Monday 31st January

Off to friends so probably shouldn't put this up as a challenge. Still, here goes.

Warwick 1:40

William Bonney looks a legitimate favourite here. No disgrace in being beaten by Pauillac and was the only horse to give Krugyrova a race last time. Mann's horses are in great form which should help. Presenting Express jumped better last time but it was at Ludlow so that's not saying much. The allowance is handy, Hobbs' record at course less so. Overstrand was a touch of class over hurdles last season and has to be a worry, but has run as if something wrong this season. Le Burf is more interesting. He was unfit on his debut and ran really well considering he clouted half the fences.

£500 Challenge
William Bonney £12 win at 13/8 guaranteed
Le Burf £3 win at 10/1

No posting tomorrow. Happy New Year all – let's hope for a profitable one!

Sunday December 30th

My habitual opposition to Liverpool hasn't been as profitable this year as for the last 5 or so. They still look the wrong price against Man City today though. Remarkably Man City have hardly played any of the top sides at home which is a worry, but I'll trust my ratings which give them a much bigger chance of getting something out of the game than the odds available.

£500 Challenge
Man City £15 +0.5 Asian handicap at 1.9

Saturday 29th December

The novice chases look tricky today. I'll probably side with the Nicholls' horses at Newbury but the prices aren't overly attractive. Mughas looks opposable at Bangor but I can't find a decent bet against him. Watching brief for now.

In the 3:10 Newbury I have Mighty Moose and Alfadora both in at 9/2. This relies on forgiving them their poor last runs and believing Nougat De Lisle to be far too short. I'll play both and probably the forecast as well.

However, the best bet of the day appears to be in the big race at Leopardstown. Jazz Messenger is 7/4 in my book to prove he is simply a much improved horse this year. He beat most of these fair and square last time and the new opponents here, Al Eile and Hardy Eustace, aren't improving and better over further. The form of the stable over Christmas is a tad worrying but may help the price.

Football. Falkirk look big at 6/4 to beat a side below them in the table, but Scottish football is hardly my thing so I'll concentrate on the chances of Charlton. Taking them on the asians (-0.25) matches my win price for them, and they'll make up a double-headed challenge package.

£500 Challenge
Jazz Messenger £15 win at 9/4
Charlton beat Leicester £15 at 11/8 on Asians (-0.25)

Friday 28th December

I think I'll give the Denman race a miss today. At least until the actua going is clear. Instead we'll go for the 'sure thing' at Catterick, and despite yesterday's setback I'm in favour of sticking to these uncompetitive novice chases.

Cedrus Libani was good enough to run in the Supreme Novices last year and has taken to fences really well. We've already profited from him on one match. This time he's already beaten Sunday City in a good race at Carlisle. There's no reason to think Sunday City will reverse form even getting the weight, especially if the rain gets into the ground (pulled out of a race last week). Quinn's horses have been in miserable form not helping Caraman.

If we're lucky Cedrus will drift as alarmingly as Kruguyrova yesterday, but 2/5 is at least fair, on a day of little obvious action.

£500 Challenge
Cedrus Libani £15 win at 2/5+

Thursday 27th December

We had a decent Xmas with Kauto Star and Rochdale winning.

“It's a bit depressing when you're going to the 4th last and you hear the jockey outside you saying "whoah" McCoy yesterday – what a great quote!

I'll be cheering on Geeveem today at 25s and Homer Wells at a less edifying 12s – the less said about all the non runners the better...

For the challenge it was a toss up between Kruguyrova or Voy Per Ustedes who both look to have a solid favourite's chances and are priced up similarly this morning. Both look to have only one credible rival. I'm inclined to think Ashley Brook may be more of a threat than Mr Strachan. The clincher though is that the rest of Kruguyrova's opponents look hardly anything, whilst VPU has to take on some decent, if second division types.

I was very impressed with Kruguyrova the other day at Plumpton. She was backed then and is noticeably weak right now. I'll hope she's sneaked under the radar, and that my old theory of getting value on selections that punters can't pronounce, let alone spell, holds good.

£500 Challenge
Kruguyrova £15 win at 4/5

Monday 24th December

Here's a Christmas cracker. I keep looking at the price wondering what I'm missing. I'm also embarraseed to say how I priced it up, suffice to say it's closer to evens than 6/4.

We'll add it to our Boxing Day portfolio.

£500 Challenge
Rochdale to beat Wrexham £15 at 13/8 (anything over 6/4 OK)

Happy festivities to all.

Sunday 23rd December

I tried to find a bet in the football this afternoon, but no joy.

I may not have time to post Boxing Day so in case here's the King George tissue.

Kempton
Kauto Star 8/11
My Way De Solzen 7/1
Exotic dancer 10/1
Our Vic 12/1
Taranis 12/1
Racing Demon 16/1

For a change this year I have a decent antepost book. Our Vic 50s, Racing Demon 20s and Tranis 16s – all each way.

All of which is a bit inconsequential when Kauto Star wins again so I make no apology for using the challenge fund as a form of hedge. To my eye he hasn't been as good as last year but I doubt he'll need to be. Exotic Dancer has it all to do round Kempton and the stable hasn't been firing, and My Way De Solzen has to improve enormously – the rest are just ew pokes – and looking mighty short now as well.

£500 Challenge
Kauto Star £15 win at 4/5 NRNB

Saturday 22nd December

No time for tissues this morning – early starts and frost worries leave me a bit behind.

I'm building my day around three horses. There are doubts about all three, and I was going to go for Rotherham for the challenge bet at 4/6 to beat Wrexham, but let's stick to the horses.

£500 Challenge
Hardy Eustace £5 at 9/4
Sunday City £5 at 5/1
Troubadour £5 at 7/1
£1 treble

Friday 21st December

Not exactly what I'd call a value bet (a fair price I'd say). But he's the only horse I've added to my imaginary stable this year so far, and he owes us nothing. I'm backing him at least until he's beaten regardless.

£500 Challenge
£15 Hobbs Hill at 2/1 on.

Friday 20th December

Looks like I was the only person in Britain who thought Trust Fund was only a 6/4 chance!

House purchase stuff taking priority today – no bet.

Weds 19th December

Bristol would be good Toad (whereabouts?), always very happy there. Looks like I'll be digging in up here in Shropshire though! Where are you off to?

Also, if you see this, what's your take on the Listed race at Kempton. I have Capricorn Run as a legitimate favourite at 7/4. Any reason why that's not the case?

