Saturday 14th November

My new life as a trader is pootling along OK. I'm probably over-protecting my bank but when it is as small as mine collapsed to I guess that's no bad thing...

Old-fashioned bets that seem playable today are a mixed bunch.

According to Pete was going to be my advice but I see Pricewise has scuppered that price. I have 30s antepost so wish me well. Isn't Our Vic over-priced as well at 33/1?

Football – The Greece and Ireland games look good draw bets, and I've thrown a tenner at them all being draws as I always do with first-leg play-off scenarios.

Rugby – Argentina can surely keep it tight for a long time. I'll trade this game, but Wilkinson to score all England's points at 4/1 is tempting (we missed no try scorer at 33/1, now 20s).

Specials – Strictly Come Dancing – how about Ali and Laila both in the bottom two at 33/1?!

Saturday 31st October

Been keeping on an even keel, which doesn't exactly pay the bills, but is an improvement!!

Suggested football draws today:
Preston/Crystal Palace
Carlisle/Charlton
Cheltenham/Crewe

As for the racing – there's a lot of pace in the Charlie Hall – despite the weight problem you don't suppose Snoopy Loopy could pick them off late do you?

Always Waining deserved better at Cheltenham, bit worrying he's so weak this morning considering how well he was backed then. Classic Swain has been pitched in for his chance of nice prize before the winter horses are ready. Psychomodo and Alaghiraar are also eyecatchers.

I'll get rich around combos of those 5, otherwise it's back to the in-play markets for me, and hopefully Cabrera to trade odds-on soon!!

Saturday 24th October

My new approach to gambling (in-running and trading) requires amazing reservoirs of discipline and patience – somewhat of a learning curve for me, and yesterday I lost the week's profits in one whirl of recklessness. Twat. Football is going better then racing, but jumps racing is much more suitable to my approach than flat racing so I remain obstinately optimistic.

Looking at normal betting today, here's my three draws:
Birmingham/Sunderland
Millwall/Leeds
Gillingham/Charlton

Portsmouth are probably backable at 2/1 as well. (Liverpool are also creeeping towards backable, if everyone continues writing them off).


Racing – for tissue fans here's the Roan chase (fitness worries make it a rather sketchy tissue).
Tidal Bay 4/1
Tartak 4/1
Kicks For Free 9/2
Monet's Garden 9/1
Knowhere 9/1
Don't Push It 9/1
Finger on the Pulse 9/1

which leaves little room for manoeuvres.


For the get rich quick treble how about
Invincible Lad (Pricewise blown the value)
Elusive Pimpernel (not too much rain)
High Heeled (rain, rain, rain!).

I've done a sixfold on the horses and the draws for £80000. That's a fair day's work!

Saturday 17th October

I haven't had a chance to update my football ratings since my break, so no football thoughts today.

I'll be playing Cheltenham in-running, but I have looked at the Newmarket card as historically it's been a good one for me.

Cuis Ghaire looks playable in the first. We backed him in the Guineas where he ran a cracker and is fresh here. In the Champion I like both Mawatheeq (improving and still fresh) and fear Never on a Sunday (who we backed big time at Ascot). And in the Cesarewitch how about a couple of big ones to land the treble! Dirar has a terrible draw but a more than eye-catching jockey, whilst Truckers Delight has the plum draw. Both have interesting profiles for Irish raiders and are 50/1 plus on betfair..

Saturday 3rd October

After a couple of terrible trading days Monday and Tuesday, I've steadied the ship and am still feeling pretty confident that this is the way forward for me.

Looking at today with old fashioned eyes my football draws would be:
Watford/Cardiff
Wycombe/Orient
Darlington/Macclesfield
(I'll do the treble just in case!)

Cheltenham look a big price against Notts Co (who have hardly set the world alight away from home so far), and some shrewd judges are talking up the chances of Portsmouth against Wolves at 11/4 if you can get it.

Horse racing – Pricewise has probably screwed the price but Border Patrol looked value against Goldikova; and in the past it wouldn't have taken much to presuade me to take on Ghanaati with Strawberrydaquiri.

As for the Cambridgeshire my three darts would be Salute Him, Brief Encounter, and, if you wanted to hit one out of the ballpark, how about Bencoolen, who I'm sure has a race in him in between all his tailed-off efforts. Trebles to win 10k...


I'm off to Chamonix for a break next week, so probably won't post Saturday.

Monday 28th September

For the last two weeks I've been playing in-running on the racing, and although it's early days I've been encouraged by what I've been seeing.

However, the profits I've made have been swallowed up by the normal bets (0-12 for the season on football draws!).

So I'm going to concentrate on in-running exclusively for the next however long and see what happens. I see this as my last (last) chance at staying full-time.

So I guess this blog has run it's natural course. Thanks to those who hung around and who enjoyed the good times and, more importantly, gave their support when times were bad. It was much appreciated in what can be a very lonely way to make a living.

I'll post an update every Saturday or so, until it's obvious no-one is looking in any more!



.

Saturday 26th September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9380 – plus £250 in-play)

Just a get rich quick treble for me today, plus the football already put up, and a £2 Scoop 6 line!
The rest of the time I'll stick to in-running.

Alsace Lorraine
Redford
Aqlaam
£30 to win £45000ish!

Thursday 24th September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9500)

Still pootling along (helped by Pigeon Island's failure yesterday).

However, I will do a weekend football threeeplay, on three tight league one games.

Hartlepool/Walsall
Mk Dons/Leeds
Yeovil/Brentford
3 x £60 draws and £20 treble

Weds Sept 23rd

“Part-Time Fund” (£9490)

Continuing to make a few pennies in-running and stopping myself from doing normal bets in the meantime.

Couldn't resist a small season finale farewell bet on Kevin Na though at 100/1, covered by Tiger!

Saturday 19th September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9480)

A bit lucky, but another winning day playing in-running. Be interesting to see if the Saturday markets are any different (easier I'm hoping!).

Not inclined to waste the profits on normal bets – so I've just done a couple of mad doubles and the Scoop 6 for a few quid (like that'll be won today!).

Friday 18th September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9320)

Another winning day. I don't feel like doing any old fashioned bets whilst I'm clawing some money back.

I was going to do threeplay draws on:
Bolton/Stoke
Burnley/Sunderland
Hull/Birmingham
but will stick with a treble just in case and throw in Redford for the four fold.

Thursday 18th September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9170)

I had a good betting day yesterday – all in-running bets. Laid several horses in-running, and then laid Standard Liege at half-time. Maybe this is the way forward for me. Maybe it's another false dawn!

Either way, it doesn't lend itself to blogging advice much!

I was also reassured about my dreadful start to the season backing draws – when I saw there have only been three draws in the Premierhsip so far...

Tuesday 15th September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9120)

I was counting on the Serena money – more fool me.

The Championship is looking interesting based on my ratings. Normally this division is hopelessly competitive with every team moderate and not much of a spread. However, the early signs this year is that a group of teams look like pulling away from the rest. There may be a small edge in this for a while.

I'll start with:
Preston to beat Scunthorpe £40 win at 13/8 and £60 drawn no bet at 10/11 (or +0.25 asians)

and £20 win 6 fold
Preston
Sheff Utd
Leicester
Middlesbrough
WBA
Newcastle
at around 75/1

Thursday 10th September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9260 – plus £380 in -play)


Decent start to weekend's football.

Let's add a draw threeplay:
Man City/Arsenal
Wigan/West Ham
Shrewsbury/Crewe
3 x £60 draws
1 x £20 treble


Away tomorrow – back Saturday but probably not in time to post.

Changingoftheguard looks a big price (though weak) at 6/1 for the St Leger, and Schiaperelli looks backable at 4/1 for the Irish version.

Wednesday 9th September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9240)


I can see Croatia scoring tonight – no obvious value play though.

Let's do a threeplay instead, with one international and the two outstanding weekend bets on ratings.

Paraguay beat Argentina (latter in disarray – probably fix the match though!) 5/2
Northampton beat Notts Co (latter over-hyped – and the price a bit silly) 5/1
Sheff Utd beat Derby (keeping faith with the former) 13/8
3 x £60 singles and £20 treble.

I'm away Friday (and probably Saturday) – I'll put up a threeplay draw tomorrow.

Mid-week golf madness – I'll keep going until the end of the season!
Na/Jeev Singh £10ew double and tenners on both to win.

Monday 7th September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9280 – 220 inplay)


An in-running bet of unders in the England women's game at 1.8 after about twenty minutes, collected, having touched 1.2 and 2.6 in between times!

Kevin Na is in the mix. A place would land the Bradley Dredge double (£1200) and a win would land the cheeky tenner I put on him at 300/1. That would cheer the fund up. Of course, I fully expect him to have blown it by the about the 4th!

No bet today.

Saturday 5th September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9360 – 500 inplay)


Weekend football not exactly started with a bang...

Today I'll add Pullein's bet – Walsall £100 at Evens (+0.75 Asians)

and actually have a flat bet (as said I will be continuing with group racing) – about the only decent win I've had on the flat this season came from this horse, so I can't say I've studied the form and priced the race up.

Finjaan £100 at 11/2

and a treble Finjaan/Kirkless/Rock N Roll Kid, and chuck a couple of quid at the scoop 6.

Friday 4th September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9780 – 250 inplay)


A small in-running win on England's women yesterday.

Weekend football bets.

I'm doing two “three-plays” - the first on the lower leagues and the second on the internationals.

Southend/Orient
Northampton/Barnet
MK Dons/Huddersfield
3 x £60 draws and £20 treble

Cyprus/Rep of Ireland
Peru/Uruguay
Argentian/Brazil
3 x £60 draws and £20 treble

And throw a tenner at the six-fold and if you want a 7fold mad one, chuck in the Rotherham game as well!


