I'm alive, all is well. I'm done with uni now (can't believe how quickly three years can go) and I'm currently an unemployed graduate - you've probably seen one before, there's plenty knocking about these days.
World Cup time and I'd thought I'd let you into my 'portfolio'. It sounds very professional but the bets it contains are pretty amateur. Read and laugh as I try and justify betting away those hard earned (now taxable) pounds.
Holland to win outright (11-1)
Yes, everyone says the orange army implode at the big tournaments but it can't happen every time. Trends are there to be upset - look at Workforce, statisticians said no horse beaten in the Dante had won a Derby...until last Saturday. The Dutch team are full of quality: Van Bommel, Sneijder and Van Persie to name a few. The back four is a bit shaky but if they can keep it together, the Tango men will be champs.
Spain to win outright (5-1)
Okay, I've chickened out with this insurance policy but at this price, Spain look a cracking bet. Euro winners two years ago, no-one has looked like beating them since. Are sure to face a strong side in the last 16 from the Group 'of Death' G, they will be confident enough to breeze aside anyone (except Holland in the final hopefully!).
France to win Group A (2.46)
A stonking price - they won the tournament in '98 and still have the class to beat their group-mates. I'm not saying they'll go any further than the knock-out stage but they have the ability to dominate a weak group.
Honduras to concede most goals (9-1)
A tricky bet, with North Korea the favourites. Kim Jong Il's men are pretty dire but they didn't let many in against Mexico and Greece in friendlies so I'm willing to go with Honduras. They're a terrible bunch of men and how they even got to the finals is beyond me. A clean sheet is more common in Pete Doherty's bed than in a Honduras game and hopefully the likes of Switzerland, Spain and Chile can pile in the goals.
8 June 2010
19 March 2010
So you thought I'd gone.
Wassup people.
As you may have guessed, I was more tan happy to let this blog die a slow and painful death by neglect but event have conspired against my mistreatment and words have been fed to a hungry page.
At the moment I do a weekly blog for geegeez.com and I sent the editor this article before the Champion Hurdle. It reads pretty forth telling in light of recent events...
We all know JP McManus loves a bet at Cheltenham during the third week of March. His rivalry with the late bookie Freddie ‘Fearless’ Williams has gone down in Festival folk law and Barry Dennis recently recalled how he was facing an £800,000 paid out to the Irishman had Barracuda got past Ingles Drever up the Prestbury Park hill in the 2005 Stayers’ Hurdle.
Last year, we saw a heavily gambled on Wichita Lineman scrape home in front in McManus’ green and gold silks to land the William Hill Trophy and some hefty bets to boot.
Most of the Irishman’s festival punts are a strongly held secret - only a few insiders know when the money’s down. Even his trainer, Jonjo O’Neill, isn’t really sure himself when JP’s ‘having it big’.
But could this year’s gamble have been his most exposed one yet? Is the news that this horse is going to be carrying more than his jockey right under our nose?
I’m talking about Binocular.
So marginally denied in last year’s Champion Hurdle, it was made no secret that Nicky Henderson’s steed would be a stronger, much tougher animal in 12 months time.
Since then, we have seen quite the opposite: comfortably beaten twice by Go Native before landing the odds in a poor three-runner affair at Sandown, the progress we were promised from Binocular has failed to materialise.
Despite these disappointments, dreams of going two places better in the Champion Hurdle were kept alive and the son of Enrique was available at odds of 6-1 for the championship event.
Now, this is where my thinking kicks in. Was JP McManus sitting in his mansion back in Ireland thinking: ‘Sixes! That’s far too short for a good ol’ gamble!’?
So what does he do?
BINOCULAR OUT OF CHAMPION WITH MUSCULAR PROBLEM read the next day’s headlines.
Boom. There’s no better way to get larger odds on a horse than to put their participation in doubt. Some bookies even took him out of their markets.
His chances had been written off.
A ‘muscular problem’ is a very good excuse. Unlike, say, a bone fracture or tendon injury, the period of recuperation varies upon the extent. With this, they can keep the horse out of the Champion Hurdle picture for as long or as little as they want.
So, surprise, surprise, last week we hear that Binocular is back on track for Cheltenham and he is immediately re-instigated in the betting markets. At 8-1.
Now, McManus takes a sip of his 25-year old malt, reclines in his armchair and thinks: ‘Eights! Pile in lads!’.
