Thursday 18th June

2009 Challenge Fund (£14000)
Current stake - £120

Ascot – I did far better than my morning advices suggested (which makes a change!). A late play on Ouqba kick-started a good day, which felt like one from years gone by when it became apparent what a draw bis there was. I was getting stuck into forecasts and tricasts like I was back in the nineties! Anyway the week is paid for so a relaxing few days await.

It'll be interesting to see if they've done anything overnight, and if the jockeys do something about it today, so I'll be keeping some powder dry. However, a brief run down:

Firstly, two notebook horses at Ripon:
2:10 Danzoe – good form behind Atacama Crossing – need to forgive the last run but at 8/1 we can.
4:00 Snoqualmie Boy – definitely handicapped to win and run in Zetland Cup much better than it reads.

Ascot 2:30 – We got 10/1 about the Yankee speedball yesterday, when with hindsight he should have been more like the 2/1 that Yogaroo is in places this morning. I think I'll keep surfing for the fun of it even so – we Brits may never win another 2 year old race at Ascot!!

Ascot 3:05 – No strong feelings in a race I normally have a horse ready.. Take The Hint is solid and Flying Cloud maybe...

Ascot 3:45 – If we assume the sensible thing is to oppose Yeats at the price you still have to be forgiving about the others to build a case. Mine is going to look silly when he's dogged it yet again, but last time out Geordieland looked like a horse who had realised you're supposed to go by. For me this is a Rooster Booster moment – and once I spot it I back them until they revert to their old tricks (often 1 run!).

Ascot 4:20 – The remarkable thing about this race is that virtually every likely horse is drawn high. Yesterday Lovelace was unlucky that Roaring Forte was withdrawn as that would have been the pace, but even so the far side were slaughtered. An obvious approach based on yesterday is to back Brief Encounter. And Satwa Laird at a big price, and play the fcs/trifecta, and that's the way I'm heading.

Ascot 4:55 – My virtual stable has been pretty empty this year, but Palivicini is in it. The penalty a real cause for concern but still a credible each way bet, and maybe a forecast 2nd to Fremantle.

Ascot 5:30 – No strong feelings. Lasso the Moon is a talented monkey – just the type for a 20/80 bet.

Definite bets
Palivicini £60ew at 12/1
Danzoe £60 at 8/1ish
Snoqualmie Boy £60 at 5/1+
Geordieland £60 at 4/1
£25ew treble Flying Cloud/Brief Encounter/Palivicini


Wimbledon:
Murray could really do with winning either this or the US Open to get himself to the top. Otherwise he may become one of a long string of almost men stuck at 3rd/4th in the rankings. I've kept away from backing him for ages on grounds of value but 4/1 looks very fair with Nadal struggling.

The Williams sisters can be dutched at 5/4 – enough said.

Murray £120 at 4/1
Williams sisters dutch £120 at 5/4



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