Hopeless

todays bets:

2.30 Absa Lutte £10 - lost - £10

2.40 Wor Rom £5 e/w - placed + £3

3.20 Oscar Close £20 - lost - £20

3.30 Captain Ramius £20 - lost - £20

5.10 Beyond The Tweed £10 e/w - lost - £20

today - £67                     total + £474.35                             bank + £1474.35 

The hopeless run continues with four terrible runs and one second place that never looked like winning.

The day started with an absolutely pathetic ride, the horse being just about last then full of running all too late when passing a few inside the last furlong.

A glimmer of hope when Wor Rom stayed on to finish a well beaten second with the third well behind to go on the blog as yet another second place.Oscar Close was another horse with an inexperienced rider, the money was soon lost as this horse plugged on remotely to finish third.

Captain Ramius was in a four runner race and if i mention the word Spencer you know what the next words are going to be, Yes he found lots of trouble in running after looking the likely winner and having to be switched inside the final furlong he was eased to finish last!

Beyond The Tweed was a big price e/w bet who was very weak in the market before the race so hope was not high, he looked to be going ok till he ran wide and lost all chance, another awful run.

Desperate day with four horses with inexperienced riders and an awful ride off a supposed top jockey just about sum up the day.     



Fell Off

todays bets:

2.50 Sheer Genius £10 e/w - lost - £20

today - £20                    total + £541.35                         bank + £1541.35

Just one bet on the blog today, Sheer Genius who came a cropper at the second last fence when in contention and could well have finished in the money. I also had a few trades on the exchanges with ended with me being level.

I think i am going to start using the exchanges a bit more now, so it will be almost impossible to add to the blog all the back/lays i have traded although i will add whenever possible and keep up to date with the profit/loss statistics.

I am glad to see the back of this week which has been extremely difficult, hoping for better next week, with only a fortnight to the festival i could do with boosting the coffers a bit before then!

Reality



todays bets:

Late bets last night + £3

1.35 Suntrap £15 - lost - £15

1.55 Kumbeshar £15 e/w - placed + £1.88

1.55 Mr Muddle £3 e/w - lost - £6

2.10 Arctic Lynx £40 - lost - £40

2.15 Reindeer Dippin £30 - won9/2 + £135

3.10 Hitchens £40 - lost - £40

3.15 Giles Cross £25 e/w - placed + £6.25

3.35 Celtus £40 - lost - £40

4.10 Rollwiththepunches £15 e/w - lost - £30

4.45 Cruchain £20 e/w - lost - £40

5.00 The Tracey Shuffle - £27 - won2.5bf + £38

5.15 Tour D'argent £30 - lost - £30

today - £56.87                     total + £561.35                      bank + £1561.35

A very busy day, a very indifferent day, winners, placed bets and lots of losers was the order of the day.

A couple of small bets last night on the exchanges resulted in a minor profit of three quid, still better than losing, Suntrap was backed off the boards, i was on at sixes and it ended up less than half that so a good run was expected, but a terrible run started off the day, then the 1.55 was a split bet race which the bigger bet hung on for a place, Arctic Lynx was another heavily backed satchel filler, who the jockey decided to keep to the slowest part of the course up the inside and never looked liked winning.

Reindeer Dippin was prominent and held on well to win when the challenger was given a poor ride and probably should have won, Hitchens was another popular runner who disappointed badly to finish unplaced after running an extra furlong around the outside, Giles Cross was prominent all the way and in a two horse war up the home straight finished second with both desperately tired and the winner being well ridden next to the rails, Celtus went out like a light when push came to shove, Rollwiththepunches was soon on the ropes when the pace quickened.

Cruchain made a jumping error and was struggling after never landing a blow, the two bumper races saw The Tracey Shuffle run on well for a much needed winner and my final bet Tour D'argent which would have seen me end the day in profit was less popular than a fart in a lift and i suppose ran decent enough finishing second.

A hard day for winners with heavy ground, three a/w runners all hammered in the betting and all beaten, a marathon runner finishing second and a bumper runner finishing second to round off a poor day.

Going Up

todays bets:

Late bet last night - £40

2.10 Dormouse £12 e/w - won10/1 + £150

2.20 Dinarius £50 - lost - £50

4.00 Prince Du Seuil £12 e/w - placed + £3

4.00 Manele Bay £8 e/w - lost - £16

today + £47                       total + £618.22                       bank + £1618.22

A quiet day today due to a family funeral, fortunately placed a few bets before going, can you believe the village of the funeral had no mobile or internet signal available.

A forty pound bet on a horse backed off the boards last night gave me an uphill struggle to start with, that was soon turned around with Dormouse squeaking to a neck victory and a nice profit and the insurance policy of not losing on the day.

Dinarius would have made today a great day but found one too good, Prince Du Seuil sneaked into a place and Manele Bay was nearer last than first.

A short right up tonight as i have not seen any racing, i am having two win bets tonight to small stakes which will be settled on tomorrows blog, lets hope for a good day tomorrow to end a difficult week.