As you may have guessed, I was more tan happy to let this blog die a slow and painful death by neglect but event have conspired against my mistreatment and words have been fed to a hungry page.
At the moment I do a weekly blog for geegeez.com and I sent the editor this article before the Champion Hurdle. It reads pretty forth telling in light of recent events...
We all know JP McManus loves a bet at Cheltenham during the third week of March. His rivalry with the late bookie Freddie ‘Fearless’ Williams has gone down in Festival folk law and Barry Dennis recently recalled how he was facing an £800,000 paid out to the Irishman had Barracuda got past Ingles Drever up the Prestbury Park hill in the 2005 Stayers’ Hurdle.
Last year, we saw a heavily gambled on Wichita Lineman scrape home in front in McManus’ green and gold silks to land the William Hill Trophy and some hefty bets to boot.
Most of the Irishman’s festival punts are a strongly held secret - only a few insiders know when the money’s down. Even his trainer, Jonjo O’Neill, isn’t really sure himself when JP’s ‘having it big’.
But could this year’s gamble have been his most exposed one yet? Is the news that this horse is going to be carrying more than his jockey right under our nose?
I’m talking about Binocular.
So marginally denied in last year’s Champion Hurdle, it was made no secret that Nicky Henderson’s steed would be a stronger, much tougher animal in 12 months time.
Since then, we have seen quite the opposite: comfortably beaten twice by Go Native before landing the odds in a poor three-runner affair at Sandown, the progress we were promised from Binocular has failed to materialise.
Despite these disappointments, dreams of going two places better in the Champion Hurdle were kept alive and the son of Enrique was available at odds of 6-1 for the championship event.
Now, this is where my thinking kicks in. Was JP McManus sitting in his mansion back in Ireland thinking: ‘Sixes! That’s far too short for a good ol’ gamble!’?
So what does he do?
BINOCULAR OUT OF CHAMPION WITH MUSCULAR PROBLEM read the next day’s headlines.
Boom. There’s no better way to get larger odds on a horse than to put their participation in doubt. Some bookies even took him out of their markets.
His chances had been written off.
A ‘muscular problem’ is a very good excuse. Unlike, say, a bone fracture or tendon injury, the period of recuperation varies upon the extent. With this, they can keep the horse out of the Champion Hurdle picture for as long or as little as they want.
So, surprise, surprise, last week we hear that Binocular is back on track for Cheltenham and he is immediately re-instigated in the betting markets. At 8-1.
Now, McManus takes a sip of his 25-year old malt, reclines in his armchair and thinks: ‘Eights! Pile in lads!’.
11 January 2010
2010 - A big year for...
I could easily give you the names of five or so horses to follow in the in the opening year of the…(what will this decade be called? The teenies?) but that’s not blogging, it’s tipping. Anyway, I’d probably be wrong. No, these are the human names that will reach a higher level in 2010, the people who you need on your side for the year ahead.
Jockey - Phil Makin.
After a fraught couple of seasons due to injuries, the ‘Tom Queally of the North’ was back with a bang in 2009. Like his southern counterpart, Makin is reliable, hard-working and gives it to you straight. With the momentum of a currently successful all-weather season behind him, he looks set to rake in a multitude of winners come the new season. Not only should he be pushing into the top 5 in the jockeys championship but a plunder of the odd valuable contest should be within. When the likes of Gosden, Stoute and Godolphin head up north and need a jockey, don’t be surprised if Makin gets the leg up.
Apprentice - Paul Pickard
Last season Frederik Tylicki proved that northern firepower can out-muster any southern attack by beating David Probert in a thrilling race for the apprentice’s championship. Likewise, a northern push could be enough to propel Pickard to the top of the rookie riders’ tree. After a promising 2009, he has decided to stay in England for the all-weather season - a wise move and one that should be rewarded with an expanding of his contacts book. Heading into the new season with a 5lb claim will make him an attractive proposition to many trainers, including that of his boss, Peter Midgeley. With an apparent natural aptitude for race- riding and a polite manner out of the saddle, Paul Pickard is a name to remember.
Trainer - Warren Greatrex
The pronunciation of his surname may be a matter of debate but there’s no doubt about the fact that Greatrex has equine firepower. The real task will be for the rookie handler to steer his horses in the right direction and aim them at the achievable targets. Backer Malcolm Denmark has put full faith in his trainer and the results have so far been highly encouraging. Greatrex has made no secret about the fact that anything he does now will be a stepping stone for future years but, from recent evidence, he big time may come sooner than he thinks.
