Tuesday 31st March

2009 Challenge Fund (£13605 - £420 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

War of Attrition's absence blows yet another hole in my ante post National portfolio. Worse, I found out the news late last night when somewhat drunk, and proceeded to throw money around like a chimp at tea-time, and looking at the bets this morning feel like someone remembering a party where they've made a total twat of themselves!

I'll take today off to recover, unless I see a football bet once I've caught up with the weekend's ratings.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2430 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £240.

The novice hurdle Newcastle won but unbacked at the prices. Nothing today.

Monday 30th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£13725 - £300 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

Laid Brazil overnight (terrible record at altitude), so a better spring in my step to start the week.

The garden beckons today. Day off.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2430 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £240.

The novice hurdle Newcastle a potential play.

Saturday 28th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£13815 - £490 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

My day was looking OK when Radar Love landed a modest ew bet to salvage my losses. Not too impressed to come back from my walk and see he'd been thrown out! At least Southend won.

Racing.
Miss Mitch is in my stable and is fairly priced today – I'd be happy with 3/1 and like Corals I'd be ducking her.

In the Lincoln I see my darts correspond to Tom Segal's so that's those prices gone! I'll be waiting anyway to ensure all go to post. Otherwise not much doing. Throw in Fair Point at Lingfield for the trebles.

Miss Mitch 4:35 Lingfield £120 win at 7/2
Mias Boy £40 win at 16/1
Benandonner £40 win at 16/1
Blythe Knight £10 win and £30 place best odds.
2 x £20 trebles Miss Mitch/Fair point and Mias Boy and Benandonner.


Football
Lincoln are no great shakes and their preference for drawing at home has the bookies opposing them. Still, we can get close to Evens -0.25 on the asians and that's still a better price than I made them to win outright.
Lincoln £120 at 1.9+ -0.25 asians.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2430 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £240.

I haven't looked yet to be honest.

Friday 27th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14115 - £400 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

Ascot tempting enough today, though actual bets are thin on the ground.

I'll start off with a get rich quick treble – Divine Gift (French Saulaie and Muhtenbahr opposable); Akarshan (a lot to do on ratings, but heavily backed by shrewd stable last time); and Hobbs Hill (one last chance for one of my favourite horses of last year).

I'll also cover a Henderson four timer just in case, and build a placepot around Briery Fox. Then I'll start frittering!


Football.
Southend tonight – apparently lacking their strike-force, but my season ticket mole thinks they've got a really good shape right now, and Hartlepool are gash. The striker worries probably holding the win price up. I'll chance it £120 at 4/5



Weekend Draws
Peterborough/Leicester
Yeovil/Swindon
Grimsby/Aldershot
3 x £45 draws and £15 treble




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2430 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £240.

No obvious bet today.

Thursday 27th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14195 - £400 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

I seem to have damaged my back digging the garden yesterday. Looks like I'll have to play Carlisle and Towcester today, with the emphasis on play.




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2430 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £240.

No obvious bet today.

Wednesday 25th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14335 - £300 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

90th minute equalisers!

I lie awake in bed last night pondering an obvious Spring Double. By the time I'd finished I'd called them both home and Quinn was being carried around Shifnal on a bed of garlands. More realistically I'm attracted to the place element of the bet - though hardly on value grounds. And it's a kind of hedge as I won't be backing them to win singly.

Blythe Knight – Lincoln 25/1
Character Building – National 14/1
£30 ew double.

And whilst we're shooting for the stars it's golf day again.
Fasth (last chance) and Dougherty 50/1+
Bryant 60/1+
2 x £10ew doubles

All of which is a way of saying – no bets today.




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2430 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £240.

No obvious bet today.

Tuesday 24th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14395 - £300 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

Picked up a few quid at Kempton (opposing Pepysrock primarily).

The ratings (which have not been performing this season in truth) throw up Rotherham as a bet tonight.

Rotherham £120 at 11/10 -0.25 asian handicap.

Otherwise it's a day off for me.




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2430 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £240.

No obvious bet today.

Monday 29th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14335 - £300 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

Discretion saved my day yesterday and I even ended up backing Liverpool in-running as a barking bet – showing the importance of flexibility!