Rubbish

todays bets:

Football bet last night + £35

£15 e/w double - lost - £30

2.50 Proud Times £20 e/w - placed - £4

3.55 Sheriff Hall £50 - lost - £50

4.40 Decent Lord £80 - lost - £80

5.20 Positivity £40 - won2/1 + £80

6.15 Swop £10 e/w - lost - £20

6.15 Warsaw £5 e/w - lost - £10

today - £79                  total + £571.22                   bank + £1571.22

Another losing day and the bad week continues, the weekend in coming and the racing should improve, lets hope i find a few winners.

A profit from a football bet last night started me off on the right foot but sadly things went downhill faster than a pork pie in a synagogue, an e/w double went astray, Proud Times looked like upsetting the odds on favourite but for the jockey allowing him through on the rails to win when he could easily have closed the gap on him and won the damn race! it seemed to me that he wanted him to come through the gap and beat him, it was in my book a bad ride.

Sheriff Hall jumped to the right and was put in his place easily despite being heavily backed, Decent Lord again well supported  was last until he made headway with two hurdles left to jump, looked like he was coming to win but could not quicken, maybe the fifteen length start he gave the leaders was a factor or maybe it was the hike in the weights.

Positivity ran well and recovered a few bob for me, a daft bet at Meydan where i had two running for me was a bet i should not have struck, Swop was last with two furlongs to run and ran on well to finish a never nearer fifth and Warsaw was no better.

I may have another bet tonight which will be on tomorrows blog to end a miserable day. 

Mixed Day

todays bets:

2.00 Raya Star £40 - won15/8 + £75

2.05 Chaperoned £10 - lost - £10

2.35 Benartic £2 - lost - £2

3.10 Moose Moran £10 - won10/3 + £33.33

3.40 Dark Ben £10 - lost - £10

4.10 Wild Desert £20 e/w - lost - £40

4.10 Quickbeam £20 e/w - lost - £40

Stranraer to win £50 @ 7/10

today + £6.33                     total + £650.22                   bank + £1650.22

Had a football bet which will be settled on tomorrows blog as still playing now, a mixed day on the horses for me today.

Great start with Raya Star staying on best of all to win the first race and give me a nice profit to start my day out at Doncaster with, a bet at Fairyhouse on Chaperoned would have added to the coffers but came off second best, a token bet on Benartic was soon down the pan as well.

Moose Moran jumped much better than his first run over hurdles and soon had the race in the bag despite having more sweat than a Turkish Wrestlers Jockstrap on him before the race!

Dark Ben jumped to the right and was soon beaten once the home straight backoned, in the 4.10 bookies benefit i had two horses running for me and guess what? sixteen runners became fifteen so fourth place went begging, Wild Desert was up with the pace and was sadly found wanting and was pulled up, Quickbeam was just as poor finishing tailed off after also being prominent in the early stages.

A small profit today and a few quid more if Stranraer can win, five bets at Donny was it, as the Hunter Chase and Bumper where not worth staying for.

Going Down



todays bets:

2.40 Sunday Sharpener £10 e/w - lost - £20

3.40 Iolith £25 - lost - £25

4.35 Port Hill - lost - £5

4.45 Chilbury Hill £20 e/w - lost - £40

4.45 Bright Decision £10 e/w - placed + £15

5.20 Inkberrow Rose £20 e/w - placed + £ 12.50

5.20 Gourango £5 e/w - lost - £10

today - £72.50                      total + £643.89                  bank + £1643.89

Three losing days in a row now so due a good day tomorrow! well that's what the law of averages says i think...

Sunday Sharpener ran a stinker and was pulled up when tailed off in the back straight to get the day off to a bad start, Iolith was weak in the betting so i feared the worst at post time and that was a good feeling as it never looked like winning and surprise surprise the one with the money on won well, Port Hill was a horse i had backed previously and was again weak in the market and ran accordingly.

The 4.45 race was one i had a two pronged attack in, Chilbury Hill was well supported  and did not jump too well and never got in the race, Bright Decision was prominent in the race and stayed on to finish a well beaten second and a return at least, even though a losing race.

Another two pronged attack in the 5.20, Gouranga was hopeless and was beaten with a full circuit to run, surely he tiptoed back to the stables so as not to wake the other horses! Inkberrow Rose got a place after the leader bit the turf when looking the winner, fortunate but i'm not complaining, a small profit on the race and better than spending the night with a blind puff and a tin of jumbo hotdogs!

Two places in the latter races when a winner would have seen a profit on the day so a day where i was close but no cigar, could be a day at Doncaster races tomorrow you never know.

quiet

todays bets:

5.30 Crown Council £20 - lost - £20

6.00 Mount Hollow £15 - lost - £15

today: - £35                       total - £715.39                     bank + £1715.39

A very quiet day today with only two horses worthy of losing my whisky vouchers!

Crown Council ran a good race for an inexperienced horse, only being beaten into second place when well clear of the rest of the field, at least he gave me a run for my money.