Every chance I won't have a bet tomorrow – we'll see.

Thursday 3rd September

“Part-Time Fund” (£9750 – 250 inplay)


I spent yesterday thinking about what the key difference between being part-time and full-time was as Anne hadn't noticed any difference! Well, obviously I should actually be spending some of my time making an income outside betting. But apart from that the key difference will be turnover.

As a full-time gambler I worked to a target-profit, based on an assumed ROI, typically requiring me to turn my bank over ten times a season at 10% profit. I actually failed to get close to my turnover targets the last two years, but it will be a relief all the same not to worry about turnover any more.
(I wish I'd properly thought that through before letting that Guccione bet run!)

Obviously that will mean fewer bets as well. So instead of a bet today here's a poem!



Be Careful Who You Sit Down With

Here's a gambling tip for free:
If Betfair is the biggest price,
And it seems too good to be true,
Before you wade in, you'd better think twice
Because someone knows more than you.



.

Wednesday 2nd September

2009 Challenge Fund (£8570)


All those trainers queueing up to use Kieren Fallon got me thinking yesterday. And the conclusion is that I'm giving up betting on flat racing. I'll stick with the pattern races but ditch the rest.

This obviously isn't just about Fallon (though regulars know my opinion of that little bag of shite). But when I got to thinking about my profit and loss, and about my overall enjoyment of the sport I came down on the side of just giving it up.

There's too much crap racing. Often 5 meetings a day full of shitty little races framed for the bookies. I started the season with Veitch-like ideas of keeping on top of it (and if you can keep on top of it you will have a significant edge), but have personally found it not just impossible, but so mind-numbingly boring that I'd actually rather go back and work in an office than have to try.

Then there's the persistent overwatering – evening out draw biases, and turning many meetings into potluck, even without the incorrect going reports. You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to be concerned about this – just look at the state of Ayr. And as for Ascot...

Even the festivals have left me cold this year – 4 days at York was just greed, greed, greed.

Flat racing is in a sorry state (and this in a year where we actually have a wonder horse),and doesn't seem to have a clue how to police itself. I like the idea of voting with my feet the week Fallon is welcomed back into the fold like some sort of prodigal son.



So, whilst I'm watching the two novice hurdles at Hereford this afternoon....

Mid-week golf madness.
Gonzalez £10ew at 80/1
Na/Gonzalez £5ew double
Na/Dredge £5ew double

US Open Tennis - Guccione beat Cueva £150 4/6 (the market movement a touch worrying on this and I fear my tip-toe back into tennis barking bets may be shortlived!).

Monday 31st August

2009 Challenge Fund (£8970)
Current stake - £200 per day

Everton fuck me up late on.

Andy Murray 3/1 to win US Open – against Federer, and with Nadal, Djokovic and Del Potro lurking. I think this is the tournament he really needs to win if he's not to risk being a perennial 3 or 4 seeded player. Let's hope so.

On the other hand, Serena Williams 2/1 to win US Open – against....

£200 Serena.

Sunday 30th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£9170)
Current stake - £200 per day

Adam Kirby isn't much good is he? About as good as my football bets at the moment!

Threeplay for today:

Goodwood 2:45 - Alsace Lorraine (one of only a handful of horses who has won more than once for us this season) £60 at 7/2

Curragh 3:45 – Gile Na Greine (apparent “clash of the superpowers” allowing this one to be priced up favourably) £50 at 13/2

Everton/Wigan Draw £70 at 11/4

and £20 treble, plus for some reason I'm drawn to chucking a tenner on Hayler Turner to ride a treble.

Saturday 29th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£9270)
Current stake - £200 per day

Goodwood:

2:35 Bloody Pricewise – how does he help anyone? Classic Vintage was supposed to be 12/1 this morning. 9/1 is Ok, if disappointing. £100 win.

3:10 Most notable thing about this race is the complete lack of pace. Could get very tricky. Delegator looks fairly priced at 4/5 but given those doubts wouldn't want to play big. Beacon Lodge let us down here last time and I'm not sure this is any easier – still £50 at a too big 25/1.

Plus £20 double Classic Vintage/Beacon Lodge
£10 forecast Delegator beat Beacon Lodge
£10 acc CV/Delegator/Sheff Utd and the three draws I put up on Thursday
£5 acc as above but Beacon Lodge instead of Delegator
£5 as above but missing out Man Utd as they play last and I couldn't bear to be waiting on that for all the money!

Friday 28th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£9470)
Current stake - £200 per day

Another weekend football bet:

Sheff Utd to beat WBA £100 at 6/4

Also a sneaky £10 to win £6000+ ante-post racing treble:
Haydock Sprint – Finjaan 6/1
St Leger – Changingofthegaurd 6/1
Arc – Cavalryman 12/1

The other £90 I'll spend on Newmarket maiden races, or even Ffos Las.

Thursday 27th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£9670)
Current stake - £200 per day

Let's do our threeplay draws for the weekend.

Man Utd/Arsenal – draw
Ipswich/Preston – draw
Scunthorpe/QPR – draw
3 x £60 and £20 treble

Wednesday 26th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£9570)
Current stake - £200 per day

Arsenal/Celtic under 11 corners £150 at Evens (if you can get it) – Pullein.

Mid-week golf madness
Na £10 ew at 120ish
Dredge £10ew at 40/1
£5ew double

Tuesday 25th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£9570)
Current stake - £200 per day

First time I back Liverpool in years....

No bet today.

Monday 24th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£9770)
Current stake - £120

Two simple match bets for Monday.

Liverpool are not exactly value on ratings but Aston Villa look like they may take time to regroup this season. I'm also quite taken with the Early Bird column in the Racing Post and that alerts me to Wolves's great price against Hull this weekend – Hull look like they could cost me some money this season, as they've gubbed me both opening weeks and I'm against them again.

Liverpool beat Aston Villa £140 at 9/4
Wolves beat Hull £60 at 11/10

Sunday 23rd August

2009 Challenge Fund (£9900)
Current stake - £120

Football threeplay:

Everton to beat Burnley 13/10 – overreaction to each team's latest results.
Fulham/Chelsea draw 3/1 – part belief in Hodgson, part love bet.
Under 11 corners Hearts/rangers Evens– Kevin Pullein
3 x £60 and £20 treble

Saturday 22nd August

2009 Challenge Fund (£10300)
Current stake - £120

Palavicini's been a good horse to us this year.


Bet of the day: Hull/Bolton Draw £200 at 12/5


Racing: No strong feelings today. I'll combine these four.
Chester 2:25 Invincible Lad 5/1
Chester 2:55 Sabotage 7/2
Sandown 2:40 Simenon 11/2
Sandown 3:15 Greylami 12/1+
£125 dutch to return £200+
6 x £10 doubles
1 x £15 fourfold

Friday 21st August

2009 Challenge Fund (£10000)
Current stake - £120

Shoot for the stars today with four complete rags, who have been in my stable at some points of the year. An end-of-an-era punt!

Gibb River – so disappointing, but is very close to the best horse here on ratings and speed and 33/1 is too long.

Palavicini – I like Forgotten Voice a lot and this is much more his grade. These 3 year olds are a good bunch though, and this one has always looked decent – hopefully the break has freshened him up at 14/1.

Equiano – me and Pricewise throwing darts here – but early season form looks good enough, track suits and he looked to be coming back to form last time when running on well after missing the break – 33/1 too big.

Snoqualmie Boy – not won since I first backed him, has no obvious chance, even if he does stay, but I'm sure there's a race in him, and who knows in this field of dodgepots. 45/1 upwards.

4 x £35 win singles
6 x £6 doubles
4 x £2.50ew trebles
1ew acc – at which point I'll take my half a million and ....

Thursday 20th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£10070)
Current stake - £120

Thanks to the regulars for the kind words of support. I guess the bottom line is that being “good” is all very well for a part-time hobby providing extra income, but not enough for a viable living – that's how it's felt for too long now. And my wife needs a break.

Of course, 5 years sitting on my arse hasn't equipped me for much in the way of a new career! So I don't suppose you'll notice much difference on here. I'm not planning on giving up entirely and I'll play £200 a day whilst I ponder my next step, or until I get dragged kicking and screaming back into training/consultancy. I'd have thought a fair few of those bets will be of the barking variety.
Mike, I think I may well re-write that book in the meantime.

Today I'm going over the cliff yet again on Lovelace, who yet again has a bad draw. £120 win and throw a few quid at an ew double with another one I should have given up on by now Little Scotland, and get rich quick with a ridiculous ew treble adding Storyland.

I'll save the remaining £50ish for last minute madness.

Wednesday 19th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£10270)
Current stake - £120

I seem to be right back where I started – hardly the consolidation I was aiming for this year.

My full-time gambling days look over (for now, at least). That said, what I'm actually going to do with the rest of my time is a bit of poser, so I'll continue chucking £200 a day around until I find my next direction!

York today.

2:15 Drill Sergeant £60 at 5/2+
3:25 Manyriverstocross £30 at 14/1
Hits Only Vic £30 at 20/1
4:40 Mo Mhurnin £40 at 11/1
2 x £10 trebles
and a Cumani dart £10ew his two horses at 14/1 and 50/1

Tuesday 18th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£10930)
Current stake - £120


Two nice-looking bets today.

2:50 York – Jukebox Jury. Harbinger and Alwarry are both fine, but Jukebox should be much closer to them in the betting than he is, as far as I priced it up.

Womens 400m – Ohurugou has landed us a great price the last two finals, but she doesn't look to be in tip-top shape this time. I still want to get against Sanya Richards though until she proves herself capable fo running three rounds and coping with a final. Shericka Williams is the obvious one, a tough cookie with a record of improving round to round. Anything better than 5s is a very good bet as far as I'm concerned.

