Football 30 December

Just in case anyone does wander over here before the new year, I keep looking at Spurs price today against Liverpool in disbelief.

It's now 9/4 on betfair. 6/4 would be about the longest I could go.

My boots are on.

Xmas etc

I'm winding down now and will be in and out over the Xmas period, so I think I'll pack up shop on here now until returning refreshed in the New Year.

I fully expect Kauto Star to win the King George though haven't backed him. I have backed three in the Welsh National - Bob Bob Bobbin, Simon and Kinburn - hardly original choices!

Other than that - festive greetings to all and see you in the New Year.

Racing 16th Dec

Ascot 12:35
Tamarinbleu Evens
Crozan 3/1
Briery Fox 7/1
It Takes Time 11/1

These are disappointing horses in the main - exactly what these races were designed for. It's only because of my dislike of the others that I'm drawn to a punt on Briery Fox.

Briery Fox 3pts win at 11/1



Ascot 1:10
See You Sometime 8/1
Graphic Approach 8/1
Harris Bay 8/1
Copsale Lad 8/1
Cornish Sett 11/1
Iris Royal 11/1
Lacdoudal 14/1
Ardaghey 20/1
Fork Lightning 20/1
Windsor Boy 20/1
Backbeat 25/1

An open race. The track has definitely looked to be favouring front runners since the revamp. I'm in with Pricewise - hope the prices haven't gone.

See You Sometime 4pts win at 14/1



Ascot 1:40
Tarlac 7/1
Tipperary All Star 8/1
Kings Quay 8/1
Overstrand 9/1
Acambo 9/1
Well Mounted 9/1
Victram 11/1
Pilca 11/1
Premier Dane 33/1
Desert Air 33/1
Pirate Flagship 33/1
Prime Contender 33/1

I have this much more open than the market and two at the bottom have been interesting me all week - I'm on ante post at nice prices, but also topped up this morning so there's still juice there.

Kings Quay 3pts at 12/1
Pilca 2pts ew at 20/1
half pt rev fc


Ascot 2:10
Mighty Man Evens
Neptune Collonges 6/1
Blazing Bailey 9/1
Fire Dragon 11/1
Irish Wolf 11/1

Legitimate favourite, but a nice ew shape considering I'm not keen on Neptune on the ground, and think Jonjo's stable is under a cloud. I'll play despite my prices not shouting at me.

Blazing Bailey 2.5pts ew at 11/1


I'll probably piddle about at Haydock, keeping Sue Smith on-side as always and will also have a go at the Lingfield class 2 race, discussion of which can be found at TRF as usual.

Racing 15th December

Ascot 2:35
Natal Evens
Briareus 5/2
Harmony Brig 9/1
Royal Shakespeare 14/1
Knight Legend 16/1

Prices look about right, but Briareus was part of my huge treble last year and has remained firmly in my stable ever since, so I expect I'll back him late on - especially should he drift as looks likely.


Ascot 3:10
Mambo Des Mottes 4/1
Made In Montot 4/1
Bambi de Lorme 8/1
Aleron 9/1
Pass Me A Dime 12/1
My World 12/1
Cossack dancer 12/1
Jericho 111 14/1

Tricky race. I'll have to play Aleron, and may play a couple of drifters to small stakes nearer the time if the betfair odds allow.

Aleron 4pts win at 16/1



Wolverhampton 3;20
Millville 5/2
Alpine Reel 3/1
Velvet Heights 5/1
Sweet Indulgence 5/1
Bahar Shumaal 6/1

Strictly on prices I should be playing the front two. I think I'll wait until later though. In particular Corals going longest about Alpine Reel is worrying.

Weekend Football 15th and 16th Dec

Friday

Luton 5pts beat Southend at 5/6


Saturday

Leicester 5pts beat Barnsley at 10/11

Preston 5pts beat Plymouth at 4/5

Rotherham (away) 5pts beat Cheltenham at 5/6

Doncaster 5pts beat Yeovil at 11/10

Racing 14th December

Exeter 1:10
Kock de la Vesvre 5/2
Out the Black 4/1
Naunton Brook 4/1
Keltic Bard 9/1
Keepatem 12/1

I respect thefave but am going to have a thump at the stand-out price and hope the going isn't too bad.