Ok, I said I wouldn’t give you a horse to follow but there’s one bit of value I’ve seen that has to be gobbled up like the last roast potato at Christmas dinner. His name is Punjabi. Yes, that probably does ring a bell. He’s 12/1 for the Champion Hurdle, a race he won only last March. Even the each-way thieves can’t resist a price like that.
Jockey - Phil Makin.
After a fraught couple of seasons due to injuries, the ‘Tom Queally of the North’ was back with a bang in 2009. Like his southern counterpart, Makin is reliable, hard-working and gives it to you straight. With the momentum of a currently successful all-weather season behind him, he looks set to rake in a multitude of winners come the new season. Not only should he be pushing into the top 5 in the jockeys championship but a plunder of the odd valuable contest should be within. When the likes of Gosden, Stoute and Godolphin head up north and need a jockey, don’t be surprised if Makin gets the leg up.
Apprentice - Paul Pickard
Last season Frederik Tylicki proved that northern firepower can out-muster any southern attack by beating David Probert in a thrilling race for the apprentice’s championship. Likewise, a northern push could be enough to propel Pickard to the top of the rookie riders’ tree. After a promising 2009, he has decided to stay in England for the all-weather season - a wise move and one that should be rewarded with an expanding of his contacts book. Heading into the new season with a 5lb claim will make him an attractive proposition to many trainers, including that of his boss, Peter Midgeley. With an apparent natural aptitude for race- riding and a polite manner out of the saddle, Paul Pickard is a name to remember.
Trainer - Warren Greatrex
The pronunciation of his surname may be a matter of debate but there’s no doubt about the fact that Greatrex has equine firepower. The real task will be for the rookie handler to steer his horses in the right direction and aim them at the achievable targets. Backer Malcolm Denmark has put full faith in his trainer and the results have so far been highly encouraging. Greatrex has made no secret about the fact that anything he does now will be a stepping stone for future years but, from recent evidence, he big time may come sooner than he thinks.
Ok, I said I wouldn’t give you a horse to follow but there’s one bit of value I’ve seen that has to be gobbled up like the last roast potato at Christmas dinner. His name is Punjabi. Yes, that probably does ring a bell. He’s 12/1 for the Champion Hurdle, a race he won only last March. Even the each-way thieves can’t resist a price like that.
15 November 2009
Why Tony McCoy will never be SPotY
It’s November, so let the racing fraternity roll out their annual passionate plea for Tony McCoy to be nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
But what chance has he got? A reserved Irishman who quietly dominates his sport year-in, year-out against the likes of Jenson Button, Formula 1 world champion, photographed in the newspapers with gorgeous women, promoting designer clothes and generally acting the good guy.
Or how does our man square up to David Haye, the new heavyweight boxing champ? He is David, he beat Goliath. How much more of a fairytale do you want? He used to be a model and has a sense of humour that is bred into any cockney.
The problem is that McCoy’s still not a household name. Everyone knows a jockey called Frankie Dettori and, yes, he’s won the championship before but not nearly as many times as his National Hunt counterpart.
So we’ve got to ask ourselves why nobody knows McCoy. Is it because the Italian is in the mainstream media; captaining a team on A Question of Sport, opening his own restaurant, releasing his own brand of food (it never took off but we’ll overlook that).
Given the choice, I’m sure McCoy would rather win another championship rather than some popularity contest and one would have to be sacrificed to win the other. It’s a Catch-22 situation.
Winning a championship requires regular winners and this can’t be done if you’re swanning about on Ready, Steady, Cook or wearing the silver condom outfit on Hole in the Wall. But if you want the general public to get to know you, you must go on these types of shows and get your face regularly seen on the box, like Frankie has done in the past.
McCoy is, in a kind way, a nutcase - single-minded and determined to ride as many winners he can and he’d rather go to Bangor in the rain than the BBC.
Anyway, McCoy’s best chance of winning SPotY have passed. Racing is not a priority for the BBC anymore after they reduced the number of broadcasted fixtures, so it is unlikely that they are going to nominate a man who is from a sport they’re trying to shove in the corner.
But this could be leading to a bigger picture of racing’s own future.
With the Derby now kicked off television’s ‘crown jewels’ - sporting events that, by law, must be shown on terrestrial channels - will there be a time when racing is only available to watch via satellite?