Jukebox Jury £120 at 6/1+
Shericka Williams £100 at 7s (and Ohurugou £20 at 20/1 for old time's sake)
£40 treble Jukebox Jury/Shericka Williams and Mata Karanjang

I'll look at the football later, and may put something up...

Saturday 15th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11200)
Current stake - £120


Arwaah a nice bet to have at 4s! And Tiger at 2s.

Looks a pretty humdrum day today and I'll keep it quiet.

Shooting for the stars I'll be doing multiples based around the following
Lucky General
Mourilyan
Arabian Gleam
Suba
Hitchens
though whether I back any of them in singles (other than Hitchens who I took each way at 16s yesterday) is open to question.

Friday 14th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11200)
Current stake - £120


Apart from the many bad bets I've done this week, I've also failed to place bets I considered – Woods to lead after first round at 10/1 and someone being sent off in Scotland/Norway game at 9/2 both had my finger hovering - and why I didn't back both Without a Prayer and Mac Love yesterday is a proper hindsight view.

At least I did manage to add Woods to my portfolio before the off.

Newbury 4:35 Arwaah is in the notebook, and hopefully has only been absent due to Tregoning's troubles. £100 at 4/1

Football – this weekend I'll sit on the ratings, but here's the draw “threeplay”.
Bolton/Sunderland draw
Nottm Forest/WBA draw
Swansea/Middlesbrough draw
3 x £90 singles and £30 treble

Thursday 13th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11720)
Current stake - £120


A late play on the draw in the England game made up for the racing yesterday.

Two longer-priced horses today.

3:40 Salisbury: Yonder gave a remarkable performance here two runs ago, having gone beserk before the start. She's up against a load of progressive three year olds and flopped last time, hence the price. If she is in the mood and can get a softish lead she'll make them work.

4:15 Salisbury: Without A Prayer looks a big price on Diomed running, and has a bigger chance than odds imply if the race proves muddling, with Confront taking an age to get going.

2 x £80 wins at 12/1
£20ew double.

Wednesday 12th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11830)
Current stake - £120


USPGA: Think I'll leave Tiger alone ahead of play, and do a couple of each way shots instead.
Mahan £25ew at 35/1 and £10 win w/out Woods at 25/1
Stenson £25ew at 55/1 and £10 win w/out Woods at 40/1

And a Salisbury notebook threeplay.
2:30 Carnaby Street £60 win at 6/1
3:35 Block Party £60 win at 9/2
4:05 Splashdown £60 win at 13/2
£20 win treble


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Tuesday 11th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11830)
Current stake - £120


No bet today.

Monday 9th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11830)
Current stake - £120

Close to the treble yesterday (“threeplays” are becoming my favourite bet), and Tiger gave us a late night boost (or rather Harrington did!).

No bet today.

Sunday 9th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11300)
Current stake - £120

Day started well, then fell in a hole, not helped by a couple of bad late bets.

Three-play today.
3:30 Lucky General
4:30 Heritage Coast
Charity Shield – draw
3 x £60 and £20 treble.

Saturday 8th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11740)
Current stake - £120

Nice start to the football season yesterday.

I seem to be taking on Stan James's odds-compiler this afternoon.

2:25 Nmkt Whispering Gallery – forgiveable lto – progressive – notebook horse £60 at 5/1

3:00 Nmkt Chachamidee and Sent From Heaven – notebook horses against opposable fave - £90 dutch at 6/4ish.

3:35 Nmkt Taqdeeyr – hopefully Robinson can settle him £60 at 7/1

2:40 Haydock – Duncan – hates Newmarket – solid tissue bet £120 at 10/3

2:35 Redcar Pride of Kings – notebook horse -£60 at 9/1

Omitting Chachamiadee, the above 5 horses, 10 x £6 trebles and £4ew acc.

Friday 7th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11680)
Current stake - £120

The racing this week has just been awful – look at this afternoon's cards!

At least football is back with us, and my two tickles for the weekend:

Middlesbrough/Sheff Utd - £120 draw at 12/5 (I'm hoping for a big year on draws this year after last year's successful experiment).

and

Bradford beat Notts Co £120 at 11/4 (impossible to say how quick a start money bags Notts County will make, but the prices here are surely overly skewed).

£40 treble
Sheff Utd draw
Bradford
Preston
MK Dons

(Both the later are “value” on my ratings, but being so early in the season I'm not much interested in odds-on betting on ratings that are bound to be somewhat outdated).

Thursday 6th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11800)
Current stake - £120

Of all the season long football bets – here's my favourite.

Sheff Utd to be best Northern club in Championship at 9/2 (Tote). Middlesbrough rebuilding and Newcastle in disarray build in a very nice looking margin – and the other challengers don't look very credible.
£120 well spent.


Notebook horse- 7:55 Sandown – Tottie £60 at 3/1

Wednesday 5th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11950)
Current stake - £120

I seem to be off-sync with Tiger but I'm back on board anyway.

Woods £120 at 7/4
Na £15 ew 28/1 (last chance – again!)

Wednesday 4th August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11950)
Current stake - £120

Doctor Parkes a nice drifter yesterday.

No bets today.

Monday 3rd August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11760)
Current stake - £120

Let's do a threeplay today – three essentially disappointing notebook horses – hoping that typically poor Monday fields will come to their aid.

3:15 Ripon Crime Writer
4:15 Ripon Cotillion
5:15 Ripon Doctor Parkes
3 x £60 win and £20 win treble

Sunday 2nd August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11760)
Current stake - £120

Genki at least gave me the Wokingham bragging rights for another year (an amazingly lucky race for me for some reason). But overall, we're right back where we started the week. I felt devoid of enthusiasm all week, which is unlike me at this meeting. I think I've just hit a brick wall trying to cover so much of the flat season – most of it really is seven shades of shit. Which is a bit of a problem with three months of it left and me nowhere near target.

Still, football starts again next week!

I like Reganne at Deauville this afternoon. Unfortunately, so does Pricewise, so there goes the 6/1.

Saturday 1st August

2009 Challenge Fund (£11700)
Current stake - £120

Gave back the week's profits yesterday, with Lovelace an agonising 5th not helping the mood.

2:10 Thin Red Line is fairly priced at 10/1 £60.

2:30 Ashram has as good form as Donativum to my eyes and Frankie often gets it wrong - £60 at 11/1.

3:05 High Heeled far too long, particularly if any rain falls, for a horse Midday seemed to just outstay in the Oaks. £60 at 12/1. Go in again if clouds burst.

3:40 Three darts. Thebes up the golden highway under the far rail £30ew at 33/1; Genki solid £30 at 16/1, and Valery Borzov inconsistent £30 at 30/1.

4:50 Dingaan – hope for some pace in the race. £60 at 11/2

Skip the Stewards and do 4 x £10 trebles the others and £5 acc.

Thursday 30th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£12020)
Current stake - £120

Would have been Ok yesterday had I actually bet Xtension rather than just think I had...

2:10 Looks typically impossible. Roman Republic solid but short and Sandor – a decent looking 20/80

2:45 Would only be interested in Ialysos, but that penalty is very off-putting.

3:25 Schiaperelli – solid notebook horse in a weak-looking race.

4:00 Two notebook horses dutched will do for me – Starfala and Victoria Montoya.

4:35 Same again – Suruor and Kyllachy Star.

5:10 Laureldean Spirit – notebook horse.

And Galway 5:00 Vital Plot is Pricewise/Gerald Delamere pick – always worth a look when they both agree at a nice price.

I've done a £20 treble Schiaperelli, Laureldean Spirit and Vital Plot and then attcked the five Goodwood races (not 2:45) in 8 x £4 fivefolds.


.

Wednesday 29th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£12320)
Current stake - £120

Good start to Goodwood yesterday – with 12/1 Finjaan looking a steal now, plus Drumfire.

Day 2

First two races I have notebook horses occupying the first three places in the market in both races. Not sure whether to play or not to be honest.

3:25 My prices throw up Forgotten Voice as a decent priced outsider here. Noseda certainly likes the horse enough to throw him straight into a group 1 from his last run! Much as I respect the front three I'll take a chance £30 each way at 33/1.

4:00 A few notebook horses in an impossible race. However, I read an interesting article that provides one angle – Johnston's horses do remarkably well in these races from seemingly bad draws (and after recent run). Sabotage ticks those boxes. £60 at 14/1.

5:10 Two notebook horses – Alsace Lorraine and Club Tahiti (an Escorial lay). I'll wait in case rains come.

Do an ew double first two, and a coupleof sneaky trebles.

Mid-week golf madness:
Kevin Na, of course, 66/1
Haldahl 80/1
10ew singles and double.

.

Tuesday 28th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£11820)
Current stake - £120

Goodwood – day 1.
A good old fashioned tissue day.

2:10 – No strong feelings – the two who came out as slightly underrated on my tissue were Drumfire and Blythe Knight. Probably play them both each way – Blythe Kight at 40s very long..

2:45 – Not keen on Harbinger form – and priced on reputation here. Masterofthehorse also has to be a worry with that change of stable. Urban Poet could be anything but the obvious choice is Firebet, who took an age to pull up last time and should cope with step up in class and trip.4/1 Ok.

3:25 – Main Aim is mighty short this morning. Ouqba was the notebook horse, but I keep looking at Finjaan. Yes, he may not have trained on, but he has beaten Ouqba twice, and was in a muck sweat ahead of 2000 guineas and probably didn't stay, and is probably priced up on Tregoning's form (on the turn hopefully) and Hills choosing Ouqba (he's hardly got that horse right this year). 12/1 Ladbrokes will do for me.