I picked up a ton playing Wincanton, and will aim for more of the same today at Kempton. At least it will save me from digging the garden in the wind and rain. For starters, how about a £40 win double on Black Hills (likes small fields – some signs of revival last time) and Absolut Power, who are both RPR top-rated and trained by Geake.




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2390 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £240.

Kempton 2:40 a possible, but maybe the front two aren't reliable enough – these end of season novices tend toward the trappy.

Sunday 22nd March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14235 - £300 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

My first bad Saturday for a while. Still, Fulham won!

I did get some money back from Ronan O'Gara being top points scorer and the Sheffield Wednesday draw, but otherwise it was a long slow death.

Liverpool's price is terrible today, and they may move shorter during the day. It's true Villa look like a team that have hit the wall but even factoring that in would leave you at more like 1.66 and that would be overlooking Livepool's inability to put teams away at Anfield this season. I was attracted to the idea of Villa with a goal start, but it's true they may just cave in, particularly if conceding an early goal like last week. I'm left pondering.






Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2350 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £230.

Took England in-running for peanuts yesterday.

Saturday 21st March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14520 - £600 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

Racing today.

As a Kalahari King fan I have to be in Shatabdi's camp today. Their race was one of the most eye catching of the early season and I've pretty much followed it ever since. Slipperytoad is off to Lingfield and I'll post his thoughts on the card in the comments section below. Of course the narrative here is all about Matsunosuke, and it seems obvious to me that this is Matsunosuke's day!
Let's hope Toad gets all his money back and more. And finally Ruby riding for Quinn is eye-popping and whilst Corals are following the formbook and are keen to lay the horse, I can't help having a dabble.

Shatabdi £120 at 7/1
Matsunosuke £80 at 10/3
My Immortal £50 at 8/1
£50 treble at around 270/1


Football and a quiet day for me (see friday for draws etc). Hope John will forgive me – but
Bournemouth £120 at 4/5


Pampling has missed the cut in the golf and normal procedures mean I'll throw a score at Fasth now just in case.





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2330 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £230.
4:20 Haydock a possible, and maybe England in the rugby. We'll see.

.

Friday 20th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14710 - £400 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

Two winners should have been good yesterday, but I bet terribly. Taking a short price about one of the winners cost me a fair deal of profit, and then I forgot to put my hedge on Al Quergo or whatever it was called. So a small profit that should have been £200 more. It's hard enough getting ahead without sloppy mistakes.

I'll play Newbury – nothing exciting unless I go through the card with All About Trigger, Fistral Beach, Oh Braga, Monn Royal, Dantes Storm and Secret Tune, and let's face it I'd do well to get past the first leg.

Football.
Draws for the weekend.
Stoke/Middlesbrough
Sheff Weds/Swansea
Orient/Walsall
3 x £45 draws and 1 x £15 draw treble.

Ratings matches are thin on the ground. Will form up tomorrow.
For the Football accumulator:
£40 win fourfold at around 30/1
Everton
Bolton
Bournemouth
Darlington




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2330 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £230.

No obvious bet today.

Thursday 9th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14790 - £280 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

I'm frittering I fear, and likely to do so again at Ayr and Ludlow.

Four horses I'll have running for me will be
Vicario, Woody Waller, Just Like That and Archimboldo.

Garde Champetre out of the National is disappointing. I'll top-up on the three horses I like best – building up decent win funds on all of them now. The National always coincides with my birthday and I tend to be overstaked come the day as a present to myself!

3 x £40
War of Attrition 33/1+
State of Play 25/1
Offshore Account 50/1

Closer to the time I'll look to green out on some others but I think these will be my main three against the field now.





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2330 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £230.

No obvious bet today.

Wednesday 18th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14920 - £250 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

Move on! Hopeless yesterday. I hope anyone wandering over from www.postracing.co.uk after Ron's kind words isn't going to judge me on that. Or indeed on today, which looks another day scratching about and dribbling away the profits.

I'll play Warwick. (When I say “play” I mean my day's total money spent at Warwick is equal to one stake – ie £120 currently). Placepot and an each way double Alison Thorpe's two hurdlers – Pearl and Tutor.

My midweek get rich quick golf bet for this week.
£15ew double Fasth and Pampling. (I can afford to do this all year now after Kevin Na's work the last twice. Bit worried about leaving him out this time!).






Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2330 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £230.

No obvious bet today.