Channel Four Racing has had it’s rocky patches and it’s clear that watching racing isn’t a priority for the majority of the population of Great Britain.
Tony McCoy and racing could be on the same path - ticking along without Joe Bloggs giving a damn.
But what chance has he got? A reserved Irishman who quietly dominates his sport year-in, year-out against the likes of Jenson Button, Formula 1 world champion, photographed in the newspapers with gorgeous women, promoting designer clothes and generally acting the good guy.
Or how does our man square up to David Haye, the new heavyweight boxing champ? He is David, he beat Goliath. How much more of a fairytale do you want? He used to be a model and has a sense of humour that is bred into any cockney.
The problem is that McCoy’s still not a household name. Everyone knows a jockey called Frankie Dettori and, yes, he’s won the championship before but not nearly as many times as his National Hunt counterpart.
So we’ve got to ask ourselves why nobody knows McCoy. Is it because the Italian is in the mainstream media; captaining a team on A Question of Sport, opening his own restaurant, releasing his own brand of food (it never took off but we’ll overlook that).
Given the choice, I’m sure McCoy would rather win another championship rather than some popularity contest and one would have to be sacrificed to win the other. It’s a Catch-22 situation.
Winning a championship requires regular winners and this can’t be done if you’re swanning about on Ready, Steady, Cook or wearing the silver condom outfit on Hole in the Wall. But if you want the general public to get to know you, you must go on these types of shows and get your face regularly seen on the box, like Frankie has done in the past.
McCoy is, in a kind way, a nutcase - single-minded and determined to ride as many winners he can and he’d rather go to Bangor in the rain than the BBC.
Anyway, McCoy’s best chance of winning SPotY have passed. Racing is not a priority for the BBC anymore after they reduced the number of broadcasted fixtures, so it is unlikely that they are going to nominate a man who is from a sport they’re trying to shove in the corner.
But this could be leading to a bigger picture of racing’s own future.
With the Derby now kicked off television’s ‘crown jewels’ - sporting events that, by law, must be shown on terrestrial channels - will there be a time when racing is only available to watch via satellite?
Channel Four Racing has had it’s rocky patches and it’s clear that watching racing isn’t a priority for the majority of the population of Great Britain.
Tony McCoy and racing could be on the same path - ticking along without Joe Bloggs giving a damn.
13 November 2009
Bumper System Update
It's been almost a month since I let you in on the little system Jimmy Pugh and I had developed, so I'll tell you how it's going.
The system involved backing all the horses that ran in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper in their first few starts over hurdles. Here's a breakdown of how they've done since:
Dunguib (1st) - the winner of the bumper, he was always going to be decent over timber. He won first time out at odds of 1/7. Not enough to make you rich but it's profit nonetheless. He's in tomorrow at Punchestown 1.50.
Some Present (2nd) - he won first time out at 13/8. He's come second twice since then.
Morning Supreme (5th) - won at 1/2. Entered in a Fairyhouse Grade 1 at the end of the month.
Cranky Corner (7th) - won at 5/4. Well beaten at Aintree since.
Shinrock Paddy (8th) - won at 1/2. Entered in same Grade 1 as Morning Supreme. Thank God Mr B Connell doesn't ride him over obstacles - he looks dangerous enough on the flat.
Pepe Simo (9th) - won twice at 5/2 and 8/11.
Benbane Head (10th) - beaten first time (5/4fav) then made amends at Cheltenham when 8/1.
Meath All Star (11th) - well beaten behind Some Present first time when 5/1.
Long Strand (12th) - tailed off at 10/1.
Red Harbour (14th) - third at 9/4fav.
Fennis Boy (17th) - third at 100/30.
Henry King (18th) - second behind Pepe Simo when 13/8fav.
Double Dash (20th) - second at 7/2. Entered for Plumpton on the 16th November.
Lightening Rod (21st) - tailed off seventh at 7/1.
Cadspeed (22nd) - weakened rapidly when 9/10fav. In on the 16th at Cork 2.35.
Bygones of Brid (23rd) - tailed off 4th at Chepstow when 33/1.
Quinola des Obeaux (last) - won when 8/11fav. In the Grade 1 on the 29th too.
So from these, it looks as if there is no profit in the system this year. Yes, it produces winners but they are good horses and hence win at very short odds. Backing them on their second start looks unprofitable as well as many get beat at short odds but some have improved for their debut.
