroll and wager to make a big profit...plus they also hammered Mullins other horse to favorite in one race and he won easy while the classy yorkhill drifted and put out a pathetic effort....they new as yorkhill was just in to suck money from the ignorant public like me to get better price on Min

I don't follow horse racing any more. It was never my thing, even on the days I was at Lingfield Park. Sportsbooks, gambling mechanics, theory, trends, and general data analysis were more of interest. Unfortunately horse racing prize money has always been at a level where many owners and trainers pulled horses in the early part of the horse's career so as to keep low ratings and expectations. Thus they'd get a bigger price on the 1 day they were actually at 100% and going all out to win.