For today's challenge though:

Newbury 3:10
Trust Fund 6/4
Harrycone Lewis 4/1
King Harald 4/1
Si Grand 16/1

Surprised to see Trust Fund at odds on this morning. Usually I'd be ready to fire at the remaining runners. The thing that is most noticeable about the race though is the pace angle. There's three horses here all happiest when bossing the race. It's hard to know what the jockeys will do or which horses will down tools. The simplest solution is to lay Trust Fund, so that's what the challenge will do. I may play in-running and think I'll definitely keep Si Grand on-side.

£500 Challenge
Lay Trust Fund £15 at Evens or shorter

Tuesday 18th December

I realise I must be the only person in Britain buying a house right now – the stupidity of which is actually overwhelming me – but being a homeless flood victim does concentrate mind over money somewhat.

Anyway, I have to be admin clerk for the day to sort it out, so no challenge bet.

Monday 17th December

Ayr abandoned leaves us with just the Novice Chase at Plumpton.

Pauillac was impressive enough on his debut, but I also liked William Bonney, who now gets the weight turnaround. The Henderson horse does catch the eye. He had quite a few winners around Xmas last year who had been off for well over 100 days. Kruguyrova gets all the allowances and looks the type. I think the market may move – depending on whether Johnson gets his betting boots on or not so I'll hold fire on my bets. For the challenge though, I priced William Bonney at closer to 9/2, so let's aim there, and take advantage of the dead eight.

£500 Challenge
William Bonney £7.50 ew at 6/1

Sunday 16th December

I've sure as hell lost my way with reality TV. Not helped by hardly watching it!

Leon was a real surprise to me when I came home from a party last night and checked the results. Gethin's demise was predictable once the judges gave Matt a perfect 40. I hope any of you who waded into Gethin took the insurance suggested, and backed the 'perfect 40' when that was highlighted.

I should get back from my hungover morning constitutional in time to hoover up the two big games this afternoon. Can't find a bet though, so no challenge selections today.

Saturday 15th December

Let's hope for a better day today!

Cheltenham 12:55
Maljimar 5/1
Otoole 5/1
Tramantano 6/1
Crozan 7/1
Saintsaire 7/1
All Star 9/1

Maljimar (flat track), Crozan (best fresh) and Saintsaire (flattered newbury) make the market for something. So, I'll play Tramantano and O'Toole against them.

Cheltenham 2:40
Il duce 8/1
New Alco 8/1
Faasel 8/1
New Little Bric 8/1
Abragante 8/1
Knowhere 9/1
Palarshan 12/1
Idole First 20/1
Patman Du Charmil 20/1
Black Hills 25/1

Funny race really. It seems being part of Nicholls' stable has had its effect on New Little Bric's price, but most the others have their share of doubts. Knowhere needs to keep his form and first time blinkers isn't usually a positiive in my book. On the other hand he really does fly up this hill based on his last two runs and 20+ looks too long. More likely a place price of 4/1 or better.

I've never been impressed by Faasel's jumping but again 14s is longer than I would have expected.

Cheltenham 3:10
Sublimity 7/2
Katchit 5/1
Macs Joy 5/1
Afsoun 6/1
Osana 6/1
Desert Quest 9/1
Straw Bear 11/1

With no outstanding horse on show this looks tighter than the market suggests. I've been a fan of Osana from the start (and all the poorer for it). This is his (last) chance to step up as a legitimate contender.

Lingfield 2:30
Labelthou 2/1
Michael Muck 7/2
Old Benny 4/1
Verasi 4/1

I know it was only a two runner race but Labelthou didn't look to me like she is going to take to this game. The longer they take to go chasing the less reluctant they seem to be to arch their backs in the way necessary to make the switch successfully. Michael Muck has a penalty. Verasi blundered away his chance of winning for the challenge midweek, but had done little wrong to that point and this ground will suit (left handed I'm not so sure about). Old Benny is highly regarded and although I don't like betting horses on their first attempt Alan King's stats on turning his highly-rated hurdlers into chasers on their first attempt is very good. I'll dutch the two at 5/1 each or better.

Football.

Portsmouth remain under-rated and Spurs remain overrated. My ratings suggest 5/4 Portsmouth is well worth taking.

Blackburn have probably been eased a bit too much on the back of a few poor results, and Wigan tightened up on the back of Bruce's appointment. I'm happy to ignore both, which makes 11/8 Blackburn a very nice price.

Chesterfield have the away form and whilst I don't usually follow what are usually short-term anomalies, they also have in their favour the fact Accrington are pooh. 6/4 is too long.

£500 Challenge

A lot to choose from – I'm bound to choose wrong! Football has been much better this year than racing so I probably ought to stick with that, but I think the people who look in are much more racing folk, so let's see if this is the day Osana steps up to the plate.

Osana £7.50 ew at 9/1

Friday 14th December

A decent card at Cheltenham today and I find myself without a stand-out bet. I turn out to be with Pricewise in liking Blue Splash and Principe Azzurro in their race. (The latter has been in and out of my imaginary stable for over a season now).

That's true of All in the Stars of course, one of my favourite horses (and of yours too if you were with me at Escorial's the day he was the last leg of my 1000/1 treble!) I don't suppose the merry-go-round could reawaken interest today could it – they should go slow enough early on for him to get going. I will of course throw a few pointless nostalgic pounds at the old slowboat at these prices! In fact I couldn't resist a 5000/1 treble with Milord Lescriba and Principe Azzuro...

The other two that are attracting me are Nicholls runners – always difficult to ignore, but devilishly difficult to profit from these days.

I priced Ornais up at 2/1 against Imperial Commander, and priced up I'msingingtheblues as 13/8 joint favourite with Snap Tie. I was pondering which one to put up for the challenge, and in the end decided split stakes may as well be the order of the day (quite rightly not an approach recommended by the purists).

£500 Challenge
Ornais £8 win at 9/4+
Imsingingtheblues £8 win at 15/8

Thursday 13th December

There was the most amazing sky over the Midlands yesterday. Quite a sight from the train. If this all goes tits up I think I'll just become a poor but dedicated cloud watcher.

Beau Michel interests me today at odds against, but let's go to Ludlow for their novice chase for the challenge.

Enlightenment looks one to take on with the penalty. Not least because his yard seem to be completely mis-firing. Presenting Copper is the obvious one to take him on with. She gets an awful lot of weight and could get a nice easy lead. The latter may be required given how badly she jumped last time. Ludlow isn't the greatest test of jumping though, but if you're of a nervous disposition youmay want to sit this one out!

£500 Challenge
£15 Presenting Copper at 11/4 (5/2 ok)

Weds 12th December

Oh well, we were due a hit on the football.

I'm off to London again for a short piece of work this afternoon, so no racing/football today.

Instead I'll leave you with a reality TV tip. Strictly Come Dancing is as finely poised as ever. Gethin has swooped up the blindside rails in the last couple of weeks and is now in with a serious chance. A favourite's chance in fact. He is already beating Aleysha with the judges, and almost certainly outvoting her.