Finally, here's a round up of the remainders:
Rite of Passage (3rd) - since transformed into a decent flat horse. Won the November Handicap at Leopardstown when 7/1. Holds no entries but is sure to go hurdling sometime.
Quel Esprit (4th) - entered tomorrow at Punchestown 3.30.
Lead The Parade (6th) - unraced/no entries.
Latin America (13th) - unraced/no entries.
Gagewell Flyer (15th) - unraced/no entries.
Sicilian Secret (16th) - entered on Sunday at Cork 3.35.
Abroard (19th) - been campaigned on the flat since, won in September at 10/1. Will probably go hurdling at some point.
The system involved backing all the horses that ran in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper in their first few starts over hurdles. Here's a breakdown of how they've done since:
Dunguib (1st) - the winner of the bumper, he was always going to be decent over timber. He won first time out at odds of 1/7. Not enough to make you rich but it's profit nonetheless. He's in tomorrow at Punchestown 1.50.
Some Present (2nd) - he won first time out at 13/8. He's come second twice since then.
Morning Supreme (5th) - won at 1/2. Entered in a Fairyhouse Grade 1 at the end of the month.
Cranky Corner (7th) - won at 5/4. Well beaten at Aintree since.
Shinrock Paddy (8th) - won at 1/2. Entered in same Grade 1 as Morning Supreme. Thank God Mr B Connell doesn't ride him over obstacles - he looks dangerous enough on the flat.
Pepe Simo (9th) - won twice at 5/2 and 8/11.
Benbane Head (10th) - beaten first time (5/4fav) then made amends at Cheltenham when 8/1.
Meath All Star (11th) - well beaten behind Some Present first time when 5/1.
Long Strand (12th) - tailed off at 10/1.
Red Harbour (14th) - third at 9/4fav.
Fennis Boy (17th) - third at 100/30.
Henry King (18th) - second behind Pepe Simo when 13/8fav.
Double Dash (20th) - second at 7/2. Entered for Plumpton on the 16th November.
Lightening Rod (21st) - tailed off seventh at 7/1.
Cadspeed (22nd) - weakened rapidly when 9/10fav. In on the 16th at Cork 2.35.
Bygones of Brid (23rd) - tailed off 4th at Chepstow when 33/1.
Quinola des Obeaux (last) - won when 8/11fav. In the Grade 1 on the 29th too.
So from these, it looks as if there is no profit in the system this year. Yes, it produces winners but they are good horses and hence win at very short odds. Backing them on their second start looks unprofitable as well as many get beat at short odds but some have improved for their debut.
Finally, here's a round up of the remainders:
Rite of Passage (3rd) - since transformed into a decent flat horse. Won the November Handicap at Leopardstown when 7/1. Holds no entries but is sure to go hurdling sometime.
Quel Esprit (4th) - entered tomorrow at Punchestown 3.30.
Lead The Parade (6th) - unraced/no entries.
Latin America (13th) - unraced/no entries.
Gagewell Flyer (15th) - unraced/no entries.
Sicilian Secret (16th) - entered on Sunday at Cork 3.35.
Abroard (19th) - been campaigned on the flat since, won in September at 10/1. Will probably go hurdling at some point.
4 November 2009
You have to have a full package Down Under
The Melbourne Cup is great, isn't it?. The race that 'stops a nation'. I suppose the only event that we've got on these shores to compare it to is the Grand National but we don't have a Bank Holiday just for that race, so I suppose, you can't really compare them.
It's run in the middle of the night, our time, and also the picture quality is not great and both add to the aura of the event. The fact us English can't win it either makes it all that bit more elusive.
I think I know why we can't nail the race. So many seconds we've had: Bauer in '08 went as close as we've ever been, missing out by a nose. But the problem is that we see the race is run over 2m2f. That's a marathon trip, comparable tot the Ascot Gold Cup. So we think, 'Let's send over our Ascot Gold Cup winner, they'll do it easy.'
Off the likes of Yeats and Persian Punch went and back they came with no success. Why? They're too slow. A Gold Cup horse is a gritty stayer who just plods his races out. A Melbourne Cup horse has to travel, settle and have an electric turn of foot.
We need to change our perspective on the race, no longer should we send the dour stayers but fly over the classy 1m4f horses, those, perhaps, not quite your Sea The Stars but the likes of Mastercraftsman and Fame And Glory.