Mount Hollow had a few quid on him close to post time so i was hopeful of a good showing, he was running up the inside then switched out before being short of room a couple of times and had no chance after, not impressed with riding of this horse.

Another losing day but once again only minor losses incurred, heavy going was the order of the day so decided to leave the turf alone.

bump

todays bets:

£12.50 e/w double - placed + £1.50

£10 double - lost - £10

3.30 Radium £10 - won11/8 + £13.75

4.05 Bennythejets £15 - lost - £15

5.05 Sizing Ireland £30 - lost - £30

today - £39.75                            total + £750.39                 bank £1750.39

Back to earth with a bump today but gladly it was only a minor bump on a quiet day's racing for me.

An each-way double ended with two placed horses at short prices and coppers profit on the bet, a win double saw the first horse Radium win and Sizing Ireland finish well beaten so no return from that.

Three win bets saw Radium battle gamely to win on the run to the line, Bennythejets was well beaten and never got in a blow and Sizing Ireland looked like he could be involved in the finish but probably needed the run and will surely run a big race next time.

Not a lot of damage done today but still goes on the record as a losing day to end the week with.

Cracking



todays bets:

Late bets last night + £51

1.20 Sonofvic £20 - won3/1 + £60

2.00 Sultan Fontenaille £20 - lost - £20

2.35 Jetnova £5 e/w - won9/2 + £27

2.45Bensalem £10 - lost - £10

3.00 Riverside Theatre £20 - won11/8 + 27.50

3.20 Silver By Nature £20 e/w - won10/1 + £250

3.20 Ballyfitz £10 e/w - placed + £40

3.20 West End Rocker £10 e/w - lost - £20

3.35 Lough Derg £10 e/w - lost - £20

3.45 Mille Chief £20 - won15/8 + £37.50

3.55 Lackamon £40 - lost - £40

4.15 Double Dash £10 e/w - lost - £20

4.35 Mister Green £20 - lost - £20

4.40 Mono Man £20 - won7/4 + £35

4.50 Sagunt £10 e/w - lost - (laid stake back on exchange so no loss)

today + £378                           total + £790.14                   bank + £1790.14

What a cracking day today which started with a profit i had from a couple of bets last night on the all weather.

First bet Sonofavic ran a great race in what looked a trappy affair and after his opponent made an error at the last, he stayed on well to win, maybe fortunate, maybe not. Sultan Fontenaille was his best chance of a winner said the trainer on the morning line so i quickly had a bet at a decent price, which disappeared quicker a set of alloy wheels on Merseyside, AP rode but he made errors and never looked like winning. Jetnova Jumped well and won easily after running away after the last was jumped, Bensalem looked like it was a matter of how far three out but seemed to blow up and finished exhausted, he is on my festival list though if he runs over fences.

Riverside Theatre won easy, his market rival fell early so he had little to beat, another in the notebook. The 3.20 was a race i had three bets in all e/w in a hard looking race, two filled the first two places at whopping prices to ensure a nice profit on the race, the third disappointed, but what a race and as Meatloaf says........................

An old favourite Lough Derg looked to have a better chance today than previously but when push came to shove he was soon outpaced and was all in all disappointing, Mille Chief just got up on the line for a hard fought victory when looking like an easy victory was on the cards, Lackamon was prominent for a while but was certainly found lacking, as was Double Dash who was well beaten. Mister Green was my only bet on the sand, was put out the back and ran wide and was never a factor, Mono Man ran a great race in the bumper easily beating the hotpot and finally Sagunt was well supported before and during the early stages of the race so i decided to have a dabble on the exchanges to ensure my stake was saved in what looked an impossible race.

Great stuff again today with another nice profit on what was a very busy day for me, probably had more bets than usual because the standard of racing was good and temptation maybe got the better of me after a few early winners. Back to a more disciplined approach tomorrow.

Loadsamoney

todays bets:

1.15 French Opera £80 - won7/2 + £280

1.50 Notus De La Tour £10 e/w - placed + £20

1.50 Rebel Dancer £20 e/w - lost - £40

1.50 Zanir £10 e/w - lost - £20

3.35 Ericht £20 - won11/10 + £22

4.50 Tante Sissi £20 - won3/1 + £60

today + £322                      total + £412.14                    bank + £1412.14

A fantastic day today with three winners, one place and two fallers from only six bets.

The first bet was a big win bet on French Opera, he was always prominent, jumped well and only had AP to beat from a long way out which he did easily, this is a horse going places and was returned at a whopping price after late money came for a couple of others.

In the next race i had three running for me, the Pipe trained horse led most of the way and stayed on strongly to finish the race third and give me a return and the other two runners both fell at the penultimate fence when the race was just warming up, whether they would have got in the race is anyone's guess but it still would have been interesting to see what would have happened!

Two hotpots to finish with and two easy winners, both in Bumper's, the only surprise being the price of the latter Tante Sissi who was much shorter all day, you can't beat B.O.G. and Ericht dismissed the opposition with ultimate ease, if only it was always this easy.