Tuesday 17th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£15120 - £250 in play accounted)
Current stake - £120

West Ham – it was obvious early on that 0-0 was a major player – so that hedged some of the loss. And a draw was still long with 3 minutes to go – so I played up in the barking bets fund. Overall not the worst I've done on a bad bet!

At Taunton I thought Deep Purple was a bet in-running once he had a soft lead. Which made up for a placepot paying £7!

I did the Exeter card today, my least favourite course, having assumed kempton was all weather – and having done it I'm now playing it to compound my stupidity.

Let's ignore the placepot and do 6 x 9ew doubles and £6ew acca on the following:
Masjoor
Royal Hilarity
Shillingsbourne
Nearly a Breeze

Football – I can't justify proper ratings bets on the following so will chuck them in a £40 treble at 9/1+ just in case.
Southend (my mole tells me they're on fire)
Tranmere
Luton (again!)




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current fund £2290 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
Current stake - £220.

Sheffield Greyhounds 9:45 Dutch Traps 3 and 6

Monday 16th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£15210 - £250 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

Haven't got Villa right all season. At least we landed the Cardiff draw.

Don't see much trouble for West Ham tonight:
£120 win at 1.75

I may play the placepot at Taunton and dabble – probbaly get out in the garden instead.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2250 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £210.

Played the Fontwell novice hurdle yesterday, tip-toeing back into this.

Sunday 15th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£15130 - £250 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

Ridiculous day yesterday but I won't complain.

We're on the draw at Bristol City and I've gone in on the two other televised games in a twat-like, fritter away your winnings kind of way that's sure to bite me in the bum.

Still, my ratings just about justify it, although I can see why the prices are where they are.

Chelsea £120 win at 4/9
Aston Villa £40 win at 11/10 and £80 draw no bet at 8/15





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2200 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £210.

Backed Wales in-running in the rugby.

Saturday 14th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14300 - £250 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

A relaxing day yesterday – and the Gold Cup was a treat visually if not pocket-wise.This four day malarkey drags on though – that was a pretty average card yesterday and I even found time to update my football ratings. Still, after a terrible Monday, and a tilt Tuesday, to come out in decent profit is amazing.

A quiet Saturday today – I will play the Midlands National, but I need to retreat from these handicaps – Cheltenham dragged me back in! I'll throw little more than darts at Officier De Reserve, Russian Trigger, Beat the Boys and Appleaday.

Football – haven't found a ratings bet today, so will stick with draws, and edge up the stakes a little.
Barnsley v Blackpool
Brighton v Yeovil
Bristol City v Cardiff (sunday)
3 x £45 draws at 23/10 and £15 treble at 35/1ish





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2160 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £210.

Friday 13th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£14655 - £450 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

Now we're talking! Those ante post doubles advised Thursday 5th March proving inspired.

After yesterday's posting I was walking the dog and realised I'd be disappointed if my two bets of the day both won but Ferdy Murphy let me down, so when Naiad Du Misselot folded I doubled up , which turned into bet management of genius, if I say so myself!

Today I intend to enjoy having dug myself out of a hole and off tilt, with some big numbers running on in the Gold Cup.

The Triumph looks impossible. I'd have thought the Irish would be closer in the betting but that leaves me no closer to the winner.

The Bartlett I'm more interested in and will play on Alpha Ridge, who I think should be closer to the front two in the betting – though front running would be a big ask.

As for the Gold Cup – well there's 2k returns should Madison Du Berlais win and I'm happy with that. I think sometime we have collective blindness about horses. Kayf Aramis was a good example yesterday – despite his two wins we collectively seemed unable to believe he had just suddenly got better. Maybe the same is true of Madison – he certainly is the form horse coming into it behind Kauto. However, the bigger hope is Star De Mohaison who will return me 5k+ for the win. I've loved this horse since winning the Sun Alliance at 33/1 and the ground has come right for him. I see Gerald Delamere has joined me in nailing his colours to the mast. With so much running on – I'll press up with a small reverse exacta the two, and hedge with forecasts on Kauto Star to beat them into second. They would be my three against the field – though I'd stand and applaud should Denman return to form.

10 x £6ew doubles for the action
Lethal Weapon
Sesenta
Alpha Ridge
Star de Mohaison
Psychomondo




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2160 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £210.

