Paddock expert..

Wasn't wrong though was he, he just comments on how they appear not about the price, decent fella imo.

sure did get it correct.

He's on William Hill radio. They all look nice, every runner, every race, every day. That is called insight.

been saying lovely medium sized colt since the year 2000

I see Ken at every Friday meeting I go to in the paddock with his mates. Nebbed in a few times. He knows his onions and a nice chap

How would you get a job as a paddock judge?


I mightn't know what a scopey horse looks like, or if its close coupled, daisy cutter, in of knee, behind the knee but I have the lingo!

Sky racing expert says 'Horse looks big and strong' after winning, trainer interview reveals 'Horse is very weak and has a lot of growing into his frame to do', 'Yes, I agree.' They talk Oblox

surely the whole point is to tell us something we dont know and not to state the bleeding obvious

Best paddock judge ever  GERALD DELAMERE

miss cumani likes to point stuff out when horse is on screen

very helpful.



would be better, imo, if kens observations were
backed up with pictures too.

no one spotted harringtons older horse in a parade ring of 2yr olds

1st .Brilliant ..G Delamere was brilliant tipster and always worth following a shame the post dropped such a brilliant man...

in the early days of ch 4 coverage now and then they had a well known newmarket work watcher on ,giving a few nuggets,
cant remember his name but often wondered if it was WILLO

I concur with Delemare…top class. I think the biggest change I notice was when Ken took over the weekender column and he was getting his going reports from the jockeys rather than walking the course before hand like GD. Apart from that I think he’s okay considering he’s not on itv every single race 24/7…I think if they just used him for G1s or the race of the day ie heritage handicap then it’s perfectly fine.

East remember that day at Ascot we didn't need going reports then..

I think Ken is first class myself. Great columns in weekender too

Why is he first class exactly?

Swifty,

I use the old a level grading system. First class is top 10% for me

Does he lead you to lots of winners?

1st time poster14 Sep 21 09:09
in the early days of ch 4 coverage now and then they had a well known newmarket work watcher on ,giving a few nuggets,
cant remember his name but often wondered if it was WILLO

Be pretty sure it wasn't Willo.

I couldn't remember this, but after a google search of Newmarket work watchers, I seem to recall Tony Elves being on now and then.

Wasn't there another Tony, a work watcher, who used to advertise his "services" in the RP?

I just read  and listen for general interest personally. Betting is only 50% of the game for me

I can just enjoy watching the game sometimes

Fair enough. He seems like a decent chap. In saying that , he is not a presenter , he is an 'expert' so he should really need to prove his value by P/L I would have thought. Not that it really ever seems to matter. I guess the obvious answer is if he made the game pay he wouldn't be phoning through to Hills radio every afternoon from the parade ring answering the same old questions.

Yes thats how he makes his money. Don't they all. Mellish used to be a pro punter. Good on him. Nice lifestyle.

I dont listen to him for tips. Just general interest

swiftynifty • September 14, 2021 12:36 PM BST: I guess the obvious answer is if he made the game pay he wouldn't be phoning through to Hills radio every afternoon from the parade ring answering the same old questions.


Alot of these guys, I suppose, are taking the guaranteed paycheck.... very hard to go into the bank manager and convince him you are a pro punter. He'd laugh you out the of the building

Indeed. Its multi tasking. Spreading your sources of income

Wish I could have part of the gigg myself!

I would love to rock up with matt and Leona and talk tripe at 9.30 every Saturday for £300

Alot of these guys, I suppose, are taking the guaranteed paycheck.... very hard to go into the bank manager and convince him you are a pro punter. He'd laugh you out the of the building..




Bank manager has the evidence already.

Tony Jakobsen may be the work watcher/ tipster you were referring to George B.

always nice to have guaranteed income I'd agree, but nicer to be your own boss.

the new market watcher on ch 4 was on around the same time that neil  wilkins fella from laddies and vc bet was always on

Have met Ken a nice guy but asking him for paddock pointers on group races is pretty pointless have him come on and judge unraced maidens would make much more sense.

Everytime I see him he reminds me of one of the old fairground clairvoyant, tips the first two in the market, and then quickly  avoids the question when asked for any negatives. !

Thanks Border Reiver, think he's the one, his advert pic in the RP was of him on the gallops with his bins.

strange the amount of negativity directed towards someone that simply tells you how a horse looks. I sometimes use him if listening for confirmation on strong fancies. He has put me on many outsiders mostly for savers when he has mentioned how their looks did not correlate with their price, his opinion is never too far off. Considerably better than most on here.

Agree with luke about Ken who always seems to attract people eager to criticise him.

george baker in paddock always puts me on one that looks fit and well

Maybe I have missed all Ken's good tipping, must admit only seen him
On ITV Racing a couple of times and he was maybe below form.

cool_hand_luke 14 Sep 21 13:16 
Considerably better than most on here.

At what, please?

ken gets paid to do a job where he basically cannot lose if he says a horse looks well and it loses nothing is said if a horse looks fat and wins nothing is said basically it is an unmonitored career no one knows his actual p and l because he does not advise bets all he has to do is keep turning up and not upset his bosses job for life and keep up with same spiel well done ken.