There is a potential fly in the ointment. He could be dumped out by the judges at the semi-final stage. Should they be put in the position of choosing between him and Aleysha they would surely go for a boy-girl final. You could cover that if you liked – either in a bet for him to be eliminated (around 4s), or back Matt to be top male (around 5s), or to win outright (around 8s).

My book overall means I don't have to do that and will simply press up. I managed to get 5/4 – you may have to settle for 6/5 – I'd suggest anything over Evens is attractive.

£500 Challenge
Gethin to win Strictly Come Dancing £15 at 5/4

Tuesday 12th December

Another week, another mad football price, based on sentiment and likely liabilities.

I can't see how Liverpool should be odds-on tonight. We're due a smacking on one of these, but short and sweet on a no-brainer today.

Marseille £12 at Evens+ at +0.5 on the Asians
Marseille £3 win at 7/2

Monday 10th December

A day to forget.

Looking to keep the daily challenge going I was left deciding on which was the better 1.2 shot – Swansea beating Horsham or the dodgepot that is Red Blossom placing again. In the end I decided I'd rather do something else with my time than stay in for the racing.

That said, I remember a day when Fulham drew 1-1 with Leigh RMI when we were where Swansea are now (top of third tier). It was one of the best matches I've ever been to actually. Leigh RMI had a very fat goalie (who once had been a minor pro I think) who somehow kept us at bay for 90 minutes. For at least 5 minutes of the second half the normally quiet Craven Cottage crowd chanted “sign him up, sign him up, sign him up”. Must be an incredible memory for the bloke.

The clincher is that my mother lives in Horsham and I hate the place.

I hope that gives the right indication as to how I feel about the professionalism of this bet!

The £500 Challenge
Swansea £15 win at 1/5

Sunday 9th December

Three Mirrors and Silver Jack have cost us recently and this may be the day for recovery missions. However, I thought Three Mirrors was heading to Cheltenham and Silver Jack's stable could hardly be in worse form. One to ponder.

So let's stick to football.

Stoke look big against a stuttering Watford. I had them at 11/8 and they are out to 15/8.

But for the challenge bet I'll go with Bolton. I have them at fancy prices to be relegated, and a rather nice relegation accumulator that they look like spoiling. In a way this can be seen as a hedge against that. However, there are clear signs of a revival. In terms of my ratings they plummeted down them early season but the last 10 games have shown definite signs of a steadying ship. Evens is very fair, but neither side are goal happy so I'll keep 0-0 onside.

£500 Challenge
Bolton £13 at Evens
No goalscorer £2 at 9/1

Saturday 8th December

Verasi looked the winner yesterday before ploughing through the last, and I was so confident I didn't manage to lay any of the 1:12 in-running as insurance. (In truth my record of laying off in-running is woeful. I get picked off by the sharks and end up with unwanted insurance on the ones that win and don't get matched on the ones that lose!).

I think I'll stick with Sandown today and have three nice races to concentrate on.

Sandown 2:05
Pancake 5/2
Moon Over Miami 3/1
Marodima 3/1
Mahogany Blaze 7/2

Pancake is my favourite by default really. He gets a very useful allowance in a race Fair Along won last year. Moon Over Miami may have looked good last time but two fell behind him, and his record right handed is woeful. Mahogany Blaze should really be at least the same price. I've not been happy with the way Twiston-Davies's horses have been finishing their races though, and his victory over MoM was when his yard was flying. Marodima had it easy at Warwick last time but had been poor before that. He and Pancake could get hooked up in a duel here. The obvious thing to do is to lay Moon Over Miami. I think I will, and have a small press up on Pancake.

Sandown 2:35
Voy Per Ustedes 5/4
Monets Garden 4/1
Twist Magic 5/1
Ashley Brook 6/1

Corals are ducking Voy Per Ustedes and that's a worry. This does look his race to me though. Monets Garden is a 2 and a half mile horse, who doesn't travel, and Twist Magic loves a flat track and this ground may not help him. In fact Ashley Brook appeals more to me at the prices than those two. I thought he may well have hung on at Aintree, but you'd have to be disappointed if VPU couldn't beat him. 11/8 or better looks perfectly fair.

Sandown 3:40
Tana River 3/1
McEvoy 5/1
Kilbeggan Blade 11/2
The Luder 11/2
Bubble Boy 6/1

I want to side with the two horses with good course records. Tana River won this well last year. The going and topweight is a worry. However, the ground didn't seem too bad yesterday on the jumps course and hopefully there'll be more wind than rain today. McEvoy's trainer is in terrible form and I was surprised to see him priced up favourite this morning even without taking that into account. Kilbeggan Blade is a plodder and this isn't a plodder's course unless the rain really does come. The Luder did seem to jump better last time but prior to that had looked a dog pure and simple. Which leaves Bubble Boy, who has to cope with going and distance but did win round here rather well last time, when we were on, and at the price I don't see much reason to desert him.

£500 Challenge
Tana River £9 win at 4/1+
Bubble Boy £4 win at 10/1+
£1rev fc

Friday 7th December

My favourite track today, though given the weather forecast I think I may have given it a miss even if I were back in Tooting. No obvious bets though. I think I'll keep Henrietta's onside and play the two good chases. Mighty Matters looks to be taking the Kerstino Two route, Killard Point should place at around Evens, and I was interested in Hard Act to Follow for the Hennessey so he must be of note up against some who are beginning to look disappointing.

However, for the challenge let's go to Exeter, not my favourite track.

1:35 Exeter
Lead On and Verasi both chased home Hobbs Hill this year. You'd have to say Verasi did the better of the two, paying the price for at least trying to give him a race. Verasi was as good a hurdler as Lead On, and loved bottomless ground. I'm surprised he's not at least joint favourite. He's 2/1 on my tissue.

£500 Challenge
Verasi £15 win at 11/4

Thursday 6th December

There are a few races that interest me today but finding one for the challenge isn't going so well. Instead let's head for the big boxing bout.

This is a no brainer. Mayweather can be backed at 1.6 on betfair, as a good old fashioned patriotic punt gathers pace on Hatton. As someone who'll be tucked up in bed when this fight takes place I have no emotional stake in the outcome, and can bet on there being another plucky British loser entered into the hall of fame come Sunday.

2/1 on is probably the longest Mayweather should be and that'll do for me. It's not inconceivable he'll drift even more – to 4/6 say, when I may have to have another lick of the spoon.

£500 Challenge
Mayweather bt Hatton £15 at 1.6+

Weds 5th December

Betting against these conspiracy theories has been good for us of late. Opposing heavily backed Johnson/Pipe runners hasn't.