A nice profit to head into the weekend on a high, let's hope we can keep up the good work and finally hello to my new follower you certainly brought me luck today.

Fray Bentos

todays bets:

2.10 Super Baby £10 e/w - lost - £20

2.10 Quacify £20 e/w - lost - £40

3.05 Gilwen Glory £25 - lost - £25

3.25 La Estrella £60 - won5/6 + £50

6.10 Swop £20 e/w - placed + £10

today - £25                            total + £90.14                      bank + £1090.14

Another day with heavy or very soft ground and a few unexpected results are usually on the cards on days like this, and this was no different.

The first race i had a look at was the 2.10 when i had two e/w wagers, where one placed horse would have been the minimum requirement. The race turned out to be a disappointment with both running badly and being well beaten and of course unplaced!

The 3.05 race was where i had a win only bet on Gilwen Glory who appeared to be fancied by the betting, he was always struggling and never a factor, my wedge was soon down the pan, three bets and all three likely candidates for the Fray Bentos factory! a terrible start in both Scotland and Wales so no Haggis or Leeks for supper tonight.

As much as i hate backing odds on i felt that La Estrella was just about value so i had my biggest bet of the day on him and he duly recoved a nifty for me although why the jockey was looking over his shoulder around the home turn is beyond me, he probably won a shade cosily in the end, my final bet in Meydan ran ok but had he been closer to the pace would surely have won but another Ayrton profit to ensure i was only a pony down on the day.

A loss today but after three races i would have been happy with this outcome and tomorrow see's a good rearranged meeting at Newbury and plenty more decent racing so sure to be a busy day.

                          

Ayrton



todays bets:

2.10 Pacha D'Oudairies £32.50 e/w - lost - £65

2.20 Vallaini £20 e/w - won9/2 + £112.50

3.45 Catleen £10 e/w - lost - £20

5.00 Lisahane bog £25 - lost - £25

5.40 Kyle of Bute £10 e/w - placed + £7.50

today + £10                         total + £115.14                        bank + £1115.14

A day with a decent outlay which could have gone either way but ended in a profit of just an Ayrton Senna.

My first bet was an e/w and i was disappointed with the way it was ridden, it always seemed to be in behind other horses and not getting a view of the fences which led to a few poor jumps, then when it was coming to challenge at the last it was again denied a clear view of the fence and jumped poorly then ran on too late and was less than a length out of the frame!

Vallani was ridden around the inside for most of the race and stayed on dourly to win cosily in the end and secure a profit on the day, my irish bet Catleen was unable to be given away in the ring and ran accordingly, being out the back and making a bit of headway without being given a chance, probably be saved for another day.

My two flat bets where at different meetings and ran very different races, Lisahane Bog was weak in the market and was again given a poor ride, had no room and was pulled out to run on all too late. My final bet was Kyle of Bute e/w at Kempton who was ridden from the front at a furious pace and looked the likely winner after going six lengths clear with two furlongs to go, then the favourite came out of the pack faster than a Scouser offered a job and flew past too win easily to ensure i did not end the day with a decent return.



Placed

todays bets:



1.40 Lucky Sunny £60 - lost - £60
2.10 Mighty Mangus £25 - lost - £25
2.20 Barnum £20 - lost - £20
4.30 Downe Payment £20 e/w - placed + £30



today - £75                                   total + £105.14                       bank + £1105.14



Normal service resumed today with the only return a third placed place money and another three losers on the account.

Lucky Sunny was quite well fancied but for a reason unknown the rider decided to have him at the back of the field about a dozen lengths behind the winner, then made up the ground coming into the home straight and had nothing left between the last two hurdles and finished well beaten.

Mighty Mangus was well backed and i had hoped for a better showing but the place curse struck again as he laboured to third place after lacking the heart for a battle in the desperate ground

Barnum was a first time out runner and was again supported in the market but was ridden along almost immediately after leaving the stalls, and finished last but one in a race of dire quality, very disappointing for a horse from these connections!

My final bet was an e/w on Downe Payment who was prominent for most of the race until the final two flights then got passed by two runners and plodded on to finish third and at least give me some return.

Four bets, three in the frame and still a losing day, it was really terrible going and these days are bad to try and find winners but we carry on regardless.

Fabulous

todays bets:



2.20 Mac Aeda £40 - won15/8 + £75
3.00 Super Directa £20 - lost - £20
4.20 Loyalty £35 e/w - placed + £10.50
5.10 Lexy's Boy £10 - won3/1 + £30
5.40 Pilgrim Dancer £10e/w - lost - £20



today + £75.50                      total + £180.14                    bank + £1180.14



Another fabulous day with another decent profit with two winners, one place and two losers.

The best win came with my first bet when Mac Aeda who only had to beat one other horse from a long way out and duly ran away from that rival between the last two hurdles to win by eighteen lengths from the appropriately named Eighteen Carats.