Maybe cos we are jealous of his knowledge and the respect he has in the industry. Yes, I would love to be paid for my opinions too

celtic you have met him spoke to him and he was nice to you imo you are sincerely not allowed an opinion as you have an affiliation

they could at least make him work for his money and get him to comment before number clothes go on,

In that case I cant comment on swads either as I know him, although I also know that he is a thoroughly decent chap imho

1st time poster, that would make good TV, get all the experts lined up, bring the runners in the parade ring, hear them pick out the unfit donkey and then watch the embarrassing back-tracking when the number cloths go on...'well actually on second viewing he looks very fit blah blah blah, yes in fact he is the paddock pick.'

Bitten my tongue again on this subject but there comes a time when snake oil sales have no place in 2021.Paddock inspections tell punters nothing other than a horse looks unfit or does not walk as well as the others,no more and no less,glossy coat or hairy.

Most on here can see that for themselves,it is an insult to give someone a title of "Expert" to even the most inexperienced punter in terms of finding a winner?

He hardly dresses like a successful punter and even CH4 supply him with a change of tie in case nobody noticed?

Anyone ever wondered if he has ever given a winning selection he said was worth a punt that was not a short priced fav?

Is that not the point they are promoting i.e pick a winner regardless of form etc? Nothing to do with him being skint and not beige?

Total failure from CH4 and himself.(a con is a con regardless)?

the bloke dresses to suit himself,not you
or anyone else.

Must admit I come out on the side of Ken
Like his input on Will Hill radio, probably at his best on the unraced 2 year old, I've backed a few at big prices that he has pointed out
Don't think he looks at ease on the tv and to be fair most of the horses in the big races are ready to run
He is not short in calling out ones that are unfit or ' fat as a pig' as he likes to put it, but happens more at the lower quality meetings as you would expect

He did/does put up tips on a platform that I subscribed to for a short while, to be fair they weren't too successful but I only saw them for a month so he might have been on a bad run, we all have them.

Small blessing penzance,looks like he was dressed in the dark in the 1960's,each to their own,glad you embrace the fashion in 2021!!!

Small blessing penzance,looks like he was dressed in the dark in the 1960's,each to their own,glad you embrace the fashion in 2021!!!

Hell of a Pacemaker looked well at Wolves in the rain(coat) iyo?

Does he judge their fetlocks and ankles when covered up penzance? Some of the blankets are in better condition than his attire don't you think?

the dark art of paddock watching...

medium sized colt
coltish
on the leg
unfurnished
will come on for the run
hasn't come in his coat yet
anything he does this year will be a bonus
carrying condition
close coupled
looks a two year old
fillies thrive with the sun on their backs
one for the future
"fun horse for the owners"
cold backed
Green
buzzed up in the paddock
needed two handlers

You know, I reckon I've got the hang of this paddock watching lark, see ya tomorrow at the races...

Ken states "looks well in his coat,well muscled and walks well around the paddock,could be a stallion prospect if he runs as well as he looks"!!

Lump on his opinion other than Noble Locks,already gelded unless the majority eyesight is defective?

That said "It" can really run fast so maybe worth a punt?

A secret otherwise?

Pick of the paddock at Fort Erie.......Florida Won according to the Filly from Philly!!!

Pick of the paddock at Fort Erie.......Florida Won according to the Filly from Philly!!!

Pick of the paddock at Fort Erie.......Florida Won according to the Filly from Philly!!!

Pick of the paddock at Fort Erie.......Florida Won according to the Filly from Philly!!!

thanks for giving us a loser FOUR TIMES. I didn't know she now lived in Canada.

someone will on will be on this thread soon saying how ken is a lovely bloke again

Whether he is nice or not,,, doesn't really matter.


Seems easy money to tell me the odds on fav looks good in his coat and should win.

Maybe be contrarian and tell me the odds on fav is looking poor in his coat and might be worth looking elsewhere in the race
Or that a 3yold maiden from Gosdens looks a bit big and hairy and might be one to watch for the future.

Or maybe make your own mind up and not rely on anyone to tell you anything.

yes, but these expert judges are at the paddock and can see more than i can.....

The green colty 2yold that is balking at everything when it first gets into the ring is of more use to me that telling me the steeplechaser in the verteran's is walking calmly round the ring.


What horses are wearing racing plates, what are wearing shoes, and then what are running without any is more information that I cannot see on the telly but is really useful to know.

To want to listen and take heed though you have to believe all this paddock pick nonsense is of any value at all.

I don't personally so don't listen anyway.

Each to their own cacique so get what you're saying mate.

If anyone can ever be bothered to monitor this stuff and measure its success or failure somehow then give the guy 6 months or so , same chance as we give tipsters or even our own strategies.

You may win on the paddock pick Alphonse,ew you probably will not lose on form.

Imvho looks not a lot different to the rest,will it get the trip? I would opine yes and nothing to do with a paddock pick?

A lump ew I would think is a no loss bet?