Saturday 7th February

2009 Challenge Fund (£8810 - £200 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £100

I had a decent day playing Fontwell yesterday – aided by the long odds-on faller! I'll probably play Kempton again today, but playing is the operative word. Madison Du Berlais could look too long, but god knows how you put a price on Denman today.

I'll do a 1000/1 treble for starters - £25 Springfield Raki (top class bumper form); Madison Du Berlais (Joe Lively and Denman cut each other's throats, Albertas Run stuck in the mud and my boy stays on late); and Tartak (a decent novice in a graduation race designed for dodgepots) – I told you it was 1000/1!

Football the place to concentrate the energies though. (John look away now).

Today is the day Bournemouth get back on track against a Shrewsbury side hapless on their travels. The bookies are after Birmingham again, and as they win pretty much every match by only 1 goal that's not surprising, but with the draw on-side the price is nice. And Sheffield United are squeezed in price because it's the derby, even though they haven't lost to Wednesday at home in at least 10. We'll keep the draw partly onside, all three bets.

A friend has had me looking at draw prices as well and I'm going to throw £100 at draw games each week till the end of the season as an experiment. Today's lucky runners are Forest/QPR and Plymouth/Derby.

Bournemouth £25 win at 7/4 and £75 draw no bet at close to evens.
Birmingham £100 Asian handicap -0.25 at 10/11 (or £40 win and £60 draw no bet)
Sheffield United £35 win at 10/11 and £65 draw no bet at 2/5

Forest/QPR £45 draw at 23/10 (11/5 available)
Plymouth/Derby £45 draw at 23/10 (11/5 available)
£10 draw double at 10/1ish





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2450 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £250.

Front two 1:00 Ayr possibly. Maybe rugby in-running.