Sunday 26th October

“£500 Challenge Bet” (£969 - 5 bets inplay – accounted)

I was in a foul mood last night. When Anne went to bed after a bizarre Phil Spector documentary I fired up my laptop to look at the Breeders Cup results, only to see the Europeans had won everything – Conduit even. I was on tilt, no question, and drunkenly fired off a salvo in the big race, and then fifteen minutes later woke the house up as I roared Ravens Pass home. Who says chasing doesn't pay!

Somewhat more sober this morning...and if I'd lost I'd probably still have the bedcovers over my head...

Football. I was all set to back Portsmouth this morning, but then see Harry has jumped what is probably a sinking-in-debt ship. That certainly tempers enthusiasm. On the other hand Fulham remain one of the few teams likely to be unable to take advantage (only 5 away wins in over two seasons), and I could imagine a real closed-ranks atmosphere at the ground today. Plus they've now drifted to a very big price. I'll halve my bet but still play.

So, let's add the big race at Aintree to the portfolio. This comes with the caveat about unfit horses with bigger objectives. That said, I think the front three are fairly priced, given that Exoic Dancer probably needs the run and the rest just aren't very good.

Portsmouth £13 win at Evens (or as close as you can get)
0-0 £2 at 10/1
Aintree 3:15 £15 dutched Oslot/Monets Garden/Voy Per Ustedes at 4/6+

“Barking Bets” (Banked £1175/Current bank £3212)
Did two races yesterday, but not the ones I mentioned here. This fund really is a wait and see one. Maybe something at Aintree today, and/or the Wincanton novice hurdles sponsored by Nicholls, and maybe football in-running. I think I'd rather take Murray at 1.1 to win the tennis than Garcia at 1.2 to win the golf, but both could be considered.

“Snippet of the day”
“How can they justify banning me for four years? I rode only 8 of the horses, yet I'm banned from all racecourses, training yards and all sales worldwide. I can't make a living, yet Paul Blockley, who trained all 11 of the horses, got only two and a half years, and he can still live in the yard.”

(The power of rationalisation underpinning just how institutionally diseased this sport is. And the crowd cheered him into the winning enclosure...turkeys truly will vote for Christmas).