I was thinking of opposing Dear Villez today, and may still do, but it's a bit of a riddle finding which of the three could beat him. So instead I'll head for Ayr and their novice chase.

Endless Power looks short enough for what could be a right slog. Jungleland and especially Scarvagh Diamond get useful weight from the favourite. The former shaped well on debut as did the latter before falling. The trip won't be such an issue in the going, and if Supply and Fix can get Endless Power into an early duel all the better. I'd price Jungleland at 4s and Scarvagh at 3s. Jungleland's price is the more attractive so I will slant the book that way, but do want to keep Scarvagh onside. I'm always worried about small field northern races turning into a carve up, but here goes.

£500 Challenge
Jungleland £10 at 6/1+
Scarvagh Diamond £5 at 3/1

Tuesday 4th December

It looks like David Johnson is backing Over The Creek today, which is worrying, but he hasn't exactly impressed me so far, so I'll be looking at ways to oppose him.

However, it's football for today's challenge bet. We have done well opposing market madness over the last few weeks. We may have our come uppance here, but I'll risk it. AC Milan are 6/4 to beat Celtic, with the draw at only Evens on the basis of that result suiting both sides. Italian teams are well used to coming to neat arrangements, and that is a worry. But the price compels me to swim against the flow here, and hope for a proper game. However, I will keep 0-0 onside, (and maybe trade green should Milan score – though I'll likely be watching Spooks instead anyway!).

Afterwards I'll no doubt look like a mug. If so, I'll remind myself that only a couple of weeks ago people were going similarly mad over Israel/Russia!

£500 Challenge
£12 win Milan at 6/4
£3 no goalscorer at 7/2 (!)

Monday 3rd December

Fulham had 34% of the possession in their recent match against Liverpool. The old couple who used to sit next to me in the Stevenage Road stand would have had something to say about that. They used to have a blanket over their laps and at half-time they'd get out all manner of yummy food, presumably having decided in forty years of watching rubbish that they may as well be comfortable and replete! But they liked the occasional forays Fulham made into attractive football.

They were the first to point out that Jean Tigana had plainly commanded that Maik Taylor (then our keeper) was absolutely forbidden to kick the ball out of his hands. He had to pass it to a defender, and build-up from there. This was done solely to teach the team (Championship) to pass the ball under pressure. The pressure actually built up through the season as all the teams realised this and started to move up on our defence. Watch Steve Finnan now and you'll see how much that one season helped him.

I priced Man Utd at 1/8 tonight, anyway.

Here's a bet. Strictly Come Dancing. Will there be a perfect score this series? Personally I think the answer is, of course there will. Not only are there two blokes who have already come close, but in Aleysha there's almost certainly the best dancer there's been on the show. That, and the fact it's almost obligatory makes 2/5 with skybet look huge. Good luck getting more than tuppence on though, otherwise I'd have put it in the challenge.

For that we need to go to Fakenham of all places. Kassuta only has to repeat her performance here in a lower grade race to place again. The fact her trainer runs all his horses here, and that the jockey hasn't won should hold the price up.

£500 Challenge
12:50 Fakenham
Kassuta £15 place at Evens+ (aiming for 5/4+)

Sunday 2nd December

I'm not much one for the supposed great moments in racing. For me the sport is so wrapped up in my betting, that the great moments are things like Atavus winning at 33/1 or What's Up Boys storming up the Cheltenham hill to win the Coral cup at 40/1. Inglis Drever and All in the Stars the final legs of unbelievable trebles. That sort of thing.

However, my first ever racing memory (as seemingly for my entire generation) was Crisp in the National and a few other sights have locked themselves into my storage tanks regardless of betting. And they are nearly always chasers. Times when a big brave horse does something you thought nigh on impossible, and makes you feel humble and privileged to have seen it. Of most relevance was that I was at Chepstow the day Carvill's Hill slaughtered the field in the Welsh National. I can still see him now bombing along the far side, impossibly clear. Imperious. And there's no doubt in my mind that Denman was even more impressive yesterday.

Newbury is probably close to being called off if they've enjoyed the same overnight weather as Shropshire, so I'd be mad to bet there. No doubt I will anyway, but let's have a day off the challenge.

Saturday 1st December

My Hennessey books is looking OK, but I can't get excited about any of them this morning. I was happy with Snowy Morning at 10s, but 5s looks ridiculous. I also have L'Antartique money rolling onto stablemate New Alco, and Character Building and Patsy Hall on-side. I can't see anything at value this morning though, so I'll stick, and hopefully enjoy.

So, let's look elsewhere and put up a couple of tissues – hurdles unusually

Newcastle 3:30
Katchit 7/4
Blythe Knight 4/1
Al Eile 11/2
Clopf 7/1
Harchibald 7/1

Katchit has it to prove here, much as I love him. That said, there's doubts about all the others! I have a somewhat optimistic Champion Hurdle voucher on Blythe Knight, and he'd have to step up today if that's going to get anywhere. I'm a bit worried about the form of Quinn's stable on what looks a big day for him, but the price demands a play. Al Eile's recent flat form could hardly be any better. 2m over hurdles has looked too short for a while though, so it would need to be a slog.

Newbury 2:05
Inglis Drever 9/4
Special Envoy 4/1
Black Jack Ketchum 7/1
Blazing Bailey 7/1
Kasbah Bliss 7/1
Chief Dan George 7/1

Regulars will know that I follow the great Inglis Drever as though he was my own. I fear time may be against him though. It will be interesting to see how he copes here – he was all out to win this last year, and this looks a much tougher race. Special Envoy is all the rage this morning, but I'm not surprised. The other four all have doubts hanging over them, particularly if this comes down to guts.

Overnight I placed an ew double on Character Building and Blythe Knight, and the only other horse of interest this morning is Maljimar, who is short enough at 2/1 to win his chase, but does look a rock solid favourite.

£500 Challenge
Blythe Knight £10 win at 11/2
Al Eile £5 win at 6/1

Special Envoy £10 at 11/2
Inglis Drever £5 at 5/2

£500 Challenge - mothly summary

Monthly £500 Challenge Update

A decent month (at last!), and the challenge now getting back to where it should be. I was very taken by how it stayed in profit even during my horrible summer, and it would be nice to get the chance to see if it can also outperform my normal operations whe things go well.

Current standing.
£712.49

Football
20 bets. 10 wins 148% returns

Horse racing
64 bets. 28 wins 120% returns

All bets
94 bets 40 wins 116% returns.

Friday 30th November

That's a week of losers for the challenge. Pleased to see Double Intruder got a non-trier's ban yesterday – talking through my pocket no doubt but I thought it was very smelly personally.