Thursday 12th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£10655 - £300 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

Those of you paying attention will have noticed I was on tilt yesterday! I apologise. I think I'm OK now after a good long talking to.

At least my 'stop loss' strategy is on track to only lose 2009's profit should the worst occur (looking increasingly likely!)

Cooldine did kick off some doubles for us, and at least we have Ruby for top jockey.

There's two elements to today for me. Firstly it's Ferdy Murphy day in the handicaps. I'll do doubles and a treble and back them singly if I have to.

Secondly, there's the two 'sure things'. Of the two I think Voy Per Ustedes is the surest personally. However, in a very poor field on current form the only horse who looks likely to give him a race is Imperial Commander and at the prices I'll play him again (already £66 running on at 7s).

I'm less keen on Kasbah Bliss. I e-mailed a friend outlining reasons and I see the Corals compiler has mirrored my doubts exactly in today's Racing Post. Alan Potts on the racing forum pointed out that the world hurdle was run on the old course last year, and the new course has a much stiffer finish, and that I think may be critical. We'll see. I think the front three should be much closer in the betting and so at 6s Big Buck's has to be a bet. Again £66 already running on and I'll double that if I need be.

Should both Imperial Commander and Big Bucks upset the hotpots I would want to be in a position to profit nicely so have done trebles banking those two with each of Murphy's three.

Fair Along is a decent price to grab a place and I'll do an ew double with Star De Mohaison, who I've been quietly backing all week ew for the Gold Cup.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2160 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £210.

Wednesday 11th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£11455 - £540 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

Not a good day for hole digging. Yesterday was proof that hitting the woodwork is far more painful than blazing wide.

I'm throwing darts today – there's not a bet that excites me here. Say £100 per race, but hoping doubles can kick in early!

NH Chase
Looks wide open and my three against the field are
Coe, Parsons Pistol and Pangborne (ew)

Ballymore
I'll probably keep faith with Diamond Harry as he drifts and support with Quewetwo and China Rock (form behind Go Native looks good now) ew.

RSA Chase
My favourite race, but not inspired this year. Cooldine will kick off doubles for us and is short enough now. I'll go instead for Carruthers, Ballyfitz and Killyglen

Queen Mum
Master Minded may as well be a barking bet.
Briareus is an old friend, and although I'm not sure the course suits he was 6th in a Champion Hurdle - and the other possibles are all opposable.
£100 Briareus without Master Minded 13/2

Coral Cup
Emma Lavelle has to be followed. Pause and Clause, Pouvoir and Mirage D'Or

Fred Winter
Amore Mio, Mr Thriller, Higgys Boy, Balzaccio.


I'll double up the trainers – have alrady done Quewetwo and Killyglen. Add Pause and Clause/Amore Mio (ew) and Pouvoir/Balzaccio (ew).

And then do ew doubles Coe, China Rock, Killyglen and Mirage D'or.

And then cross fingers.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2090 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £210.

Master Minded.

Tuesday 10th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£12010 - £820 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

The going is a real worry today. Nearly all my potential bets are horses who prefer better ground, and if it proved to be soft after the first race I'm not sure where I go. So there's a watching brief for later on, and the staking is provisional, but will give an idea as to strength of feeling.


Supreme.
Plenty of reasons to get after the favourite in a big field like this. I'll go mob handed with the English. Torphichen (who we have in doubles as well based on Pipe having a good week); Red Moloney (who may be soft, and may not travel away from home but again I'm following the trainer); and Michael Flips (whose Kempton time is eyecatching and is priced at a small trainer's price).
Torphichen £60 at 6/1
Red Moloney £30 at 12/1
Micheal Flips £30 at 14/1


Arkle
I keep coming back to Kalahari King. That 4th in the Supreme last year (on soft gorund) was pretty good and he's looked the part since, albeit untested in graded class.I have him ante post and in various doubles and will go in again, unless the ground's very bad. Calgary Bay was completely outpaced in the Supreme last year, and is considered soft by many. He still looked good at Cheltenham – even if only beating a woeful Kicks for Free. I'll have to back him now he's drifting and, and throw the French horse in as well – Original.
Kalahari King (£70 already) £50 at 14/1
Calgary Bay £40 at 7/1
Original £30 at 20/1