4:00 – Monsieur Chevalier looks mighty short at odds-on, especially on this track. Maybe a simple lay.

4:35 – There is a lot of pace in this race. One for horses with a bit of luck from behind. Waldvogel, Sugar Ray and Yes Mr President (if he lets others do the work), should cover the bases!

5:10 – Impossible race. I hve Bencoolen as an eyecatcher – maybe today is the day .


Not sure re betting yet, but for get rich quick merchants how about kicking off with:
Firebet
Finjaan
Waldvogel
Bencoolen
4 x £10 trebles and £5 accumulator!

One notebook horse at Beverly
4:55 Sanctuary.

Monday 27th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£11900)
Current stake - £120

Day off today.

There are a couple of notebook horses this evening – Ghost and Block Party at Windsor – but they are both plenty short enough.

Sunday 26th July

13065 16500 79.18

2009 Challenge Fund (£11700)
Current stake - £120

The fund is looking decidedly unhealthy ahead of Goodwood. And today won't make much difference.

I'll do a threeplay on notebook horses:
2:05 Ponte Flow Chart
2:50 Ascto Sterling Sound
4:00 Ascot Shamali

and Escorial is pretty bullish about a couple over on www.postracing.co.uk
if I'm back from my walkies I may play a few of his angles, for lack of anything else to do in the rain.

Saturday 25th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£11860)
Current stake - £120

Back, hopfully refreshed, but not had enough time to properly get to grip wth today's racing yet.

Jira, and Sovereign Remedy are bets – not sure what else. Conduit and Golden Sword look the ones for the King George (hardly original) and I'll be furious if Look Here wins!

I'll do a Murtagh treble at Ascot for the fun bet.

2009 Challenge Fund (£12600 – plus £420 in play)
Current stake - £120


You didn't miss much yesterday.

The golf is going so moderately I felt obliged to have a tickle on Na in the other tournament...I also topped up on Stenson and Kaymer (when in a hole!) and have a few huge price dabbles (Daly and Howell for top 8 for example) still alive, to keep me interested , but really this golf lark is just leakage I could do without.

Racing:

Newbury 2:50 Club Tahiti (not an obvious chance but should improve for comeback run, and it's that sort of day). £45ew or maybe £20/£70

Newbury 3:55 Covert Ambition – (solid form chance) £60 at 9/4

Newbury 5:05 Cleaver (solid, but prone to losing) £20/£70

Newmkt 3:05 Maeswerte (forgive Sandown, extra furlong help, main opponents non runners) £60 win.

Newmkt 4:10 Equinine (solid £20/£70 against fave)

Newmkt 5:20 Equueleus Pictor (like gorund, maybe needs flatter track) and Affluent (though Escorial lay) – £90 dutch.

And a small scoop6 – obviously.

I'm off for a week now. I may or may not have internet access, so may or may not be posting. It'll be a quiet week whatever – back refreshed for King George and Goodwood.

Friday 17th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£12900 – plus £420 in play)
Current stake - £120


Worried on the ground today so, whilst I have quite a few notebook horses to keep me busy, I'm not sure at all about bets yet.

I've taken a draw in the 2nd test – think every test may be a draw looking at the bowling so far.

And was happy with Ben Curtis – he's just bogeyed nearly every hole on the front 9!

Thursday 16th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£12900 – plus £300 in play)
Current stake - £120


Quite a few notebook horses running today. Two threeplays looks the way to go.

Leic 3:50 Big Band
Bath 6:20 Quaker Parrot
Epsom 6:40 Yarra
3 x £60 singles and a £20 treble

Donc 7:35 Crystal Gale
Donc 8:20 Crime Writer
Donc 8:40 Rangefinder
3 x £60 singles and a £20 treble

Wednesday 15th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£13270)
Current stake - £120

Nideeb a decent start to the week (especially if you had the double running on from the non runner).

Midweek golf madness is a pretty simple four play on the golf.

Woods £150 at 5/2 (Our resident expert says he a sure thing. Who am I to argue!)
Stenson £20 ew at 40/1 (Already won for us this season – I'd have obviously backed Kevin Na as well if he'd been playing!)
Kaymer £30 at 80/1 (I did this a couple of weeks ago, so happy with that) I'd be doing an each way bet top 8 at 28/1 otherwise.
Curtis £20ew at 50/1 (first 8 places – are you kidding me!)


Racing – the going is a real problem today. No recommendations.

Tuesday 14th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£13100)
Current stake - £120

Right, back for a few days. Ascot proved a touch frustrating – with three seconds.

Two notebook horses today.

Bev 3:15 Select Committee (draw obviously a worry)
Yar 6:20 Nideeb (Gosden/Cecil newcomers obviously a worry)

I'm thinking 2 x £20 wins/£70 places and a £20 win double.

Friday 10th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£13100)
Current stake - £120

Turning into the worst week of the year so far, and looking back at previous posts the July meeting is definitely an annual disaster for me!

I'll keep digging though with notebook horses galore today.

Nmkt 1:30 Brief Encounter (forgiving Ascot) (20/80)
Nmkt 2:00 Lord Zenith (underbet compared to Ascot runners)
Nmkt 2:35 Captain Brilliance/Redford (potential group horse, and hold up 7f specialist with Spencer up)
Nmkt 3:10 Kings Apostle (forgiving Ascot and hoping overseas raiders all the rage - Murtagh) (ew)
Nmkt 4:20 Lamh Albasser (progressive)
York 2:45 Lesson in Humility/Serious Attitude (dutch)
York 3:20 Rred Cape (rude health) (20/80)
York 3:55 Martyr (top notch hcapper, draw and pace suit) (20/80)

I'll do usual £60 wins, or £90 dutch, or £45 ew, or £20/£70, plus trebles at each meeting.

I'm off to Ascot tomorrow, and Oasis Sunday (!), so no posts here till Tuesday, which should be enough time to lick my wounds if need be!

Thursday 9th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£13700)
Current stake - £120

This is my 1000th post!

I wonder what percentage of blogs ever reach that number. I'd bet it's under 1%. Thanks to those who have been looking-in all along – you've shown remarkable stamina and have withstood some pretty terrible times in amongst the good days. And thanks to those who drop me a note every now and again to remind me there are a few (deeply disturbed!) people out there actually reading.


I ended up back where I started yesterday with two winners in Goldikova and Dancourt. A worrying number of selections are running terribly though – it may be random, or it may be we've come to that change in high season where the early types are being caught up by late maturers, as well as being handicapped out of it compared to those who have flopped for various reasons.


Nmkt 1:30 – We can forgive Dhushan his last run, especially with Callan on board, but even if we do I'm not sure this would be the race for him...

Nmkt 2:00 – I like Arcano, and also Red Jazz can probably be forgiven his last run when he paid the price, trying to go with Canford Cliffs.

Nmkt 2:35 – There's loads of good horses here – god knows. Changing The Guard looks a big price (second string) and Lasso The Moon at 33/1ish is the sort of price he needs to be, to be backable (being a nutter).

Nmkt 3:10 – Duncan. Anything over 2/1 is good business. He'll be my only certain bet £120 at 5/2.


.

Wednesday 9th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£13700)
Current stake - £120


The going (and draw bias) stops me from putting much up today. Looks like one to play as it unravels.

The one bet I do like will be no surprise to regulars and is our last throw of the dice at this one.
Little Scotland £45 ew 20/1. I still believe the horse to be as good as Misheer and this 6f and a bit of ease look ideal as well.

Elsewhere I like Cumana Bay and Parisian Pyramid and have thrown them in a get rich quick treble with Little Scotland. Goldikova should be more like 6/4 on genuinely good ground. Beauchamp Xerxes is likeable and at Lingfield Kings of Leo is a notebook horse against Soccer giving him a load of weight.


Midweek golf madness is courtesy of the Racing Post to be honest as I had no real view, and did back Tim Clark when he won here a few years back.
Clark/Senden £20ew double.

Tuesday 7th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£13950)
Current stake - £120

A quiet day today. Three notebook horses all likely drifting faves – which is to say they're plenty short enough right now!

Wolves 1:45 Newton Circus
Ponte 3:00 Laughing Boy
Ponte 5:00 Gibb River
3 x £60 wins
1 x £20 win treble

Monday 6th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£14400)
Current stake - £120

What an easy barking bet that was – Federer!

Todays notebook horses:

2:15 Muss – Glenlini £60 win at 5/2

4:00 Brighton – Albashaa £60 drifting 5/2+

7:00 Windsor – Fondant Fancy £45ew at 16/1

8:00 Windsor – Special reserve £10 win £40 place
Baylini £20ew at 20/1
(I'm hoping for a lot of pace in the race)

and £10 trebles and £5 fourfolds banking the two shorter priced runners.

Sunday 5th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£14250 – plus £120 in play)
Current stake - £120

I realise we're supposed to be like robots regardless but winning the first race on a Saturday is always relaxing. I was getting pretty disappointed by the end of the day though, so well done Jimmy Fortune for getting Sandor up.

Much quieter day today. Velvet Band is a possible but that's not much of a betting proposition at Evens.

Ayr 3:40 Ifatfirst is more appealing. You have to forgive his last run over course and distance and hope he doesn't pull as hard. 8/1 let's us do that £60 win.

And Federer is an obvious barking bet.

Saturday 4th July

2009 Challenge Fund (£13950 – plus £240 in play)
Current stake - £120

A late play on Roddick when all looked lost got most the Murray Wimbledon bet back, and Roddick was 1.4 right at the end – another remarkable in-running price.


Lots of horses as possibles today, so am going to need to be careful and ensure the daily stop-loss is in play.