Newbury. I'd be inclined to row in with Nicholls' horses at one of his favourite meetings if they hadn't become so overbet over the last year or so. Plus I'm happy to take Silverburn on, so let's start there.

2:35
Three potentially good horses get their first chase starts in a tough little heat. Hobbs Hill has jumped really well so far, and I think that's going to hold him in good stead here. Granted he has a penalty to overcome but this race historically has massively favoured those with experience, and I'll always take what a horse has already achieved over what trainers say their horses may achieve.

£500 Challenge
Hobbs Hill £15 win at 4/1

Thursday 29th November

A very testing day yesterday.

The challenge has now had six losing bets in a row, and that hurts. However that follows on from 6 successful bets in a row, and we are well up if judged on all 12 bets. Doesn't feel like it right now though!

I was going to suggest Aimigayle to place today for the challenge but Corals seem to think that's a non runner.

So, scratching about for something to do, I'll have to settle for a play on Victor Dartnell's runners at Uttoxeter. His horses are running well and his strike rate and profit at the course are more than eye-catching. I've landed some nice touches in the past with this seemingly mug-like practice. Nicholls at Wincanton and Twiston Davies at Perth spring to mind. The bookies are on alert though, judged by how hard it's been to get the multiples on, so good luck with the prices.

£500 Challenge
Uttoxeter 1:00 Double Intruder 10/1+
Uttoxeter 3:10 Sporting Rebel 13/2+
Uttoxeter 3:40 Young Dancer 10/3+
3 x £2.50 singles
3 x £2 doubles
1 x £1.50 treble

Weds 28th November

(Porto actually available at 6/4 on the Asian recommendation from yesterday).

Lingfield quite attractive today, and looks a day for place betting in uncompetitive races. Four I'm potentially interested in are Mem O'Rees, Ashwell Lad, My World and Pheidas at Wetherby. Choosing one for the challenge isn't that easy but my antipathy towards the favourite in the 1:00 at Lingfield leads me to:

£500 Challenge
1:00 Lingfield £3 win Mem O'Rees at 6/1+ and £12 place at 4/5+.

Tuesday 27th November

The only horse I was interested in today is a non runner, so a watching brief at Kempton and a dead day.

Let's turn to football then for a challenge bet. I can't find anything domestic or champions league tonight. So we're left with tomorrow's game between Liverpool and Porto. This looks priced on Liverpool's need for a result, and their drubbing of Besiktas. In other words the price is ridiculous, particularly with Porto in such good form, and probably wanting to top the group. Not to mention Benitez steadily losing power. (Outside bet for England manager anyone?).

I'd have Liverpool at more like Evens. That makes Porto mighty attractive in the Asians (roughly 11/8 at +0.75). That's not only 11/8 for an Evens money bet, but also rescues half our stake if they're beaten by the odd goal.

£500 Challenge
Porto +0.75 £15 at 11/8ish

Monday 26th November

Ho hum – horses scattered all over Aintree yesterday! I only spotted the Cedrus Libani match after rushing to put up the Bechers Chase, but of course with the benefit of hindsight that would have made a much better challenge bet!

And then somehow Blackburn failed to finish off a woeful Fulham. I just don't get chairmen. (Billy Davies sacked this morning for what? Achieving an impossible promotion?)

At Fulham Coleman, who was something of a club hero, was sacked after years of having to sell the best players – Davis, Saha, Finnan, van Der Saar, Malbranque. Then suddenly his replacement is given 20 million which he promptly squanders on a bunch of Northern Ireland journeymen.

Racing not good today. I was going to suggest Star Shot at Ludlow but there has to be a doubt about him lasting home, even there.

We'll play the other novice chase instead. Ayr 1.40. Barryvogue came up against a very decent novice in Ice Tea last time, and some judges also questioned the ride on Barryvogue. He seems to be in a match here. The price isn't one to get excited about, and we're down our last 3 bets. It's all I can find today though.

£500 Challenge
Ayr 1:40 Barryvogue £15 win at 5/4+

Sunday 25th November

I'd best get this up quickly as Pricewise seems to have copied me! I took four horses mid-week for the Bechers Chase , one of my favourite races, and have topped up this morning. They may as well go into the challenge.

£500 Challenge
£5 win Leading Man 8/1
£4 win Silver Jack 16/1+
£3 win Irish Raptor 12/1+
£3 win King Killone 14/1+

I'll also suggest repeating the Portsmouth bet of yesterday and go after Blackburn to beat my beloved Fuham at around 11/8. The former remain under-rated and Fulham are pooh. Save a small percentage of your bet for Fulham to be leading halftime and then to lose (at around 30/1!).

Saturday 24th November

I'll skip the Kauto Star puzzle today (complicated further by heavy rain in the area apparently). I'm one of those very concerned about the laziness at Aintree, but can't find an obvious horse to beat him, and my midweek each way tickle on Turpin Green, whilst having the plus of three places, has the minus of looking a rubbish bet!

Ascot 1:20
I have New Little Bric at 2/1 and Flying Enterprise at 4/1. FE did us a big favour last year, so is something of a stable horse for me, whilst New Little Bric looked like he was going to be special last year, but is somewhat stymied by a preference for right handed tracks. This should suit.

Ascot 1:50
I just can't get excited about the front four here. Afsoun is favourite simply because of doubts about the next three – a declining Hardy Eustace; a 'gone' Detroit City, and a plodding Wichita Lineman for whom this is a prep. Step forward Kings Quay who did us a favour at Wincanton. OK, so this trip doesn't look the thing for him, and he's got loads to find. That's in the price. Hopefully he'll be ridden for a place, which is where I'll be focusing my energy at 5/2 or better.

Ascot 2:20
Pablo looks a terrible price, especially given all the front runners here. If it's a right old tear-up expect Hasty Prince to come through late for a place at least. If common sense prevails I'd rather side with an improving Bishop's Bridge and Charlton Kings than anything else.

Football.
Portsmouth remain under-rated and Birmingham remain pants. They haven't beaten a decent side all year, and losing Bruce may not be much of a loss long-term, but can hardly help today. 7/4 for the away win looks very fair.

£500 Challenge
New Little Bric £10 at 9/4
Flying Enterprise £5 at 5/1

Friday 23rd November

Ascot today. Not falling over with excitement though. Think another placepot may be in order.

However, for many years now I've followed Fanshawe's jumps runners blind and see no reason to stop today. The race in which Song of Songs finished 2^nd to Osana could hardly have worked out better and despite what looks like a short price in a competitve race, I'll play.

£500 Challenge
2:00 Ascot
Song of Songs £15 at 11/8+ (6/4 available)

Thursday 22nd November

Off for a quick meeting in London today, but wanted to throw one up for the challenge, with it rolling along nicely. Hope some of you took the insurance out on Croatia last night!