Admittedly, we did have a taster of some O'Brien Classic talent in Changingoftheguard but he came nowhere in the St Ledger, hardly the classy individual needed for a raid Down Under.
It's run in the middle of the night, our time, and also the picture quality is not great and both add to the aura of the event. The fact us English can't win it either makes it all that bit more elusive.
I think I know why we can't nail the race. So many seconds we've had: Bauer in '08 went as close as we've ever been, missing out by a nose. But the problem is that we see the race is run over 2m2f. That's a marathon trip, comparable tot the Ascot Gold Cup. So we think, 'Let's send over our Ascot Gold Cup winner, they'll do it easy.'
Off the likes of Yeats and Persian Punch went and back they came with no success. Why? They're too slow. A Gold Cup horse is a gritty stayer who just plods his races out. A Melbourne Cup horse has to travel, settle and have an electric turn of foot.
We need to change our perspective on the race, no longer should we send the dour stayers but fly over the classy 1m4f horses, those, perhaps, not quite your Sea The Stars but the likes of Mastercraftsman and Fame And Glory.
Admittedly, we did have a taster of some O'Brien Classic talent in Changingoftheguard but he came nowhere in the St Ledger, hardly the classy individual needed for a raid Down Under.
23 October 2009
Sand 'The Revival' Repeal
It is with great sadness that I report the retirement of Sand Repeal.
This may be the first time you've ever heard of him, or maybe you're an avid fan of the beast, but, to me, he was a great, a horse that touched my heart.
At times though, he could seem a yak, most notably when he would occasionally nip you and produce a bruise or when he would try and barge out his stable door.
Inside though was a heart of gold.
His story began in Ireland, in 2002, when a small stud owner called Donald Cummings decided to breed Columbian Sand with Revoque - a pretty unspectacular cross, one which was unlikely to lead to a high price at the sales.
So it was not surprising that he skipped the sales and went straight to Harraton Stables, base of trainer Julia Feilden.
From here he remained. A big gangly yearling, he was castrated early to keep his mind on the job.
As a two year-old he surprised many (as he was to do in the future) by being placed twice from three runs but he was always going to be a better three year-old.
And so, loaded with a rating of 73 (the highest he would ever reach) Sand Repeal raced around the courses of the United Kingdom from Ascot to Yarmouth.
It was the winter 2006 however that he really started to make a mark. Three wins during that period kept us all warm although they were split with two defeats behind a 66 rated Young Mick (not bad form in hindsight).
Little did we know it would be another 14 months before he won another race, interspersed with one attempt over hurdles where he duly unseated his rider at the first.
During this time, I had just observed, riding him occasionally and regarding as nothing more than one in the yard.
As time went on and I started riding in amateur races, our link developed. I rode him at Wolverhampton, finished 4th and hoped I'd never ride him again because he was such hard work.
Luckily, things didn't turn out as I hoped. We went to Windsor and on the back of a few placed efforts, he started at odds of 13/2. It was a venture into the unknown on this day - he was racing over 1m4f for the first time in well over two years. I knew one thing - he stayed, so I kicked him on four out and we never saw another horse. Chuffed, I obviously was.
What came next though, no-one expected.
To Chester, three weeks later and we're still not greatly fancied at 15/2 despite our obvious good rapport. 1m4f again, so what do we do? Kick on. It wasn't so easy this time, Sand Repeal had to dig deep and dig deep he did. We won by a head.
From these days, he became a favourite. Renamed Sand 'Revival' due to his recent resurgence in form, he obtained a slight cult following amongst the villagers of Exning and university students alike.
Between then and yesterday, not much had changed; he raced, ate and went out in the field to fight the ponies.
But after 63 runs, 7 wins, 21 places and £33,000 earned in prize money, it all caught up with him. He suffered a tear in his tendon when racing at Brighton. Not life threatening, but enough to end his racing career.
His future is safe, a good home for life is certain but he will be missed by all at Julia Feilden racing, most notably by me.
He was a pet and, as much as an animal can be, a mate.
19 October 2009
Champion system?
Move over Pricewise, there's a new kid on the Saturday afternoon tipping block! Twice Over at 12/1, did you get it? Oh, but you're still in the red after a substantial forecast in the Dewhurst. Never mind. I also fancied Darley Sun in the big handicap but I didn't bother telling you because it was obvious, wasn't it?