Snd 2:05 – Really like Triple Aspect but I keep seeing him scrubbed along here last time – drawn against the fence he's going to need some luck, as in truth is Ialysos, but at least his price allows for that.

Snd 2:40 – Mirrored hardly original, nor Alfathaa, but I'll probably dutch them both.

Snd 3:15 – Drifting like a barge but if there is one each way (and I'm already out of pocket on Archipenko), it's Cima De Triomphe, with the 7lbs weight difference being overaccounted for in the market.

Snd 3:45 – Say No Now – positive notebook comments from me, and a tempting price.

Snd 4:20 – Amerigo – have to forgive last run where he pulled far too hard all the way – at least this trip might help that a bit. Change of jockey can't harm either. Worth the recovery mission.

Snd 4:55 – Maeswerte – eyecatcher

Snd 5:30 - Sandor – eyecathcher

Haydock 2:55 - High Heeled (but needs rain to be a bet at the price)

Haydock 3:30 – Hatton Flight and Spring Jim have poor draws, and I'm expecting them to drift on the back of that and maybe worth a dutch.

Bev 3:20 – Russian George – likes to dominate a small field and possible here – another retrieval mission.

Something like:
Boyles are longest price (guaranteed) about quite a few of these, I'll go for gold with them on their longest priced ones.
Ialysos £60 9/2
Alfathaa/Mirrored £60 dutch
Cima De Triomphe £30 ew at 12s+ (16s betfair currently)
Say No Now £60 at 8/1
Amerigo £60 13/2
Maeswerte £60 win
Sandor £30 ew
Russian George £60 win at 9/1
£30 ew Ialysos/Cima De Triomphe
4 x £14 trebles Cima de triomphe/Say No Now/Amerigo/Russian George and £4 acc.

Leaving me around £150 for late plays if need be, before reaching the daily limit.

Friday 3rd July

2009 Challenge Fund (£14000 – plus £280 in play)
Current stake - £120

I've gone in again on Venus.

Todays racing has a weather warning attached.

Doc 2:00 – Bollin Greta – keeps on being overbacked – this is the last chance.

Donc 4:10 Crime Writer – weak this morning and may be badly hcapped – liked it though and good draw for a Johnston horse.

War 3:10 Dutch Steel Free and Markam

Sand 4:00 Dutch Confront and Tranquil Tiger

Donc 5:15 Global Conquest – though too short right now really.

Sals 7:35 Cill Rialaig – quick follow-up in similar race (needs pace in race though).

Something like:
Bollin Greta £60 at 5/2
Crime Wirter £60 at 4/1+
Cill Rialaig £60 at 5/2
£30 treble returning c £1800
£90 dutch Steel Free and Markam at around 1.6
£90 dutch Confront and Tranquil Tiger at around 1.66

Thursday 2nd July

2009 Challenge Fund (£13730 – plus £400 in play)
Current stake - £120

Haas lands the winning quarter bet, so a successful Wimbledon with a couple of swings of the racquet left.

7 Notebook horses today.

2:30 Yarmouth - Showcasing – but not interested at that price.

3:40 Haydock- Pride of Kings – smaller field should make soft lead more likely – what's happened to the ground though?

6:30 Newbury – Arab League – too short with going doubts.

7:35 Newbury - Ithbaat – doubts about distance but looks the type to improve for good gallop and 6/1 compensates for doubts.

7:55 Epsom - Mac Gille Eion – hardly original but should blast out and make all.

9:20 Redcar – Stateside – why bother at 4/5, hving pocketed the 7/4 two days ago – unless drifts.


So a sketchy possible:
Pride of Kings £60 win
Ithbaat £60 win
Whispered Times £60 win
Mac Gille Eion £120 win
4 x £8 trebles and £8 fourfold.

Wednesday 1st July

2009 Challenge Fund (£13350 – plus £420 in play)
Current stake - £120

The two horses I was interested in today are both very short and probably no bets – Contract Caterer and Swingkeel. Other than that a day of chores, hopefully fitted in around Haas and Murray.

Mid-week golf madness continues and I've dumped Kevin Na, and replaced him with my previous favourite who I've noticed at the top of the leaderboard a few times lately, and who looks very long for the French Open. May as well take Jeremy Chapman's American pick as the other half of the bet.

Mahan/Jeev Singh £20ew double.

Tuesday 30th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13250 – plus £420 in play)
Current stake - £120

I watched Lisicki close out her match yesterday and then Safina. Obviously wrong to bet on such flimsy evidence but that won't stop me. And Federer must be licking his lips at the prospect of eating up Murray's second serve...

Hamilton 3:45 – Stateside is a notebook horse, but it does look a very competitive handicap, and I rarely get Fahey/Hanagan right (those who are in the know are cleaning up on betfair there).

Lisicki £120 at 2/1
Stateside £60 at 3/1ish

Monday 29th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13450 – plus £420 in play)
Current stake - £120

Quiet day.

3:15 Pontefract – Decree Absolute probably flattered to win on debut, but surely find some improvement against horses carrying bigger penalties. Small trainer also ensuring bigger odds by the looks of it.

7:10 Windsor – El Dececy – back in sellers – against the rail - Richard Hughes.

England Under 21 – draw – lose on penalties surely!


Decree Absolute £60 win at 5/1+
El Dececy £60 win at 7/2+
Under 21 draw £120 at 9/4
£30 treble

Sunday 28th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13650 – plus £420 in play)
Current stake - £120

Rugby!

The day went better for me than expected, and not just the Lions, when the going made me ditch Dreameater, and then go for Tamagin at Windsor.

Today:

Salis 2:00 Lord Zenith – nice debut, should improve.

Salis 3:05 Bold Argument – conditions suit, and in form, draw slight worry, and above highest winning rating but that's in the price.

Windsor 4:00 – Existentialist – blast out, make all, simples.

Irish Derby – I backed Golden Sword and Masterofthehorse at Epsom, and will stay loyal. You can dutch them at around 9/4 and I'd be way shorter than that. Their form makes them pretty much as good as the fave – and if the pacemakers go very hard it will suit Masterofthehorse, and if not enough pace it will suit Golden Sword.


Lord Zenith £70 win 7/4
Bold Argument £50 win 7/1
Existentialist £60 win 7/2
£20 win treble

Masterofthehorse/Golden Sword £120 dutch (I'll slightly load Golden Sword as the bigger value price).

Saturday 27th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13320 – plus £460 in play)
Current stake - £120

Backed a few blatant non-triers over the last few days – more fool me.

Ground conditions a worry today.

Curragh 3:40 Corals and Ladbrokes taking opposite stands on Look Here, and as usual I side with Corals.

Newc 3:10 – Hits Only Vic was going to be the choice anyway, so with the ground coming in his favour as well I've jumped on a tumbling price.

Nmkt 2:20 – competitive race, but I was taken with Jira's run in the Albany from a terrible draw – looks a 20/80 type

Nmkt 3:25 – Dreameater has been running well, another 20/80 type

Ryan Moore has an eye-smacking book of rides at Windsor, so usual mug bet at the ready.

And friends in my betleague are falling over themselves to have love bets on the Lions, which suggests to me South Africa are probably a value price for a barking bet!

Something like
Look Here £120 win at 2/1
Hits Only Vic £60ew at 12/1
Jira £20 win/£70 place
Dreameater £20 win/£70 place
Above four in £25 fourfold to retrun £36000+
Ryan Moore 15 x £8 doubles and £5 acc
South Africa £120 at 1.4

Friday 26th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13570 – plus £460 in play)
Current stake - £120

Was unexpectedly free for the afternoon yesterday and rushed into it in gimp-like style, so threw away far too much of last week's profits.

Donc 4:00 Pysian – eye catching debut, wouldn't have to improve much to win this.

Nmkt 6:30 Sonny Parkin - loves course, won last year off less, 20/80 bet

Newc 7:25 Piscean - probably needs 6f but that's in the price – ew at 33/1
Captain Dunne – great run epsom, draw 1 here

Chester 9:20 Kiama Bay – step up to 10f help.

Something like:
Pycian £60 win at 9/4
Sonny Parkin £20 win and £70 place
Captain Dunne £50 win at 8/1
Piscean £20 ew at 33/1
Kiama Bay £20 win and £70 place
£30 four fold with Captain Dunne returning £11700
£10 four fold with Piscean returning £12500


I'd hung up my football boots for the summer, but the semi-finals have drawn me in!

England under 21s £100 draw at 12/5
Italy under 21s £100 draw at 9/4
£40 draw double

Wednesday 24th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£14105 – plus £300 in play)
Current stake - £120


I have a friend visiting, so no time to post today.

Tuesday 23rd June

2009 Challenge Fund (£14305 – plus £300 in play)
Current stake - £120

Yesterday's horse has just finished running (possibly forever).

Threeplay today.

3:45 Bev – Shady Gloom – travelled best last time out when well gambled. Back 2f will help here.

7:55 New – Heritage Coast – eyecathcer in decent fillies race last time.

8:30 New – Faldal – flying too high last time – this more like it.

3 x £60 win singles and £20 win treble.

Monday 22nd June

2009 Challenge Fund (£14390 – plus £300 in play)
Current stake - £120

Ricky Barnes looked a good barking bet lay last night prior to start of 4th round.

Quiet day. Maybe some inrunning tennis bets.

However, I do like Mamlakati at Windsor this evening – the last run was better than it reads and this trip will help. £60 at 8ish, and I may get excited and double that (or cautious and save the place!).

Sunday 21st June

2009 Challenge Fund (£14420 – plus £240 in play)
Current stake - £120

A pretty miserable read is yesterday's entry, until you get down to the bottom where Firebet, La Zamora (13/1 at the off on betfair), and a Tony Hamilton treble wiped out all the misery of Ascot. The latter actually wasn't so bad for me either as I threw a few quid at Art Connosieur late on. So, all in all, a pleasing week, even if the golf bets have literally sunk without trace.