A long time ago I put a bet up on here for MacLaren to be sacked before the end of the year at 8/1. I'm expecting to be in a position to collect that tonight, but with the FA......

12:50 Hereford
Driving Miss Susie £15 place at 1.4+

Weds 21st November

The challenge bet is a bit of a no-brainer today.

I'd price England at Evens to win tonight were it a normal qualifier. It isn't easy working how much to tweak that to account for Croatia having nothing at stake. However, I am sure the prices are hopelessly skewed to home bias as usual.

Better still, there's no real downside to this bet as an England fan.

£500 Challenge
Croatia £2.50 win at 8/1
Croatia £12.50 at +0.5 at 5/4

Tuesday 20th November

Another humdrum day.

Scratching around for a challenge bet.

Fakenham 2:00
Kanokop – should have little trouble placing. The only caveat is the presence of a Barney Curley runner and for all his charitable work he still seems to me to be a charmless, incoherent, cheating bag of shite, and someone with no place in racing if it really wants to survive as a sport far into this century. No doubt he'll prevent us from sticking over the £700 mark!

£500 challenge
Kanokop £15 place at 1.35+

Monday 19th November

Typical Monday today – time for a break.

However, the challenge is thriving of late so let's keep the pressure on and play the 3:30 Wolverhampton

Perlachy can't win but is fairly consistent. The two faves have tricky draws to overcome which should help ours plod into a place.

£500 Challenge

Perlachy £15 place at Evens+

Sunday 18th November

I hope some of you joined me on Israel! Remember that result next time the conspiracy theorists get going. Sir Rembrandt also lightened up a pretty grey day yesterday.

Today looks a day for caution. Rain on what looked to be slightly over-watered ground is a recipe for chaos. Throw in a wheelbarrow full of horses making their seasonal debuts and it's not a day for backing short ones.

In such circumstances, and when you want to watch but don't trust yourself not to have twitchy fingers, I'd suggest a decent sized placepot works as the best form of defensive betting.

I will put up a bet for the challenge, but it's not one I'll be pressing up on!

1:10 Cheltenham
Dev ran a cracker last time, chasing a furious pace and still staying on for a very creditable third. The signs are that he's improving and has a lot of valuable experience against this lot. On the other hand, he's not classy like some of these, the course isn't ideal, and the ground may not help. Still, he's 33/1 in an 8 runner field so we shouldn't be too picky! Either play ew or play betfair and load the place side of the bet, with the added insurance against non runners.

£500 Challenge
Dev £5 win at 30/1+ and £10 place at 5/1+

Saturday 17th Nov

As good a day as yesterday would be nice.

Cheltenham 1:25
We opposed Willyandwoody on his debut and he could hardly have been more impressive. Findlay looks to have found another top-notch horse and the only worry is that he doesn't appear to be smashing into it at the moment. 7/4 looks long to me.

Cheltenham 2:00
I was going to skip this but I just can't let Falcon's Fire price go. He seemed to beat Franchoek fair and square and 5/1 seems ridiculous in the circumstances (or Franchoek's price does).

Cheltenham 2:35
Granit Jack 3/1
Crozan 11/1
Lantartique 11/1
Idole First 11/1
Private Be 11/1
Three Mirrors 12/1
Knowhere 12/1
Vodka Bleu 16/1
Bob Hall 16/1
Ponmeoath 16/1
Copsale Lad 16/1

My tissue certainly reflects my ante post book, so probably my pocket talking. My portfolio was damaged by Don't Push It being withdrawn and then by Granit jack scraping in, so I'm not particularly hopeful. Pleased to see Pricewise pick Three Mirrors though as I do have him onside at 80/1.

3:40 Cheltenham
D'Argent could repeat his first time up win last year. Sir Rembrandt appeals if freshened up for the move, as one to plug on for a place as he has done in a couple of Gold Cups. I'll do an each way double him and Falcons Fire and an ew treble chucking in Three Mirrors!

£500 Challenge
WillyandWoody £15 win at 7/4
Falcons Fire £7.50 ew at 5/1

Friday 16th November

This Friday meeting always looks disappointing. Cheltenham are such greedy buggers. Killing their geese in my opinion.

Still there must be some juice somewhere. Here's a couple of tissues.

1:20
Ofarel Dairy 7/4
Fundamentalist 4/1
Glasker Mill 5/1
Ballyfoy 6/1
Boychuk 6/1

These graduation chases are funny little things – chances for horses that have fallen to pieces to pull themselves together. On the whole they are more useful for having form lines to ignore in future than anything else. Nicholls seems to use them best.

Ofarel D'airey looks solid here. Glasker Mill coule be the challenger IF you are prepared to be very forgiving. He did look a decent horse at the start of last year.

Cheltenham 3:45
Imperial Commander 4/6
Over The Creek 6/1
Classic Croco 7/1
Nation State 9/1

I can't help but feel today would be a day to go against Imperial Commander. If Twiston-Davies form is about to downturn as usual he could be vulnerable. However, given I dislike the opposition it's not easy.

£500 Challenge
Ofarel Dairey £10 at 2/1+
Glasker Mill £5 at 6/1+

Imperial Commander £10 at 4/6
Classic Croco £5 at 12/1

Thursday 15th November

Thanks for the messages guys. Mick Fitz is far from my favourite also, Jonah. Did nothing wrong yesterday though to be fair. And Majid passed on news of Paddy Power's concession for Cheltenham (money back on fallers) which is certainly worth bearing in mind.

No obvious bets on the horses today. Watching brief – the Irish racing could be informative.

I'll be pricing up the weekend's football for the rest of the day, but one price is shouting at me and we may as well do that as our daily bet.

I'd price Israel at something like 9/4 for the Russia match. They are 7/1. That's a disparity on a Nevison-like scale! I'll ignore notions that the score has already been decided on, and get stuck in. There's almost too many options. The Asians at +0.75 offer an amazing avenue and I expect some of my bet will be there, but let's be braver for the challenge. They are as 'low' as 5/1 in the outright market in places and you can get that in the 'draw no bet' market.

£500 Challenge
£15 Israel – 'draw no bet' at 5/1

Weds 14th Nov

Today's racing is pretty terrible.

2:00 Lingfield
Finbar's Pi is of interest here. Powell's horses are flying. The King horse looks solid, but Henrietta Knight's hurdler looks typically opposable and the only other horse of note is an unraced from Lavelle's stable which aims for handicappers. That makes evens in the place market look very fair.

£500 Challenge

Finbar's Pi £15 place at Evens

Tuesday 13th November

Some races to watch at Kempton but no obvious bets. Exeter has a couple of poor novice chases.