Super Directa seen his opponents dwindle and only had two rivals to beat, but that was too tall an order for him as he finished a well beaten second behind the outsider with the favourite well behind. Loyalty stayed on well to return a small profit with his third place and Lexys Boy ran on well when it looked like his market rival had his measure but the lovely Hayley had traffic problems and finished behind my horse.

Pilgrim Dancer was a poor bet but it was not helped by a false start, some of the horses got hot and bothered with this fiasco and he ran poorly and was just about last at the winning post.

Good to get another winning day and especially nice to be in a no lose situation after the first race, lets see how this week unfolds with hopefully more winning days to boost the coffers!

Half Full

todays bets:

3.10 Bench Warrant £20 - lost - £20

4.00 Ratify £10e/w - won9/2 + £54

4.10 As Der Fer £5e/w - won6/1 + £36

4.30 Yes Man £10 - lost - £10

today + £60                          total + £104.64                   bank + £1104.64

A quiet day today with two winners and two losers but my glass is definately half full not half empty! so a decent end to another week.

Bench Warrant was my first bet of the day and tried to lead but was harrassed by other runners, made a few jumping errors and finished well beaten after weakening quickly.

Ratify was an e/w bet and again tried to make all, leading from the start and getting a huge lead, with the desperate conditions there was always the chance of him tying up but he galloped on relentlessly and soon had his rivals in trouble and won by a very long way, just what the doctor ordered.  As Der Fer had recently won well under similar conditions and was shouldering a massive twelve pounds penalty, he travelled very well and looked like the winner a long way out, he had one challenger but he was soon put in his place and two winners in ten minutes it was.

My final bet certainly turned out to be a Yes Man, giving in to the opposition, he was weaker than a pint of beer in London and never showed any willingness to get in the race, a very poor run.

All in all a decent day and three score goes into the pot to fight another day.

Out Of Jail



todays bets:

2.05 Neighbourhood £10 - lost - £10

2.50 Native Coll £20e/w - lost - £40

3.15 Money Trix £10e/w - lost - £20

4.25 Rudi Trucker £80 - lost - £80

4.50 Good Again £10e/w - lost - £20

4.50 Layline £10 - won16/1 + £160

Today - £10                          bank + £44.64                       total + £1044.54

First things first, it was very distressing to see two horses tragically killed in the parade ring at Newbury, which led to the abandonment of the meeting after the first race, it is always awful seeing horses getting injured or killed on the track never mind before they even make it onto the track. Let's not forget the horse's are the reason we love the sport and without them we have no racing, i hope they both suffered as little as possible and there deaths was instant.

Neighbourhood was a horse i wish i hadn't looked out for as he was never a factor and was soon out of the race when it started in earnest, a very poor effort indeed.

Native Coll seemed to be going ok for half the race then went out quicker than a Reggae band at a Klu Klux Klan meeting and was pulled up when miles behind, Money Trix made a mistake at the fifth fence then after negotiating the sixth was promptly pulled up with something amiss in the Irish Hennessy, a race i was convinced would not be won by the short price favourite and that was the right call but the wrong horse!

Rudi Trucker ran in a Hunter Chase and led for most of the race but was let down by some poor jumping and poor riding if i am totally honest, the race was won by the best jockey in the race and my horse finished second after a horse fell at the last, i think some of these riders in these races are very poor.

In the Pull Me Out Stakes at 4.50 i had two horses running for me the most fancied was Good Again who was very disappointing after drifting in the market, my other runner Layline also drifted after being well supported earlier in the day but travelled well coming round the home straight and stayed on well when looking sure to get swamped to end the afternoon only with a minor deficit.

I may consider a few small bets on the night racing which will be settled on tomorrow's blog.

Bad Day

todays bets:

1.30 Zealous Diktator £15e/w - lost - £30

1.30 Niceonefrankie £15e/w - lost - £30

2.05 Patsy Finnegan £25 - lost - £25

3.10 Original Prankster £15e/w - lost - £30

4.20 Plein Pouvoir £60 - lost - £60

4.55 Cheltenian £60 - won5/6 + £50

today - £125                              total + £54.64                      bank + £1054.64

Yet again bad luck played it's part with a faller at the second  last when sure to get a place! This is getting tiresome and surely it cannot continue, have i ran over a black cat?

The first race i backed in was another two horse bet and too be totally honest both where poor with neither getting involved in the race and both well beaten. Then a win bet on the well supported Patsy Finnegan who again was a major disappointment jumping badly at a few fences and never looking the winner.

Original Prankster would have been placed when taking a heavy fall when certain to be placed and give me a decent return for my E/W bet, but it was not too be and the race goes in the history books as another loser, then a terrible run followed from another well backed horse Plein Pouvoir who again never threatened to win the race.

My last bet was Cheltenian who was again popular with punters and i got on early, the sp was very short but he travelled well and there was only ever going to be one challenger who he just got the better of, this was a little consolation to round off a bad day.