I'll skip what looks a decent race at Pontefract today. My one bet is a small bet on Tommy Haas to win his quarter at Wimbledon. He's in top form at the moment, more than can be said for Djokovic, and most the rest.

Haas £60 at 6/1 to win 3rd quarter Wimbledon.

Saturday 20th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13900 – plus £480 in play)
Current stake - £120


Got out of jail yesterday. Those low draw forecasts have been a godsend this week!

Loads of horses today – the old fashioned small stakes/lots of races approach to this season is proving a success but I'd forgotten just how many losers you have to put up with (I went 42 races without a winner once)!

Ascot 2:30 – no obvious view. Meglio Ancora is probably underrated given the trainer – each way.

Ascot 3:05 – I can see why the prices of the front two are getting closer, but think there may be an overreaction. Of the two I'd be with Doctor Freemantle here.

Ascot 3:45 – JJ The Jet Plane respected, but I think I'm going to stick with the Greek horse.

Ascot 4:25 – forecasts on low draws obviously. However, when it comes to an actual bet I think I'd be prepared to give Kaldoun Kingdom a go – not sure there's much point going each way if the draw does scupper that side.

Ascot 5:00 – Hatton Flight, tough and genuine. Martyr good each way price.

Ascot 5:35 – Of all the horses at Newmarket today I like Amerigo best. Chester cup run a rock solid pointer for this.

I'll go £60 a race, and the same with the races below.

Notebook horses:
Ayr 2:25 Firebet
Ayr 2:55 Jargelle
(Tony Hamilton has a cracking book of rides there today – I'll also do doubles all his runners).

Nmkt 2:10 Brave echo
Nmkt 3:50 La Zamora
Ling 7:20 Coloursoftheglen.
Chuck in a treble these three, a scoop 6 and a jackpot!!

When the dust settles we'll still have had a winning week, regardless.

Friday 19th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13930 – plus £480 in play)
Current stake - £120

Thank God for Ripon and Danzoe! And more long shots at Ascot today...

2:30 Aegean has beaten Jealous Again, so he has to be covered. Sweet Sonnet could hardly have been more of an eyecatcher in the race we lost on Falling Angel (traded 1:01). She fell out the stalls and only got the idea in the last furlong when she took off. She should run straighter today.

3:05 These don't look topnotch - the Dante is proving a mixed bag; South Easter won for us in a terrible Chester trial; Palavicini's races against Father Time et al were hardly franked yesterday. Aqwaal has the lowest rating but isn't as far behind these as the ratings would suggest. I may keep South Easter onside.

3:45 The pace in this race could be furious which would set it up for Again, or even Rainbow View. I'm hoping the jockeys are sensible, and if so, would be prepared for Baliyana to improve past all the Guineas' winners. I'd go each way but fear her ruining her chances early, fighting for a lead from the 2 box.

4:20 I liked Moonquake's run at York, and though he did get first run on Stone of Scone, I wouldn't be bullish about the latter overturning the form here. Pinpoint likes these big field tear-ups and could grab a place late.

4:55 This race goes back to an early season maiden where Dhushan made by far the best impression, and I like him here. That said, at the prices I like Clowance House even more, who is screaming for this trip.

5:30 No real opinion. Redford back at 7f could run well.

Sweet Sonnet £30 ew (some sort of saver on Aegean)
Aqwaal £60 at 7/1 (some sort of saver on South Easter)
Baliyana £60 at 11/1
Moonquake £60 at 9/1 (something to place on Pinpoint)
Clowance House £30ew at 20/1 (some sort of saver on Dhushan)
£30 treble Aqwaal, Baliyanan, Moonquake £21000


Plus Newmarket has three notebook horses:
7:05 Cwmm Rhondda
8:10 Lowther
8:40 Cotillion
3 x £60 at £20 treble

Thursday 18th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£14000)
Current stake - £120

Ascot – I did far better than my morning advices suggested (which makes a change!). A late play on Ouqba kick-started a good day, which felt like one from years gone by when it became apparent what a draw bis there was. I was getting stuck into forecasts and tricasts like I was back in the nineties! Anyway the week is paid for so a relaxing few days await.

It'll be interesting to see if they've done anything overnight, and if the jockeys do something about it today, so I'll be keeping some powder dry. However, a brief run down:

Firstly, two notebook horses at Ripon:
2:10 Danzoe – good form behind Atacama Crossing – need to forgive the last run but at 8/1 we can.
4:00 Snoqualmie Boy – definitely handicapped to win and run in Zetland Cup much better than it reads.

Ascot 2:30 – We got 10/1 about the Yankee speedball yesterday, when with hindsight he should have been more like the 2/1 that Yogaroo is in places this morning. I think I'll keep surfing for the fun of it even so – we Brits may never win another 2 year old race at Ascot!!

Ascot 3:05 – No strong feelings in a race I normally have a horse ready.. Take The Hint is solid and Flying Cloud maybe...

Ascot 3:45 – If we assume the sensible thing is to oppose Yeats at the price you still have to be forgiving about the others to build a case. Mine is going to look silly when he's dogged it yet again, but last time out Geordieland looked like a horse who had realised you're supposed to go by. For me this is a Rooster Booster moment – and once I spot it I back them until they revert to their old tricks (often 1 run!).

Ascot 4:20 – The remarkable thing about this race is that virtually every likely horse is drawn high. Yesterday Lovelace was unlucky that Roaring Forte was withdrawn as that would have been the pace, but even so the far side were slaughtered. An obvious approach based on yesterday is to back Brief Encounter. And Satwa Laird at a big price, and play the fcs/trifecta, and that's the way I'm heading.

Ascot 4:55 – My virtual stable has been pretty empty this year, but Palivicini is in it. The penalty a real cause for concern but still a credible each way bet, and maybe a forecast 2nd to Fremantle.

Ascot 5:30 – No strong feelings. Lasso the Moon is a talented monkey – just the type for a 20/80 bet.

Definite bets
Palivicini £60ew at 12/1
Danzoe £60 at 8/1ish
Snoqualmie Boy £60 at 5/1+
Geordieland £60 at 4/1
£25ew treble Flying Cloud/Brief Encounter/Palivicini


Wimbledon:
Murray could really do with winning either this or the US Open to get himself to the top. Otherwise he may become one of a long string of almost men stuck at 3rd/4th in the rankings. I've kept away from backing him for ages on grounds of value but 4/1 looks very fair with Nadal struggling.

The Williams sisters can be dutched at 5/4 – enough said.

Murray £120 at 4/1
Williams sisters dutch £120 at 5/4



.

Wednesday 17th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£12460)
Current stake - £120

Ascot.

God, I hope I do better today. Yesterday would have been a disaster in the old days. Instead it just stung a little! Still, a week of that would blow my profits for the year. Could be worse of course. This is the 2nd anniversary of the day we flooded!

2:30 – Trappy, trappy, trappy. Why not keep it simple (and prominent horses fared well yesterday), and keep the form men onside – Instalment each way.

3:05 – The front two are dutchable at 1.5 which seems fair.

3:45 – Much as I like Tartan Bearer, I'm of the mind that Monsieur Rouget is feeding his horses well (!), which gives him an edge at the prices here.

4:20 – Lovelace has excuses for last three runs and this should suit. Roaring Forte could also make a bold bid from the front up the far rail.

4:55 – That yankee 2 year old yesterday knew his stuff from the gate under a top jockey, and our babies are going to have to be good to peg him back from the 1 stall if the same happens again.

5:30 – Haggas is top of my trainer to follow list right now.

Something like:
Instalment £30 ew at 20/1
£120 dutch Heaven Sent and Lush Lashes
Never on a Sunday £90 at 4/1
Lovelace £20 ew at 20/1 first 5
Roaring Forte £50 at 9/1
Jealous Again £60 at 10/1
Damaniyat Girl £60 at 14/1
£30 double Haggas
Instalment/Jealous Again/Never on Sunday/Damaniyat Girl 4 x £10 trebles and £5 acc


Golf
Tiger Woods £100 at 2/1
Casey £25 ew at 25/1
Stenson £25 ew at 50/1
Curtis £20 ew at 100/1


.

Tuesday 16th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£12970)
Current stake - £120

Ascot.

2:30 – Gladitorius needs to be opposed really – until he shows his worth on turf. The milers are generally pretty poor, and at the prices I'd rather give Main Aim a chance to step up – my biggest fear isn't class or distance but whether he's a rest-pattern horse.

3:05 – Prefer the foreigners to Amour Propre to be honest. If there's a dark horse lurking it may be Spin Cycle and I'll play small each way.

3:45 – Delegator's stamina will be tested with pacemakers in here, Mastercraftsman is solid enough, but has to be opposed at the prices in these different conditions. Evasive appeals – hope he's ridden with a bit of sense though. Intense Focus worth a small saver.

4:20 – Incredibly open. I'll do a small dutch on Marsh Warbler and Treadwell (both green when winning impressively on debuts) and Alrasm (M Jarvis 2 yr old at Ascot – eyecatching, and broke track record last time out).

4:55 – Jumpers for me here – dutching Sesenta, Clopf and Fire and Rain maybe.

5:30 – Again, incredibly open 2 year old race. Little Scotland had a hopeless draw in the Hilary Needler and may be better than that. I'll chance it each way.

