Sunday 11th January

2009 Challenge Fund (£9400 – 1 bet in-play accounted)

Toad gave us a 2/1 winner (dutched) to our modest £25 stake, and I played a mysteriously drifting Aston Villa early on to nick another £55. But then I dumped £100 on Aeroplane's race dutching the faves.

Most the forecast football was postponed, wish Burnley had have been, and Frankie Figg didn't get home. I had a lay in the machine to cover the stake at Evens, and naturally the lowest he reached was 2.1 Had better days. Had worse.

Today - Chelsea/Man Utd. Unders is always a big player here – 7 of last 8. The price is probably only fair to be honest – you could just about argue it should be 1.6 based on matches between the Big 4 over the last few years. But both sides do appear to be mis-firing upfront, Chelsea have conceded only 3 times away from home; Man Utd haven't conceded a league goal in something like 11 hours, and you'd think Chelsea would settle for a draw pretty early on.
£100 Under 2.5 goals at 1.65

The Pierse Hurdle is more of a fun bet, on a lottery that I've been lucky enough to win a few times. My darts have fallen on Fen Game, Deutschland, Alpine Eagle and Silver Jaro and for simplicity's sake, let's call it £25 win on each at best prices.



Barking Bets (Banked £1375/Current bank £3025 – 1 bet in play unaccounted)
This week's stake - £320.

Played the first novice hurdle at Ayr yesterday. Was going to play Andy Murray but the injury scare put me off. There's only been 15 bets in last 4 weeks. 15 bets per week is what we could really do with. Let's hope things pick up as the new year gets into swing.

Geoff Ogilvy is 6 shots clear overnight. People greening up (and fears of wind) seem to be allowing him to start at a decent 1.17 – I'll play.