Lovely

todays bets:

2.30 First in the Queue £10e/w - lost - £20

3.20 Punching £15 - lost - £15

3.20 Realt Na Mara £2 - lost - £2

3.40 Tricky Tree £15e/w - won10/1 + £168.75

3.40 Crazy Bold £15e/w - lost - £30

5.00 Prince Of Denial £25e/w - placed + £12.50

5.00 Calico Rose £5e/w - won8/1 + £50

today + £164.25                   total + £179.64                    bank + £1179.64

A good day today after a start which had me thinking it was going to be one of them days.

First In The Queue was third at the last flight when he was brought down when guaranteed a place at worst, that would still have gave me a return and a small profit and he was running on so might have gave the winner something to think about.

In the 3.20 i had two win bets, the biggest looked like the winner until the favourite stayed on best of all to pass him inside the final furlong and win cosily, two races and both losers i thought my luck was going to be out for the day.

Tricky Tree ran a great race for a bloodless victory and a nice profit even though there was a couple of deductions made for non-runners, Crazy Bold pulled hard and was never in the race.

I also had two running for me in the last race i had an interest in, and coming to the home straight they where clear of the remainder, unfortunately for me my biggest bet finished second and smaller bet won! No complaints though as a nice profit was had to end the day.

A second consecutive winning day to put me in a small profit on the blog, lets hope for a good weekend where there could well be some quality racing to get stuck into.

Winner



todays bets:

2.40 Tarton Snow £20e/w - won13/2 + £156

2.40 Banoge £5e/w - lost - £10

2.50 If I Had Him £25e/w - placed - £7.50

2.50 Wyeth £5e/w - lost - £10

3.25 Cloudy Spirit £20e/w - lost - £40

5.10 Seeking Rio £15 - lost  + £3.50 - traded on exchanges.

7.10 Kuala Lumpa £20 - won11/4 + £55

today + £147             total + £15.39                    bank + £1115.39

A winning day which could have been better and could have been worse, after two losing days this was more than a welcome reprieve and puts me back in profit.

The first race i had an interest in was the best with two horses running for me, Banoge was travelling well when falling and Tartan Snow jumped well and won cosily at rewarding odds for a nice profit, as this was the bigger of the bets it was nice to start the day in a no lose situation.

I also had two running in the next race and this time Wyeth badly injured himself and was pulled up and If I Had Him led all the way only to be passed on the run to the line, surely it was asking to much for an Alex Ferguson horse to do me a favour? No damage done as most of my stake was returned through the place money.

Cloudy Spirit was well backed before the race and it was disheartening to see him beaten for third after being towards the front for most of the race, annoying the fact that there was only fifteen runners and that was my final bet on the turf.

Two bets where struck for the all weather and the first bet Seeking Rio was backed at 14/1 as a win only bet, with three non-runners and a ten percent rule four it was still nice to see him hammered in the betting and i decided to lay some back on the exchanges, after it lost and commission taken off a small profit was made, and Miss Turner got him stuck in a hole Errol Flynn would have had trouble with so he was never a factor in the race. Kuala Limper almost made hard work of winning, after cruising through to lead and looking good for an easy victory he idled somewhat and the bicycle clips where well and truly in place after the never ending final furlong after he held on for a narrow victory to ensure i was up on the day.

Failure

todays bets:

1.55 Cosmetic £10e/w - lost - £20

3.35 Porta Vogie £60 - lost - £60

3.45 Marvellous Value £8 - lost - £8

4.45 Deejan £10 - lost - £10

today - £98                           total - £131.61                                bank + £868.39

Bad day today with four losers from four bets and for once i cannot blame withdrawn horses, jockeys or photo finish's, today was totally my own failure, end of story!

My local NH track had a meeting today when for once there was no abandonment or inspection as Sedgefield loses more meetings than most.  My first bet of the day was an e/w on Cosmetic who was well fancied having been backed from eights to fives only to pull hard and weaken badly from three fences out, not a good start.

Porta Vogie was a horse i had high hopes of but they where soon brought down to earth quicker than a David Haye sparring partner, he made a few jumping errors and was never a factor from a long way out, another desperate run.

The only horse that threatened to trouble the judge was Marvellous Value who ran ok without ever looking the winner and Deejan led from start to three out before being passed quicker than a pint of hot Andrews Liver Salts to end a bad day.

Poor efforts today and a poor days racing all round, hoping for better tomorrow.

Loser

todays bets:

Torres to score first goal - refund + £20

1.30 Painted Tail £20 - lost - £20

2.25 Decider £10 - lost - £10

4.05 Diapason £15e/w - lost - £30

today - £40                         total - £33.61                              bank + £966.39

You know it is a disappointing day when the highlight is getting a stake refunded, the score i had on Torres as first goalscorer yesterday was refunded as he was substituted prior to a goal being scored, a nice brucie bonus to start the day but sadly it was all downhill from there!

The first race of the day brought my first wager, Painted Tail in an a/w bumper was towards the front when the race started but was sadly found lacking and finished well beaten in fifth place.