Something like:
Main Aim £120 at 9/2+
Evasive £120 at 5/1+
Spin Cycle £30ew at 40/1
£60 dutch Marsh Warbler/Treadwell/Alrasm
£60 dutch Sesenta/Clopf/Fire and Rain
£30 ew Little Scotland
£20 double Main Aim/Evasive
£10 trebles those two bankers with – Spin Cycle/Marsh Warbler/Fire and Rain/Little Scotland
Placepot




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1215)

Oh dear. The time has come to close this fund. Overall it's made £580 profit, and I'm in danger of losing that pretty quickly if I keep chasing. It's been an interesting experiment though, and I intend to keep up with the barking bets, but amalgamated into the main fund above – where 1% bets won't make me rich, but will keep fund ticking over. At that level I should also find myself freed up to play more.

Monday 15th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13030)
Current stake - £120

Quiet day today – no obvious bet.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1415)

Yesteday - Backed Murray – good. Backed India in-running – bad.

Today - Warwick 7:10 dutch Aalsmeer and Velvet Band at 1.5ish

Sunday 14th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13160)
Current stake - £120

Right, back and refreshed for the week ahead.

Horses I'm thinking of backing today – 20/80 types, but not necessarily 20/80 prices:

Donc 2:55 Dazeen
Donc 3:30 Internationaldebut (Piscean and Inter Vision also appeal if ground rides quicker than advertised)
Donc 4:05 Honours Stride
Salis 4:15 Fly By Nelly


Not sure what I'll do but I'll definitely do the four fold.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1535)

Thursday 11th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£12930)
Current stake - £120

Just time to put a full day's racing up before I go to London. All notebook horses.

2:00 Nott - Motivational £60 at 7/2 (eyecatcher debut, not much to beat here, small stable)
3:00 Nott – Firebet – £60 at 7/2 (step up to mile help, gave winner race last time out, stable hot)
3:35 Nott – Candy Ride £60 at 5/2 (eyecatcher on first run, caught a tartar last time)
£20 treble

4:55 Newbury – Devil To Pay £60 win at 3/1 (12f needed, typical Dunlop type)
5:35 Yarmouth – Tinkerbelle £60 win at 4/1 (eyecatching run last time out, typical Dunlop type)
£20 double

£20 fivefold



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1535)

Thursday 9th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£11950)
Current stake - £120

Looks like I'll be able to squeeze a little bit of betting in.

Salisbury – I'm going to do a few doubles on Hughie Morrison's runners – Imperial Warrior and Cill Rialag are notebook horses and this looks a cheap way to get them on-side.

Morrison's runners (not Heritage Coast)
10 x £5 doubles
5 x £2 fourfolds
1 x £1 acc.





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1535)

Sunday 7th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£12000)
Current stake - £120

All set for a quiet week – with my wife off all week and some day trips and a London break all booked in. So, things will be slow or non-existent on here until Ascot. Let's hope I can shake off the poor showing of the last week or so.





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1410)

Federer – don't let me down!

Saturday 6th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£12570- £50 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

That was a trying day yesterday – at least I had some of the place money on High Heeled (which I hadn't planned on doing). More satisfyingly, I stuck to my guns with the second Fanshawe horse last night, even after the major non-trying drift on his first horse, his lack of form the last fortnight, a jockey I don't trust and Escorial putting it up as a lay! Rescued the day and doesn't have me in a tiltish mood today. Which is just as well with the rain falling.

Anyway.

Derby. There's a really good thread on the betfair racing forum entitled “Schizo Derby Preview”. Really sums up what a strange race this is. You can make a case for any of 6 horses being potential superstars and at exactly the same time rubbish their chances! Where that leaves me is with the trial winners who are being allowed to go off at what look big prices, albeit some will most probably be used as sacrifical lambs, to get Sea The Stars beat. I also like the Chester race, and Debussy's form with Midday – the Oaks yesterday was run at a cracking pace.

Elsewhere, I'll play in the sprint (must be mad) where Crimson Fern looks well drawn to stay on late past tiring speedsters. And Philip Robinson trudges up to Musselburgh to ride Kings Destiny, which will give him plenty more time to reflect on pissing away his one big derby chance on Hala Bek, not that my pocket is still talking about it!

Age of Aquarius (already)
Black Bear Island £50 win at 9/1ish
Masterofthehorse £50 win at 18/1ish
Golden Sword £25ew at 40/1
Debussy £25ew at 66/1

Crimson Fern £40ew at 11/1
Kings Destiny £60 win at 3/1

Crimson Fern/Kings Destiny/Black Bear Island £10 to win £4300
Crimson Fern/Kings Destiny/Age of Aquarius £10 to win £9000
Crimson Fern/Kings Destiny/Masterofthehorse £10 to win £9000
Crimson Fern/Kings Destiny/Golden Sword £10 to win £13000






Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1500)

Friday 5th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£12590- £180 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Chucked a couple of hundred away again yesterday – hardly top form heading into Epsom.

1:45 – Lovelace has been eyecatching lately but will need to be charged up to defy a penalty. Confront looks a fair price at 6/4 and over.

2:45 – I'd much rather have both the progressive Duncan and the classic winning Look Here on my side at roughly the same price as perennial loser Youmzain by himself.

4:05 – We already have Oh Goodness Me and High Heeled ante post, and to be honest though you have to be forgiving about the form (particularly the latter last time out), at the prices I'm not inclined to change trains.

Fanshawe runs a couple of notebook horses this evening at Doncaster – just hope I'm not digging by then.

Confront £60 at 6/4 or better
Duncan £60 at 11/2ish
Look Here £60 at 11/2ish
Oh Goodness Me – top-up £40 at 14/1
High Heeled – top-up £20 at 50/1
2 x £15 trebles with Oh Goodness Me
2 x £10 trebles with High Heeled





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1500)

Thursday 4th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£12790- £180 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Chucked a couple of hundred away yesterday – not clever.

Similar today.

Horses I'm considering:
Hamilton 2:10 - Rock of Love (decent run last time – would need to be odds against though)
Sandown 6:10 - Warning Song (likely to drift after seemingly poor run last time and poor draw here. However, run was OK last time, with Leicester's stiff 6f too far, and he should get out against mainly unraced animals and minimise effect of draw. 3/1 fair – with a wary eye on any well-backed newcomers.)
Sandown 8:25 – Twisted – (odds against).



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1500)

Serena Williams in-play continued this fund's hopeless run. Federer and Safina look backable favourites now.

Wednesday 3rd June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13030- £180 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Fantastic Prince at Ayr and Velvet Band at Nottingham are possible bets, but I can't get overly excited about either. I ended up backing Veroon yesterday and have re-invested the winnings on the Oaks/Derby as follows:

Oh Goodness Me £40 win at 16/1
Oh Goodness Me/Gan Amhras £30 to return £4000
Oh Goodness Me/Age of Aquarius £15 to return £6500
Oh Goodness Me/Golden Sword £15 to return £8500
(Last year we landed the first leg of the double, and were on for a five figure return on virtually every credible runner in the Derby. Bar the winner of course. I'll keep Bolger on side this year!)

Midweek gold madness:
Dougherty and (of course) Kevin Na £20ew double returning £45000ish



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1645)

Tuesday 2nd June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13050- £80 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120


Looks like a day off in the sun.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1645)

If I get bored of the sun I may watch some tennis!

Monday 1st June

2009 Challenge Fund (£13030- £140 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Leicester throws up three possibles.

2:00 Warningsong – eyecatching maiden, well drawn compared to the other raced challenger.
3:00 Pride of Kings – better performance thanit looked last time from poor draw – Johnston improver – could get soft lead.
3:30 Carcinetto – looks her conditions for first time in a while, as long as it's more tactical than stamina test - no real reason she shouldn't be fave.

3 x £60 at 3/1ish
1 x £20 treble



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1645 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

The fund survives for now!

Sunday 31st May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13030- £140 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

So, I gave all the winnings from the Brigadier Gerrard meeting back in double quick time!

I doubt I've had 100 bets on the flat this season, and yet already I've had two horses beaten at 1:02 and two yesterday at 1:01. That implies I really should take insurance out at around 1:02, not least if the quick pics boys are falling over themselves to get matched.

No bets today.




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1645 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

The fund survives for now!

Saturday 30th May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13830- £140 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Nothing doing yesterday. Both golfers better placed than Bartoli is in the tennis!

Racing:

Bet of day – Beacon Lodge looked a horse going places last time out over course and distance. I thought he'd be vying for favouritism here.

Doncaster “fourplay”
2:30 Big Audio – much to like about debut (Hughes chose over favoured stablemate), good price in a potential match-type situation.
3:00 Bazergan – looks on a winning mark now and conditions suit.
3:30 Akhenanten -the long straight should suit – wouldhave closer to Proclaim in the betting.
4:40 Falcativ – horse going places – take this on route – 15/8 looks relatively big.


Maiden “threeplay” - all ran well on debut and as long as no startling debutants...
3:55 Goodwood - Rakaan
4:20 York – Falling Angel
6:30 Lingfield – Calypso Bay


Football:
(see below)
For interest I'll play on there being no goalscorer – which given two 0-0 draws in the season, has to be a player – and on the one result that, betting aside, would gladden my heart – Tim Cahill getting the only goal.

Something like:
Beacon Lodge £120 to return £750

Big Audio £45 to return £225
Bazergan £30 to return £240
Akhenanten £40 to return £220
Falcativ £75 to return £215
Doncaster four fold £20 to return £9000
Five fold with Beacon Lodge £10 to return £27000

Rakaan £60 to return £130
Falling Angel £60 to return £130
Calypso Bay £60 to return £130
Treble £20 to return £200

No goalscorer £40 to return £340
Cahil/1-0 £20 to return £1180




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1415 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

If Chelsea lose I'll wind-up the fund whilst it's still showing a small profit overall, and have a re-think.

Friday 29th May

2009 Challenge Fund (£14110- £140 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Now that was a good day's racing!

Today, I'll do another 'threeplay'.