Out The Black 7pts win at 7/1


Exeter 2:10
Silencio 11/2
Private Bee 11/2
Mith Hiull 11/2
Hawridge Star 11/2
Devito 9/1

Tight little race with a couple of season debutants from big stables. I'll wait until nearer the time.

Racing December 13th

Newbury 2:25
Tanterani 7/2
Kerstino Two 5/1
The Outlier 5/1
Latimers Place 6/1
Wild is the Wind 5/1
Mr Dow Jones 11/1
Hirvine 11/1

The prices look about right in a tricky race. I'll sit tight until nearer the time and see how the market goes.

Mid-week Football

As is the norm for on here, we're after Arsenal again!

Wigan 5pts beat Arsenal 4/1

Racing 12th December

Let's hope today's horses aren't as slow as Brandy Wine yesterday!

Sedgefield 2:20
Calfraz 7/2
Circassian 8/1
Lord Rosskit 8/1
Chickapeaky 8/1
Tomenoso 8/1
Spring Breeze 10/1

Very strange to see John Forbes favourite and I'm still scratching my head over it. It certainly makes my tissue look a bit strange, and my decision pretty easy.

Calfraz 6pts win at 5/1 guaranteed



Sedgefield 2:50
Bongo Fury 5/4
King of the Arctic 5/1
Do L'enfant d'eau 9/1
Ela Re 14/1
Incas 16/1

Bongo looks a legitimate fave here, and the price fair against some very moderate horses.

Bongo Fury 5pts win at 5/4

Racing Monday 11th December

Snorkels at the ready.

Ayr 2:25
Brandy Wine 2/1
Hugo de Grez 2/1
See You There 5/1
Trisons Star 6/1

An interesting slog through the mud. Hugo de Grez is back on form and taking advantage of not having won for 4 years. His usual form still lingers in my mind though so hardly have him as a solid favourite. Brandy Wine may not be that well handicapped but conditions will suit and Lungo's horses could hardly be healthier. If this ends up the slog it threatens to be, that could be the crucial factor.

The prices settle it for me either way.

Brandy Wine 8pts win at 5/2

Racing - Dec 9th

Some of you will be pleased to know that all racing will be found on here from now on!

Cheltenham 12:20
Tritonix 7/4
katchit 9/4
Pommerol 6/1
Risk Runner 20/1
Peacock 20/1
Zariyan 20/1

The front two are solid, but I've always kept Doumen on my side and see little reason to change now.

Pommerol 3pts win at 8/1


Cheltenham 12:55
Kalca Mome 4/1
Darby Wall 11/2
baby Run 7/1
Kelrev 9/1
Jacks Craic 10/1
Tysou 11/1
Marked Man 12/1
Bohemian Spirit 12/1
Green Belt Flyer 20/1

I like the front two in a "lesser of evils" race, but can't get excited about the prices. May play to small stakes late on.


Cheltenham 1:30
Black Jack Ketchum 1/2
Blazing Bailey 3/1

This may be the day to oppose Black Jack, in sticky ground first time out conceding weight to a seriously tough horse.

Blazing Bailey 3pts win at 7/2


Cheltenham 2:05
Don't Push It Evens
Mr Pointment 4/1
Senorita Rumbalita 9/1
Aztec Warrior 9/1
Best Profile 20/1
Heez a Dreamer 20/1

Looks a cracking race. I've been having a great season with novice chasers, but I admit this is a bit of a hit and hope against a solid fave.

Aztec Warrior 3pts at 16/1


Cheltenham 2:40
Ross River 11/2
Bannow Strand 11/2
Reveillez 6/1
Taranis 7/1
Exotic Dancer 8/1
Hasty Prince 11/1
Thisthatandtother 16/1
Cerium 20/1
Tikram 16/1
Butlers cabin 25/1

My prices may have gone a bit astray after Copsale was pulled out, but my approach remains the same. I'm not overly keen on Taranis nor Exotic Dancer and am happy with my ante post wagers on Ross River and Bannow Strand, and luckily only did Copsale after the final decs. On this morning's prices Bannow Strand remains nicely priced.

Bannow Strand 4pts win at 8/1

Football 8 December

(sorry for lack of racing at the moment - on-going discussions with escorial.)

Coventry 5pts beat Burnley 13/10

Brentford (!) 5pts beat Tranmere 9/4

Crewe 5pts beat Nottm Forest 15/8

Grimsby 5pts beat Shrewsbury 13/10

Torquay (!) away 5pts beat Hereford 9/2

Football 5th December

(No golf this week, in case anyone is wondering).