One thing that i hate is backing two short priced horses to win in the same race, backing two e/w at decent odds i can abide, in the first race at Wolverhampton i was undecided what to back so decided to back the appropriately named Decider, which of course ran awful and the other unbacked fancy won, as both where towards the top of the market there was not a lot of value in backing two horse's or backing e/w, so my Ayrton Senna was lost.

The most annoying thing for punter's is getting a nice e/w bet in an eight horse race then finding out after everybody's bets are placed that predictably one is deemed a non runner and of course my horse finished third so no return! The betting pattern even with the non runner told a story as it was less popular than being stuck in a lift with a flatulant Jehovah witness.

Today's sermon is do not back e/w in eight horse races until the last inch of horse is in the stalls, is it just a coincidence that there was loads of races with seven runners today and a few that had the eighth horse withdrawn? the word skulduggery comes to mine.

Two out of three ain't bad

todays bets:

Torres to score first goal £20 - lost - £20

3.25 Marodima £12 - won 6/1 + £72

3.35 Hunterview £20 - won + £55

today + £107                           total + £6.39                      bank + £1006.39

Well the recovery continued today with a quiet day and only three bets including a rare football bet.

Marodima was like a 'Bat Out Of Hell' leading all the way and romping home, he certainly 'Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth' with a 'Razors Edge' performance.

Hunterview was a real 'Deadringer' and he certainly 'Couldn't Have Said It Better' the way he won, leading from the front and there was 'Not A Dry Eye In The House' when he passed the lollipop well clear for my second winner in ten minutes!

I thought the script was written for Torrres to get the opening goal today against his old club, but he certainly was not a 'Man Of Steel' and was 'Going Knowhere Fast' before he was substituted in the second half, with the cheap shell suits winning the game by a goal to nil.

Going into a new week and after the misfortune of last week with bumper horse's falling, jockey's riding shocker's, horses with little nose's and slipped saddle's it is a minor miracle that i am actually still solvent never mind actually slightly ahead. The one thing i might have learnt is not to panic and persevere, the words swings and roundabouts come to mind, as they say patience is a virtue and everything comes to he who waits! Are you reading this Cheryl!

Recovery

todays bets:



Late double last night £40 - lost - £40
Double e/w £20 - placed + £12
2.25 Medermit £40 - won £10/3 + £133.33
3.00 Kilcrea Kim £15e/w - won 15/2 + £140.63
3.00 Dantari £5e/w - placed + £20
3.10 Adams Island £15 - lost - £15
3.40 Royales Charter £20 - lost - £20



today + £230.96                   total - £100.61                              bank + £899.39



Well the recovery is underway with a nice profit after the recent hiccups and a few 'Our Fathers' last night! A pleasant day without having to mention the words 'Nose' or 'Short Head' with a couple of winners who actually won without the need of a milipixel camera.

A Barney Rubble from last night started the day in deficit so an uphill struggle was on the cards before i had clapped eyes on a four legged friend, the day started with an E/W double the first of which lead everywhere but the last fifty yards and the second leg also got placed so a welcome small profit there.

Medermit for a change jumped excellent and looked the winner from a long way out although my bicycle clips where close to being used in the last half a furlong! then followed a race where i had two running for me, Dantari shot off faster than Joan Collins's underwear and stayed on strongly when challenged to earn me place money at rewarding odds but more rewarding was the fact that my other runner Kilcrea Kim cruised through to lead and the bicycle clips stayed close by all the way to the line, a nice split stake win and place race.

Adams Island jumped like a buffalo with piles and my money was soon done there and my final bet was a win on the second leg of my double who finished third so i did not collect there apart from the return from the E/W double.

A well needed start to the recovery and hopefully the run of bad luck may have ended as i was convinced with recent events that if i was one of  Angelina Jolie's triplets i would have been on the bottle......

Stress

todays bets:

2 x Accumulaters - £40

1.20 Sir Boss £20e/w - placed + £7.50

1.30 Our Father £100 - lost - £100

2.25 Gunna Be A Devil £15e/w - placed + £4.50

2.25 Musical Wedge £10e/w - lost - £20

3.05 Dromore Hill £40e/w - lost - £80

3.40 Yetholm £15e/w - lost - £30

3.40 Oscar Close £10e/w - lost - £20

4.05 Mohi Rahrere £15 - lost - £15

today - £293                    total - £331.57                     bank + £668.43

Total carnage today on what was a very busy day and can only be described as terrible, a day where the gale force winds where clearly having an effect on some horses performance but it was the same for all horses.

The first bet Sir Boss ran on ok between horses to finish third when a stronger jockey may have won, Our Father was cruising in the home straight and it looked like a case of how far but the jockey never went clear instead choosing to sit behind, when the gun was too his head he couldn't quicken and was beaten a length with ten back to the third, i much prefer riders to get clear when cruising but most like to sit and win after the last. That also put pay to my two accumulaters.

Gunna be a devil was well supported and disappointed with only a third place with my other bet being well behind. Dromore Hill was again well supported and with first time blinkers on was sure to give a good account! How wrong i was, he jumped badly the first two and was behind and that was that, out of the race after just two fences, maybe the trainer should have tried him in blinkers before the race.