Goodwood 2:25 – Caoba is slow, but then this is a slowboat race, and the handicap mark remains attractive – legitimate favourite.
Goodwood 5:15 – Choreography – backed last time at huge odds, when he was either a blatant non-trier or gone at thegame. With the cheekpieces on today we'll find out which.
Haydock 7:10 – Doctor Parkes – plenty in hand – should be favourite.

Caoba £75 to return £240
Choreography £10 win to return £210; £40 place to return £240ish
Doctor Parkes £55 win to return £240
£20 treble to return £6000ish




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1415 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

This fund in serious pooh. If Chelsea lose the cup I'll seriously think about winding it up, at least it would end in profit overall that way, and I can re-think about a new approach, as it remains an area I'm keen to try to exploit.

Thursday 28th May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13270- £220 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Let's move on!

I did an ante post Derby bet yesterday £40 Age of Aquarius at 30/1. I'm not alone in thinking the O'Brien outsiders look too long and his faves too short.

Racing today.

I'll do a “threeplay” this afternoon, and think about Sandown whilst I'm watching.
Ayr 2:20 Maison Brillet (decent debut, weak looking race, Johnson's track)
Yar 3:10 Big Bay (Wood Ditton form looks good enough here)
Ling 4:00 Fairmile (good run last time, aw experience, and tactically versatile)

Something like
Maison Brillet £70 to return £280
Maison Brillet £40 to return £300
Fairmile £65 to return £280
£20 treble to return £2400

I'll possibly put Sandown bets up later.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1615 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

No bet yet.

Wednesday 27th May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13560- £120 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Midweek golf madness – these prices are so silly I'd best cover the singles (a week too late of course!)
Kevin Na £10ew 60/1
Ben Curtis £10ew 45/1
£10ew double

Champions League
Draw bet obviously, and as it's the final I'll treat myself.
£80 draw at 23/10
£20 1-1 at 6/1
£20 Vidic first goalscorer 25/1

The Hilary Needler at Beverley tonight looks suitably competitive. The betting seems to be all over Tom Dascombe's favourite. I quite like the look of his second-string running on over this stiff 5... A 20/80 maybe.




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1615 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

No bet yet.

Tuesday 26th May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13380- £120 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Should have stayed in the garden and left Goodwood well alone yesterday.

Atacama Crossing maybe a bet later – otherwise another quiet day.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1615 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

Oh dear – Phil Taylor lets me down finally. Can't grumble about that. However, I do need to tweak the modus operandi of this fund. I'm going to re-define a barking bet as any odds-on bet, not just those below about 1.5.

Since reverting to the old part-time approach in the above fund I haven't been betting on much in the Evens to 1.5 range, and with this fund struggling, now looks a good time for a re-jig. However, 10% bets would be too steep in that range so I will introduce variable staking to this fund as well – between 5% and 10% depending primarily on price.

.

Monday 25th May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13560- £120 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Shame I didn't try and smash that fourfold football bet out the stadium!

Quiet day today. Enjoy the Bank Holiday.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1740 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

Casey falls over the line!

Chepstow 5:40 – as long as no monsoon – the front two are from my maiden and if anything Dhushan was the horse to take out of that race.

Sunday 24th May

2009 Challenge Fund (£12760- £120 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Yesterday not so good. Definitely need to refine the staking strategy for the summer Saturdays. Was helped out by a couple of “stable” bets on Palavicini and Archers Road, which would have been better off forming part a threeplay somewhere!

I'll skip the Irish 1000 today – I went round in circles and gave up. Similarly with the French Open tennis. However, I've always said when a tipster goes way out on a limb and puts in print a real longshot, you should have a dabble.

So, for interest Bartoli £20 ew 100/1 and £10 win 160/1.

Football. I struggle to see any of the relegation-threatened winning today, and certainly not two of them. The prices are the usual end of season mindfuck and although I've been circumspect this tail-end (and rightly so), I'll jump in today.

Villa £50 win and £70 draw no bet, to return £235 (or £70)
West Ham £50 win and £70 draw no bet, to return £230 (or £70)
Man Utd £35 win and £85 draw no bet, to return £235 (or £85)
Chelsea £120 win to return £225
£20 fourfold to return £420



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1700 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

The front three golfers at Wentworth look to have it between them. I'm going to be fed up if Casey wins, having failed to cover him in a single!

Saturday 23rd May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13050- £120 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

I had a fairly big bet yesterday on the basis of “inside info” - something I rarely do, and am even less likley to do in future!

Racing today.
Newmarket looks better than Haydock, with the latter's going after two days of racing likely to be glue-pot.
2:50 Nmkt – The front two look opposable and at the prices Nasri could be the one – albeit with a slight doubt about whether he truly gets this trip.
3:25 Nmkt – Able Master is well handicapped and even more so with the claimer's 5lbs. Parisian Pyramid is also backable if forgiving his two Chester runs (one more easy to forgive than the other).
4:00 Newmarket – Step in Time – worthy favourite with Running Mate coming out of a very moderate maiden.
4:35 Newmarket – Militarist – Wood Ditton remains hot form, even if he did nick it a bit, and he was babyish prior to his last run.
5:45 Newmarket – Hawk Mountain should have a bit more class than Silk Hall, as long as going not too quick.
3:10 Haydock – Total Gallery – Pricewise this morning, and his Ascot run threatens this lot.
3:40 Haydock – Foundation Room -open to loads of improvement.


How to organise that lot?

How about a favourite's “threeplay” at Newmarket:
Step In Time £55 to return £125
Militarist £45 to return £125
Hawk Mountain £40 to return £120
£20 treble to return £320


Then the tissue horses:
2:50 Nasri £50 to return £450
3:10 Total Gallery £50 to return £400
3:25 Able Master £40 to return £520
(3:25 Parisian Pyramid £20 to return £260)
3:40 Foundation Room £40 to return £360
Then 4 x £10 trebles to return £30k+
and a four fold with Pyramid to do likewise just in case!




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1700 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

Haven't had time to look yet.

Friday 22nd May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13250- £120 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Not so good yesterday – at least we had a non runner. Antinori – some dog!

The racing is depressingly poor for a Friday. No obvious bet so far.

Instead, let's get the play-off “threeplay” out the way. We already have the treble in hand (running on from UEFA cup. I also did a sneaky 6fold on all the 'cup finals' to finish equal!).

Burnley/Sheff Utd £50 draw to return £160
Millwall/Scunthorpe £50 draw to return £160
Gillingham/Shrewsbury £50 draw to return £160





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1615 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

Nothing yesterday. Today looking blank as well.

Thursday 21st May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13430- £120 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Nice draw yesterday.

Racing today:

1:50 Haydock – Hawk Mountain – not a good price, but definitely improving (Escorial lay though).
2:50 Goodwood – Choreography – two problems – no cheekpieces and wide draw – more than offset by price though.
4:35 Goodwood – Safari Mischief – best fresh, and conditions suitable here.
6:20 Sandown – Darley Sun – did even better last time out than it looked.
7:25 Sandown – The Fonz – hardly value – but extra distance will help, and the hill, and Antonori is a dog (good bet for second though). Wilfred Pickles also a big price based on second to The Fonz, and if I need to get out of trouble I may have to play him as well!

Something like:
Hawk Mountain £75 to return £225
Choreography £10 to return £440
Safari Mischief £30 to return £240
Darley Sun £35 to return £225
The Fonz £80 to return £220
£20 four fold (not Choreography) to return £6900
£5 five fold to return £58000!





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1615 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

Another loser and back down in the dumps!

Wednesday 20th May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13370- £120 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Small win yesterday. I can't see much at Goodwood today – the Predominate looks particularly tricky. Watching brief. Quiet day.

Mid-week golf madness, and I'm glad to see Kevin Na back in the mix!

Casey/Na £20ew double 866/1




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1775 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

Five bets in the end yesterday – sadly one of them the marathon dog disaster!

Tuesday 19th May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13320- £120 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Well done Portsmouth.

Racing today – let's do a modest “threeplay”.

Nott 3:00 – Brynfa Boy- a couple of eye-catching runs, now in a handicap off what looks a very nice rating.
Yar 3:40 – Dreamwalk – can win a poor maiden judged on last time, and this certainly is poor.
Yar 4:10 – King of Connacht – Toad will tell you that this one overcame a draw/pace bias last time out, and taken on just that form, remains well handicapped, and a good price as common opinion is that the race was a one-off.

Something like
Brynfa Boy £40 to win £320
Dreamwalk £100 to win £250
King of Connacht £40 to win £320
£20 treble to win £2500




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1835 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

The evening may be rewarding, with possibles such as:
Leicester 8:10
Wimbledon dogs 7:55
Wimbledondogs 9:40

Monday 18th May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13150- £120 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

Portsmouth are an even sillier price this morning, now they're safe. Their “draw no bet” price isn't too far off what I think their win price should really be!

Portsmouth £150 at 11/10 (Asians -0.25), or if you prefer, £75 win and £75 draw no bet.




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1825 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

I got out of the cricket with a manageable loss, and let the football take the strain. Cue a day's rain now!

Sunday 17th May

2009 Challenge Fund (£13150- £120 in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £120

The disqualification of Georgia probably cost Russia their top 10 finish last night, which is at least a small irony to take from the evening!

I was so close yesterday to doing Fulham to win and Bolton to draw, instead of the other way round (a mis-judgement that appears to have cost £1400ish).

C'est la vie. And Steve Palmer's column cheered me up no end this morning – at least I maintain a business-like approach!

Day off today.




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £1760 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)

Both Liverpool and Chelsea are fairly priced. In-running may provide better pickings. Cricket could get a bit nervy!