Brighton 5pts beat Swansea 7/5

Hartlepool (away) 5pts beat Notts Co 11/4

Torquay (save me!) 5pts beat Wrexham 6/4


No racing today, though there is an interesting discussion of the 3:00 Southwell on

www.theracingforum.co.uk

under the lays and plays section.

Racing - Sunday December 2nd

Tough day yesterday.

Warwick 3:10
King Bee 5/4
Jaloux Destruval 11/2
Curly Spencer 11/2

Very strong on the favourite who should be able to boss this. All the others are unappealing.

King Bee 8pts win at 6/4

Racing 2nd December

Sandown 1:30
Cousin Nicky 2/1
Kipsigis 4/1
Bens Turn 11/2
Legally Fast 7/1
Two Miles West 12/1
Beare Necessities 20/1

I couldn't help but notice what a terrible record Alan King has at Sandown. That's interesting given the horses he's running here today. Ben's Turn would look short solely on that basis. Cousin Nicky has to be opposed at the prices.

Kipsigis 4pts win at 11/2
legally Fast 4pts win at 11/1

Sandown 2:05
My Way de Solzen Evens
Fair Along 6/4
New Little Bric 9/1

In my head I have My Way a shade shorter and Fair Along a shade longer (the going mainly.) However, Fair Along is in my 'stable' (as are 4 other horses running today), and I won't be deserting him.

Fair Along 5pts win at 2/1

Sandown 2:35
Kauto Star 4/6
Voy Per Ustedes 4/1
Central House 9/1

One to watch!

Sandown 3:10

Started pricing this up and surrendered in frustration. Personally I'll be backing Ellway Prospect who did us a real turn at a big price last time out. That said this looks short enough and he's a tough ride, so no recommendation. I'll probably play the two out of the handicap as well as big ew prices to small stakes.

Sandown 3:40
Simon 5/1
Ladalko 6/1
Tanas River 7/1
Tribal venture 7/1
Wild is the Wind 7/1
Nitrat 11/1
Fork Lightning 16/1

Not a fan of most of these, so selections pick themselves really.

Simon 5pts win at 17/2
Tribal Venture 4pts win at 12/1

Wetherby 1:20
According to Pete 3/1
Into the Shadows 9/2
Covent Garden 7/1
Euro American 11/1
Ashton Lad 11/1
Totally Scottish 11/1
Imtihan 20/1
Its Blue Chip 20/1

I'm a big fan of According to Pete and he ran really well at Cheltenham, caught chasing too fast a pace. My prices force me elsewhere though.

Covent Garden 3pts win at 12/1
Euro American 3pts win at 22/1

Wetherby 2:55
Royal Rosa 11/8
L'Antartique 13/8

No fan of the favourite. L'Antartique's been running well enough.

L'Antartique 5pts at 2/1

Wetherby 3:25
Silver Knight 7/2
Elvis Returns 5/1
Jungle Jinks 6/1
Harrovian 11/1
Mount Clerigo 11/1
Kerry Lds 12/1
Darinas Boy 12/1
Grattan Lodge 20/1

I was taken with Elvis last time out, until stamina gave out.

Elvis Returns 7pts win at 10/1

Racing - December 1st

Sandown - how disappointing. Three Nicholls hotpots, representing a 3/1 treble but not very opposable all the same. The dominance of this stable is becoming a betting problem, and this said by someone who's enjoyed several years of success following them.

Exeter 1:40
Tidal Fury 5/4
Buena Vista 3/1
Tora Bora 4/1
Dream Falcon 16/1
Bororoa 25/1

Take your pick with Tidal Fury. Timeform say he will stay 2 and a half miles, Mordin says he won't. With going and distance doubts about Buena Vista first time up as well, I like the ones with decent course form, at the prices.

Tora Bora 4pts win at 5/1
Dream Falcon 1pt ew at 40/1

Exeter 2:15
Wee Anthony 6/4
Ranelagh Grey 3/1
Doc Row 4/1
Torche 9/1

Ranelagh Grey is supposed to be better fresh, so Wee Anthony should probably confirm form. Doc Row's weak this morning, and I'm not normally one for topweights in slogs, but.

Doc Row 4pts win at 6/1