In one, Petit Lord looks solid against a horse I really don't like.

In the other, Ouninpohja asks the questions and there could be an in-running play against him and possibly in favour of Pseudonym who lacked nothing in resolution last time.

Nothing to get excited about. I've been cursing my decision to really try to find a bet for the challenge every day after my last two football bets, but I'll stick with it.

£500 Challenge
2:30 Exeter – Petit Lord £15 at 4/6

Monday 12th November

Portsmouth hit post and bar but left the money behind. My fault. I often cover 0-0 in such bets, or could have gone draw no bet.

Some decent racing at Carlisle today. Can't see an obvious bet though.

So, at the risk of plunging the challenge below £600 again, I'll stick with the Premiership for today's bet.

Reading played the top four 11 times last season and only lost by 2 goals or more twice. They are on similar course this season and tighter at home than general impressions would have it. Arsenal away this year haven't been ripping teams apart. Arsenal did thrash Reading here last year but at the prices I'll take Reading to avoid a two goal defeat and maybe even get something out of the game.

I'll play, but will only press up into a challenge if Bikey isn't playing – he's hopeless!

£500 Challenge
£15 Reading +1/ +1.5 at 1.8+

Sunday 11th November

That was the best week I've had in a while, since Cheltenham maybe.

No racing worth bothering with today. A nice walk in the rain and sit down with the football later.

My ratings have Portsmouth as Evens chances so I can't say this is a value bet in any way, but I'm still going to take them to beat Man City this afternoon. It's a simple prejudice that perhaps isn't fully reflected in my more objective ratings, but I have Man City as being in a false position at the moment.

Plus I'm biased in favour of Portsmouth because they have Sean Davis playing as well as he used to for Fulham. Having watched him play for us in every division, and having seen Tigana turn him from a gung-ho tackler into an intelligent holding midfielder, I assumed he'd do great for Spurs and reach the fringes of the England team. It says a lot about the hopeless mis-management at Spurs that he never played well there, and says a lot for 'Arry that he recognised his talent and has just allowed him to play where he is best.

£500 Challenge

Portsmouth £15 beat Man City Evens+

Saturday Nov 10th

A good week so far. My betting week used to build up slowly to a make or break Saturday. Since the change in approach Saturday has become a day for caution. Frankly I'm finding this a difficult adjustment to make. However, I think today I've managed to avoid most of the obvious competitive handicaps, (so far at least).

The horses that interest me most today as betting propositions are:

1:05 Kelso
Calculaite. 3/1+
This one cost us last time out when he ran far too free. He jumped very well though and should come on for that. There's little depth to the race and more importantly I don't like the favourite much, He travels well, but I remain unconvinced and think that 2m on quick ground could hardly suit less.

2:20 Winc
Joe Lively. 6/4+
His beating of Iced Tea (who looks a good horse) looks rock solid. His price should be held above 6/4 due to the Nicholls effect.

2:25 Sandown
Bubble Boy 6/1+
More speculative. Particularly on recent form. However, Powell's horses have taken off this week. Better still, Bubble Boy should get a soft lead and that's a very good thing indeed in small field Sandown chases. I'm hoping there'll be the potential to trade out in-running.

2:50 Winc
Kings Quay 4/1+
Quinn knows what it takes to win this and Kings Quay should have the speed and strength to do for a bunch of last year's juveniles.

I won a tasty five figure sum at this Wincanton fixture last year. Parsons Legacy at big odds did the most damage. I have nothing like that this time, but here's hoping!

£500 Challenge
Calculaite £15 win at 3/1+

Friday 9th November

Wolves was good for us last night. And Hayley Turner continues to impress. I do like jockeys who keep it simple.

Another grim day today. I'll keep an eye on the jockey's championship. I think plenty of their mounts are going to start artificially short – Double Banded springs to mind.

In the 8:55 at Wolves they ride the two faves and if the game's still afoot I can see these two shortening up and everything else drifting. That being so I'm keen on backing a horse to place in that race at inflated odds. Two to choose from. The Balding horse looks far from straightforward and is being backed this morning. That leaves Vivacita. You need to forgive her last run, but that done, with stable in good form, and Catlin to give her an uncomplicated ride, she'll do for today's press up.

£500 Challenge
£15 Vivacita to place at 6/4 (hopefully bigger).

Thurs 8th Nov

I've just read Dave Nevison's book. It zips along. In fact I read it in one sitting. Then again, I did the same with Frank Worthington's “One Hump or Two?”. I enjoyed it thoroughly but think it may have raised more questions for me than answers.

Some of the inconsistencies actually kept me awake last night, which I guess puts me in the anorak class as opposed to the type who spends his evenings chasing 'ropey old tote bird' types around hotel bars!

I'm interested how he can be banned from every spread betting company, yet can get £10000 antepost on both Detroit City and Kauto Star. I'm especially intrigued by the latter as I remember well being knocked back to £50 personally, and I only wanted a ton on!

I'm also taken by his tissue compiling skills. He has a forecast 5/2 fave in at 10/1 on his tissue on one page. and throughout the discrepancies between his prices and the bookies are similarly large.

When that happens to me my first thought is that it's me who has made a mistake, and most times that's the right thought!

Still, there's always something to take from these books and I'm grateful to Dave, not just for entertaining me, but for reminding me of the old adage “Scared money is dead money”. Reading his gung-ho approach to betting and staking I was left thinking that the title of the book was completely wrong. It should have been called “A Bloody Good Loser”. By which I mean, it seems he has a real edge in how he copes with losing money. My guess is his days as an FX trader innured him against fear of big numbers. Also, he leaves someone more detail-conscious to manage the books. This means, unlike me, he isn't obsessed by his current fund price, current losing streak and lack of liquidity. He seems to be able to drop telephone numbers daily and still get back in the saddle and head straight for the guns. This adage joins my “post-it note wall”.

Today's racing is terrible. Slipperytoad will be glad to hear that the sandpit actually looks more inviting than both jumps meetings!

Wolves 8:50
Chia doesn't win. She's a very consistent filly though, and would be a good bet for a place at evens.

£500 Challenge
8:50 Wolves
£15 Chia to place at Evens

Weds 7th November

Nice one with Leeds yesterday.

Today I was hoping the Racing Post tissue price would be available about Big Rob! He's now 9/4 (and under on betfair). His form makes you pause before considering that price, but he looked the winner of this race two years ago before falling, and won it cosily last year, before going off the rails thereafter. This year he's off less weight and gets weight from all his rivals. More importantly, all 4 of his rivals are front runners and this really should fall in his lap.

I'm not sure I'll press up myself, but on a quiet day he may as well make the daily challenge bet.

