Saturday 29th January

Was all set to give you the 1,2,3 in Doncaster's Sky Bet chase! Oh well...

I'm liking the look of the outsiders in the 2m5f chase at Cheltenham today. If you forgive his last run in the mud at Chepstow, then Fine Parchment looks a sporting each way bet today at 20/1. You also have to forgive current stable form, but I'll make him the cornerstone of the day. The Sawyer will be trained for this as well, and with doubts about many of these, I'll do a small saver.

I can't get excited about the Argento. Not least because I was going to put a cheeky tenner on The Tother One midweek, when he was trading at 70s on betfair, but decided he just couldn't be running...

Some nice-looking matches for draw betting in the FA cup, have attracted me instead.

So, something like:

Fine Parchment £25ew at 20/1
The Sawyer £10 at 20/1
£2.50 reverse forecast

£10 Treble returning £13000+
Fine Parchment 20/1
The Tother One 7/1
Southampton 7/1

Football 4 x £5 trebles and £5 acca - all draws:
Everton/Chelsea
Southampton/Man Utd
Wolves/Stoke
Fulham/Spurs


Be lucky.

Saturday 22nd January

I thought I had some nice bets this morning but the weather has done its worst...

The more I look at the Victor Chandler the more I think I'm wasting my time. I'll probably shove a tenner on Gauvain (20/1) and Mad Max (14/1) and watch Master Minded stroll home. The race includes three horses that have been in my metaphysical stable in the past - Somersby, Kalahari King and Crackaway Jack - and that's another reason not to get heavily involved.

So, we're going to have an old-fashioned doubles day. Haven't had one of those for ages, and they're just the thing for a Saturday gambler looking for some interest over the day.

First off, Wincanton, and the meeting sponsored by the same people who sponsor Paul Nicholls' yard. He likes to give them a few winners, and although none of them look up to much today, it could be that the conditional jockey and Nicholls' apparent poor form may hold the prices up enough at guaranteed best odds, to make it worthwhile.

Next, the Premiership. Draws have been the way to go all season (I wish they had been that season I built an expensive system round them). Last week we had a nice 33/1 return on a draw treble, and whilst this week the bets aren't so obvious, I'll happily go in again.

So, Wincanton
Bold Addition/Promising Anshan/That'll Do/Symphonick/Ramses de Marcigny
10 x £4.50 doubles and £3 acc.
£2 acc the first four plus his second string Cap Elora in the last race.

Football
10 x £4.50 draws and £5 acca
Wolves/Liverpool
Blackpool/Sunderland
Fulham/Stoke
Newcastle/Spurs
Villa/Man City


Be lucky.

King George

Kauto Star looks about the right price today, which doesn't give us much of a way into the race. I'm not interested in backing him, nor strongly opposing him. The places do look up for grabs though, with doubts about lots of these, not least in the conditions.

At the prices the two I'll take each way are Riverside Theatre and Madison Du Berlais. Riverside has to handle the ground and stay, but given his course record and the impression he made on me last year, 16/1 is at least fair. Madison Du Berlais has shown he can make a place in this race, and just needs a return to form to make 40/1 look generous. My friend who snaffled up 20/1 on him mid-week each way w/out Kauto Star has a nice bet, but that's sadly long since gone.


There's three Premiership derbies on Sunday. Can't stop myself doing the treble...

Riverside Theatre 20ew at 16/1
Madison Du Berlais 20ew at 40/1
Liverpool/Sunderland/Birmingham £10 treble all matches drawn.
2 x £5 fourfolds the above.


Be lucky...

Welsh National

I haven't done very well in this race over the years - you've been warned. When I lived in Bristol I used to go every year in the days when Martin Pipe farmed the race and even then I'd back two of his and the third one would win - you've been warned.

On my prices (where Synchronised looks very short) I'll go for three and hope the odds cover their rather obvious deficiencies:

Watamu Bay - inexperience and an already high rating - but it's not often you get to back a Nicholls improver at 12/1 in a race like this.
Imoncloudnine - liked the way he stayed on in Badger Ales - and softer ground no problem. Would be keener if it was a flat track.
Old Benny - obviously taking a flyer here on the old boy, but 25/1 off ten stone...

Once I looked at Old Benny I couldn't help but notice Oh Crick at Sandown and so today's double is for the Alan King old-timers to roll back the years! And a friend of a friend owns Kudu Country - he won't be at Sandown to watch him, and is hardly looking to hit one out of the ballpark, but what the hell I'll go for a fiver glory treble...




Something like:
Watamu Bay £25 at 12/1
Imoncloudnine £15 at 20/1
Oh Benny £15 at 25/1

Oh Benny/Oh Crick £10 double
Oh Benny/Oh Crick/Kudu Country £5 treble returns £28000



Be lucky...