Now for a little enlightenment. Jimmy Pugh and I are experimenting on a new system that we hope will prove profitable (like all good ideas initially do).
Take last year's Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, won so impressively by Dunguib. Now back every horse that ran in that race when it makes a hurdling debut. Any good?
Well, so far it looks promising. Second at the festival in March was Some Present...who won on 15/10 at Punchestown at 13/8fav.
Next we take the horse that finished sixth at Prestbury Park - Cranky Corner. He won at Gowran on 06/05 at 6/5fav. He's in on Sunday at Aintree.
Three places behind him was Benbane Head who won at Cheltenham on Saturday priced 8/1 after finishing third as 5/4fav on his hurdles debut. Disappointing admittedly but he eventually won nonetheless.
As for the imminent future, the ninth, Pepe Simo, runs at Wincanton on Sunday in the same race that the 18th, Henry King, makes his hurdles debut.
Shinrock Paddy, an unlucky eighth at Cheltenham runs at Thurles on Thursday.
And finally, the horse that only beat one home, Bygones of Brid, takes to the jumping game for the first time at Cartmel, also on Thursday.
Let's get on and see what happens!
16 October 2009
Lightning doesn't strike Twice
With a chill in the breeze, Wolverhampton night meetings becoming more regular and the top racehorses retiring to sud, it most definitely feels like the ed of the flat season.
For me, Newmarket's Champions Meeting tomorrow is the annual last hurrah for the speed kings. I know there's the November Handicap meeting to contend with still but, let's be honest, we won't be seeing too many superstars there and the Breeders' Cup has taken a significant knock with the imperious Sea The Stars deciding that he'll be better off enjoying the company of some lady friends rather than trounce the same old horses, this time in America.
I don't know if I'm alone on this but, I find the Champions Meeting one which is quite profitable. Maybe it's because the best horses usually win or because you can put your money on safe in the knowledge that connections are trying, but my selections always do themselves proud.
This year is no different. New Approach was scorching value at 6/4 in last year's headline Champion Stakes and the horse he beat into second that year, Twice Over, can go one better this time around.
Not only that, I've also cracked the Dewhurst Stakes as well. A quality renewal it is and I think Silver Grecian will get back to winning ways with Dick Turpin filling the runner's up spot.
For me, Newmarket's Champions Meeting tomorrow is the annual last hurrah for the speed kings. I know there's the November Handicap meeting to contend with still but, let's be honest, we won't be seeing too many superstars there and the Breeders' Cup has taken a significant knock with the imperious Sea The Stars deciding that he'll be better off enjoying the company of some lady friends rather than trounce the same old horses, this time in America.
I don't know if I'm alone on this but, I find the Champions Meeting one which is quite profitable. Maybe it's because the best horses usually win or because you can put your money on safe in the knowledge that connections are trying, but my selections always do themselves proud.
This year is no different. New Approach was scorching value at 6/4 in last year's headline Champion Stakes and the horse he beat into second that year, Twice Over, can go one better this time around.
Not only that, I've also cracked the Dewhurst Stakes as well. A quality renewal it is and I think Silver Grecian will get back to winning ways with Dick Turpin filling the runner's up spot.
5 October 2009
Youm must be in-Zain (or how it could have been)
Mick Channon hailed Youmzain as "the biggest thief since Ronnie Biggs" after the gelding's unimaginable third consecutive Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory in Paris yesterday.
In familiar style, the six year-old swooped late under Kieren Fallon to nail Cavalryman on the line in front of an ecstatic crowd.
For Fallon it was an even more memorable day, barely a month after his return to race riding from a two year drug suspension, this was his signal that he is back on the big stage.
"The horse is quite remarkable," said the Irishman. "You can only hit the front late and he's a complete mongrel but I wish all my dogs were as talented as him."
Available at odds of 20/1, it was clear that the public believed his victories over Soldier of Fortune (2008) and Sagara (2007) were complete flukes and lightning doesn't strike three times.
How wrong they were though. Despite looking short of room two furlongs out, the son of another Arc winner in Sinndar, burst through to land the £1.6m first prize.
As to the future, another crack at France's premier race looks possible.
"We'll see how he comes out of the race and check that he eats all his pedigree chum tonight," said Channon. "When he wins we give him chicken and vegetable flavour - he loves it."
"I'd love to come back here because the bread rolls are delicious but I'm not really sure whether the track suits him."
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