Yetholm and Oscar Close were poor and Mohi Rahrere put the seal on an awful day with a desperate run. I may be having one more bet at Wolverhampton which will be settled on tomorrows blog.

Slipped



todays bets:

late bet yesterday 7.20 Advertisement £40 - won evs + £40

2.10 Molly Round £15 - lost - £15

3.30 Bentley £10 - won 9/2 + £45

4.50 Flyit Flora £20e/w - lost -£40

4.45 Tyrone G R £20 - lost - £20

5.00 Prince James £20 - lost - £20

6.00 Miami Gator £10 - lost - £10

8.00 Bromhead £10 - lost - £10

8.00 Port Head £40 - lost - £40

today - £70                             total - £48.57                           bank + £951.43



Had a late bet last night which won at evens so a profit to start todays blog.

Yet again the gods where against me with a faller in a NH flat race when in with a chance at a whopping price, when that happens you know your luck is out especially when the hotpot runs a stinker. Molly Round jumped badly the first couple before the trainee jockey jumped off, then Bentley cruised to a comfortable win, that turned out to be the days only winner.

Flyit Flora was a good price and running ok when slipping on the home turn although it is impossible to say what would have happened, my gut feeling is he would have finished in the first five so maybe i could have had a nice return or maybe not who knows?

Miami Gator, Prince James and Tyrone G R all ran badly, and in the last race of the day i had two running for me.
Bromhead was weak in the market and ran accordingly, Port Hill was strong in the market and a big run expected, he was well away and on the first circuit he appeared to stumble of get hampered and found himself at the back of the field with a furlong and a half to go, then still on the bridle Ned somehow found himself with knowhere to go, pulled him wide and maybe he thought he was riding Arazi, as the horse quickened well and was clear of all but the winner at the lollipop!

I think today i was a bit unlucky again and had a stronger rider been on Port Head he would have won cosily as he was the best horse on the day, but in this game the best horse does not always win that is why it is called gambling, still feel confident that good times lie ahead.



Nose

todays bets:

1.20 Wor Rom £15e/w - won 11/2 + £103.13

1.20 Pickwick £5e/w - lost - £10

1.50 Soul Angel £20e/w - placed + £8

3.00 Lady Willa £40 - won 15/8 + £75

3.20 Seren Rouge - £20 - lost - £20

3.40 Zafrandger £20 - lost - £20

4.10 Opera North £10 - lost - £10

4.30 Mayolynn £5 - won 4/1 + £20

5.20 Round Won £20 - lost - £20

today + £126.13                      total + £21.43                              bank + £1021.43

Another winning day but that is only half the story, how it could have been a fantastic day!

First race i had an interest in was a split stake bet and my biggest stake done the business with the minimum of fuss, and i almost nailed the next winner, after being well behind turning for home he stayed on till the line and was a length down at the lollipop, the closest he had been all race.

Lady Willa won in a canter even though the market rival got injured and that was enough to secure a winning day and any other winners were a brucie bonus, Seren Rouge was well beaten and then the air was blue whilst watching Zafrandger run, the saddle slipped forward with about a mile to run and my wonga slipped with it, the worst feeling in the world is (apart from saying i do!) knowing that your horse's chance has gone because of the incompetance of stable staff..................infuriating.

Opera North was hopeless, then another winner when Mayolynn cantered away after the last for my third winner, Round Won led every yard except the last and went down by a nose with a couple of short heads in the photo as well for good measure.

Another winning day so no complaints although it is always annoying when going down by the minimum distance and more annoying when you don't even get a chance due to a badly fitted saddle!

Short Head

todays bets:

2.20 Tasheba £20 - lost - £20

2.50 Shammick Boy £80 - won 2/1 + £160

4.40 She's Humble £20e/w - lost - £40

today + £100                          total - £104.70                     bank + £895.30

A quiet day with just the three wagers but never the less a good day and the bank increased by a century.

Tasheba seemed to have confidence behind it judging by the market support close to the off, but the money had soon gone west as he jumped badly and to the left and was behind when the business end of the race came, not a good start by any means.

My next bet Shammick Boy was also supported in the market where not many horses seemed to have any chance.  As expected he shot off faster than Linford Christie's underpants but was stalked by his market rival and they where soon twenty five lengths clear, the pack closed with a couple of hurdles to jump and too be honest i thought they had cut each others throats but they pulled clear before the last, we looked booked for second after a poor final jump but Dennis kept after him and he got up in the last stride to win by short head.

Was my luck about to change, errrr no it wasn't, my final wager was an each-way bet but with an outsider being pulled out the field was reduced to seven so i needed a win or second place to get a return!

It turned out to be a very humbling experience watching it finishing absolutely last and well beaten last at that, the drift in the market before the race certainly told a story there.

Hopefully i can build on this success and get this blog back on track, a short head was the difference between success and failure, and a few more grey hairs and heartbeats to the second after today!!