William Hill
Personally think Star De Mohaison would go close to winning the Gold Cup on good ground, and should have run in that rather than this off topweight. Still, I have to back him given that – again soft ground would be no good. Lothian Falcon for the smaller bet - off bottomweight – tough and genuine.
Star De Mohaison £90 at 10/1
Lothian Falcon £30 at 25/1


Champion Hurdle.
Even if you're against Binocular you still have to find which of the other 12 realisitic contenders will beat him! My way into the race is that there's going to be a free for all up front and the hold up, horses who travel and stay could run into the places. Whiteoak fits the bill, and though the price has gone, you can get 16/1 ew 1,2,3,4 places. Of the others Crackaway Jack has been a silly price all year, but is now drifting to where he should be (same price as Ashkazar). I'm biased of course, but I keep seeing him cantering round the field last year, and think he's likely to be well suited to staying on for a place late – and 7/1 looks fair for that.
Whiteoak £30 ew at 16/1
Crackaway Jack £60 place at 7/1



Don't care for the other two races, though I'll do the placepot and some get rich quick doubles and trebles. Kalahari King and Star De Mohaison for the double. Good luck everyone.


Football.
One ratings bet – Morecambe in grand form, probably as good a team as Bury despite placings.
Morecambe £50 win at 7/4 and £70 draw no bet at Evens

and the draw system
Doncaster £35 at 23/10
Aldershot £35 at 23/10
Lincoln £35 at 23/10
£15 treble






Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2090 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £210.

Monday 9th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£12250 - £580 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120


Small profit in-running on football yesterday.

By the look of it I won't be backing many Ruby rides next week (on price grounds) so let's hedge.

£200 Ruby top jockey 11/8






Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2090 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £210.

Sunday 8th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£12170 - £580 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

I filled in a slip online for the trifecta on the Imperial Cup yesterday, then decided £24 was a waste of money on the four best backed horses in the race. Which seeing as it returned over £500 looks a mistake in retrospect! Still, we're in good shape ahead of the festival. The ante post bets look increasingly ropey though – especially with rain forecast. There's certainly no Ebaziyan style 450/1 booster to the start of the week I can see!

No bet today – maybe the football in-running - once I've got back from Sunday morning's hike up the Wrekin.







Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2090 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £210.

Saturday 7th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£12095 - £680 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

Small loss yesterday despite Imoncloudnine's success.

I'll play Sandown again today – placepot looks worth a shot – and will back the following for reasons that have very little to do with form:
Song Sung Blue
Daves Dream
Prince Taime
Sole Agent
a couple of £10 trebles would return 25Kish so they'll be my get rich quick bets for the day.

Slipperytoad's put up a couple of All Weather races – see comments below. Personally, I'm finding his battle with Matsunosuke very compelling. He finally puts her up today. Corals' senior odds compiler on the other hand thinks she's there to be beaten today. Make of that what you will!



Football.

My ratings based bet is Luton. I know they leak goals, but I'm sure they're mainly priced on the fact they're relegated rather than on form – which is very decent at home
Luton £50 win at 7/4 and £70 draw no bet at 1.9


Draws system. This weekend's three:
Sunderland v Spurs
Orient v Brighton
Rotherham v Brentford
3 x £35 singles and £15 trebles


And a stolen tip. I really like the odds compilers' nap competition in the Racing Post and always look to see if there's any duplications. Today I can hardly help to notice that two compilers have put up Hoffenheim – unusual in itself. A cursory glance at the form shows that it's down to their home form being very good, and Weder Bremen's away form being very poor. 2/1 does look big in that situation, and on a quiet day, I'll play.
Hoffenhein beat Werder Bremen £120 at 2/1 (anything above 7/4).





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2090 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £250.

I backed the Gossamer Yank yesterday, just to stop this fund from seizing up!


.

Friday 6th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£12155 - £680 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

Pict's Hill ensured a small profit yesterday despite Suntini's collapse.

Looks like a quiet weekend on the football front – I'll put up one and the draws tomorrow.

I'll play Sandown today. How about a small Friday £20 treble
2:10 Sandown – Bugsys Boy
2:35 Wincanton – Imoncloudnine
3:20 Sandown – Bannister Lane





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2055 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £250.

Thursday 5th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£12155 - £560 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

I think that was my recent run coming to the end and me slipping out of the zone! I hope I don't fall away as quickly as Aston Villa look like they are about to do.