2:40 Huntingdon
£15 win Big Rob 9/4

Tues 6th Nov

Two decent small field jumps races at Exeter today.

2:50
An interesting shape. People thinking Fair Along and Pablo Du Charmil could get into a duel, but you'd hope the jockeys wouldn't be that stupid. I hope not because I really don't like the three challengers. Saintsaire and Royal Shakespeare have just never convinced me they are chasers, and Hasty Prince needs 2m4f or an end to end gallop. I can see Fair Along drifting to a backable price (say 6/4).

3:20
In a way even more intersting, because based on his debut Moon Over Miami didn't look like he'd make it as a chaser, and particularly not right handed. I like the fact Space Cowboy takes him on again, but he didn't look much either. Templer looks solid. Prices will decide the strategy but essentially it's to be against MoM.

Football.
Leeds get a quick chance to bounce back from the weekend defeat. I have them at 4/6 at the longest to beat a woeful Bournemouth side. They're around 1.9 at the moment. That has to be too long.

£500 Challenge
£15 Leeds win at 1.9

Monday 5th November

Ouninpohja went from 1.9 to 1.5 for the place on Saturday, so I guess Harry lost more than us! Lack of pace was the problem and I'm not sure I even looked at that in such a big field 2m handicap.

Still, Betfair comes into its own in 8 runner races when there's a withdrawal so Monkerhostin's 3^rd was welcome, and Blackburn hanging on left the challenge up for the weekend. Sadly my own betting didn't fare so well. As usual.

Onwards.

There's a couple of fairly solid place horses for small stables in novice hurdles today. I'll be backing them both at better than 4/6. The favourites should keep the prices competitive, so let's play an old fashioned game and see if the bookies will play.

£500 challenge
£7.50 ew double (at around 4/1 each)
Stagehand 1:10 Warwick
Hansomelle 1:30 Plumpton

Saturday Nov 3rd

I didn't fully appreciate just how much warmer London is to the Midlands until I moved up here. On Thursday/Friday I was walking around town in t-shirt – surrounded by people all wrapped up. All those northern football fans with their tops off at Craven Cottage over the years is beginning to make some sense!

The Royal Parks were looking great in their autumn plumage by the way – anyone close to town should get there quickish.

Busy day today, with some early season trepidation.

Ascot 1:40
He may be a dog, but Ouninpohja places as regular as you like. There's a few ways to play this, and if you've got accounts that will let you place each way bets you could do worse than take the 4/1 and lay off the win portion for an evens place bet. Or , if braver, lay-off the win bet in-running. He's close to 10/11 in the place only market and that may be simplest of all. I'll probably combine all three approaches.

Ascot 2:10
Two horses suited by likely conditions at nice prices are Full House and Briery Fox. I haven't decided how to play them at the moment.

Wetherby 3:30
You can have doubts about all of these. State of Play would be the most legitimate contender. One way in could be the pace angle because there's every chance of this being a tear-up, especially if Ollie Magern runs with the choke out again. I think that could give Monkerhostin a great chance of plugging on for a place. He looked to have gone at the game last year – over-raced the season before – but fresh may be the best time to catch him, and his form in the King George and Gold Cup wasn't too shabby.

Football
Can't find a way in to the big match, although Arsenal may still be vulnerable at set pieces, so, despite having described this type of bet at dinner last night as a “mug punters, mug punter bet”, I'll have a very small go on Vidic ew as first goalscorer!

My long-term opposition to Liverpool continues and I think Blackburn are still being underrated. I'm happy to take them at 4/6 on the Asians to win or draw.

I'd throw Leeds, Watford and Stoke into the mix and Oldham at 3/1 or better isn't to be sniffed at.

£500 Challenge

Ascot 1:40
Ouininphja - £15 place at 4/5+

Wetherby 3:30
Monkerhostin - £15 place at 6/4+

Blackburn £15 +0.5 4/6+

Weds 31st October - Challenge summary

End of the month and here's how the £500 challenge is faring.

£500 Challenge summary
Current standing £583.49

Returns running at 108% (which is not very good considering the aims of this fund)

Football
13 bets – 6 wins – 123% returns

Racing
40 bets – 17 wins – 127% returns

Other bets (golf and rugby mainly) – ooops.

Today I like a few to place in uncompetitive events but will wait on the prices. The one I will put up here as the challenge bet is weak at the moment and looks value on an eye-catching run over course and distance on her debut.

£500 Challenge
Nottingham 2:50
Filligree £15 place at 2/1+

Tuesday Oct 30th

It's been a busy month for moving around the country. I'm back for a couple of days before going back to London for a few more welcome hours paid work and beers with friends. Then off to Darlington to see more friends Saturday. So some sporadic postings I expect.

This is usually one of the two periods of the year I all but stop betting on the horses anyway (the period between Grand National and Guineas being the other). Indeed, we usually have our main holiday around now and were going back to Yosemite and wine country this year, but the floods put that on hold. Now my wife has given up her new job – which she hated – so we ought to guard the pennies anyway. It's not like I've been contributing much this year!

Today's racing is terrible. I'm fairly determined to do a challenge bet every day I can find anything, otherwise the blog will just fade away. So step forward What's For Tea at Wolverhampton. The trainer looks to know what he's doing at this track and is in good heart. The opposition is rubbish and I'm happy to have Hayley forcing the fractions. On the other hand she's odds-on in a claimer. I think if we do get a price we may want to get out in-running.

£500 Challenge
Wolves 2:50
What's For Tea £15 win at 11/10+

Thurs 25th Oct

The weekend's successes are beginning to resemble a dead-cat bounce on my graph.

And now it looks like my wife has just failed to get a job she really wanted in a photo finish.We're very lucky people who count our blessings daily, but this year is really trying my patience.

Still, tomorrow I'm off to Brighton for my annual “forget you're 40odd and act like a big kid” shindig with old work colleagues. If that doesn't cheer me up nothing will. It means no postings until Sunday at the earliest.

Not much to suggest today I'm afraid. I think I'll play Calculaite win and place, but an untested novice chaser from a trainer awaiting his first winner of the season is no horse for the Challenge.

Weds 24th October

I made a rather bad mistake yesterday. I overlooked the fact that Willyandwoody was a new addition to Harry Findlay's stable. Although it went unbacked, which led to my selection going off favourite, I don't think I'd have opposed the Nicholls' horse if I'd known. He looked like he may be half-decent as well.

Today there's a terrible set of cards. I looked at whether there was some ew doubles action around some of the maidens, but they look desperate backend affairs.

Football will have to fill the gap.

Shakhtar Donetsk look under-rated against a stuttering AC Milan.

£500 Challenge
£15 Shakhtar Donetsk +1.5 at 1.6+