I'll play Wincanton today – I was taken with Suntini the other day, a rotten price though.

I priced up the championship events at Cheltenham yesterday and had my last ante post bets, these based on tissue 'value'.

Arkle – Calgary Bay 5/1
(The two I like are him and Kalahari King and have already got KK onside)
RSA – Cooldine 5/1
(I'll admit to being swayed by Ruby here, and the English horses don't seem to be up to much).
Ryanair – Imperial Commander 7/1
(Looks only credible challenger to Voy Per and loves the hill)
World Hurdle – Big Buck's 6/1
(Kasbah Bliss is 0-4 at Cheltenham and I think BB will beat Punchestowns, and should certainly be the same price. Housed in the penthouse boxes at Ditcheat)
Gold Cup – Madison Du Berlais 9/1
(Ok – big leap of faith, but owes me nothing. Course form poor, but then all his form is average prior to blinkers, and just maybe he is a completely different horse right now).

10 x £11 win doubles and £5ew fivefold.




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2055 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £250.

Wednesday 4th March

2009 Challenge Fund (£12320 - £560 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120

Cardiff scraped back a bit of the money I dropped at Exeter when the going changed!

Football tonight.

I have both Aston Villa and Everton at 6/4 at biggest for tonight. I can see arguments why they can be opposed (Man City different team at home, Villa coming unstuck; Everton focusing on cup maybe, and with the usual injury worries). On the other hand Villa should be stoked up after Stoke's miracle and if City attack them it will suit their style perfectly. Everton keep defying the odds, and Blackburn haven't actually improved yet under Allardyce but everyone seems to think they have.
The draws look big runners.

Aston Villa £45 win at 7/4 and £75 Draw no bet at 1.9
Everton £45 win at 2/1 and £75 Draw no bet at Evens

I'll spend the rest of the day continuing to price up Cheltenham.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2055 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £250.

Tuesday 3rd March

2009 Challenge Fund (£12350 - £560 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120


I've done a few ante post Cheltenham bets the last two days, so best round them up here:
All non runner no bet.

Torphichen (Supreme) 6/1
Kalahari King (Arkle) 10/1
Whiteoak (Nicholson) 3/1
Bensalem (Bartlett) 4/1
6 x £20 win doubles and £10 acc.

Murphy chasing:
Three Mirrors (Plate) 10/1
Naiad du Misselot (Jewson) 8/1
Kalahari King (Arkle) 8/1
3 x £10 win doubles and £10 treble

Pipe's juveniles:
Torphichen (Supreme) 6/1
MrThriller (Fred Winter) 8/1
Master of Arts (Triumph) 11/2
3 x £10 win doubles and £10 treble

Johnson/Wylie:
Red Moloney (Supreme) 10/1
Quewetwo (Ballymore) 20/1
£15 win double

Silliness:
Ebaziyan (Champion) 66/1
Ebadiyan (Triumph) 10/1
£5ew double


Today I'll play Exeter and focus on Dartnell/Williams.

I'll update my football ratings later and may come back with a football bet if I find anything.




Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2055 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £250.

Monday 2nd March

2009 Challenge Fund (£12490 - £420 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £120


Kevin Na is quickly gaining cult status in my little part of Shropshire!

Fund looking good. No intention of spoiling it with action bets today.

£110 was a terrible stake - £120 far more friendly.





Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2055 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £250.

Sunday 1st March

2009 Challenge Fund (£11750 - £350 in play accounted)
This month's stake - £110

A very good day. I've been a bit lucky with staking and dodging a few bullets but if every month could be February I'd be happy!

Dyson finished second overnight – just need Na to steady the ship.

Football – I just can't see why Man Utd are 1.75 today – kids or not. After all Spurs are without all of 'Arry's signings and they were rubbish without them (and not much better now). It's unthinkable that Man Utd could ever be value, but I'll play to find out what I'm obviously missing!

West Ham are supposedly wobbling after a poor couple of away games, and Man City supposedly on the up after a couple of good away draws. My ratings say they remain the same level as each other and have been most the season. That makes West Ham a bet.

Man Utd £100 at 1.75 and £10 Draw/Utd at 7/2
West Ham £110 -0.25 at 5/4






Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £2055 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £250.