Challow Hurdle @ Newbury

Today's big race looks fairly open on the surface but for me the form of Taquin Du Seuil is the stand out form and he looks the one to beat.  His main rival Clondaw Kaempher previous wins, both when odds on, gives me a cause to doubt the strength of that form, can't deny that McCain is in good form 98 winners this season and 11 of them in past two weeks but is the win against Lienosus that great?  For me Paul Nicholls runner, Easter day, is a bigger danger but as he has never raced on heavy ground got to leave him alone meaning the selection is Taquin Du Seuil, 7-4 pretty much everywhere as I write.

4 fold on the football today Spurs, Nottingham Forest, Rotherham & Cheltenham 11-1

So make it a 5 fold all of the above for 32-1

Cheltenham 01jan13

Phew that was unlucky and I got 20-1 in the morning still Bet365 paid 1/4 the odds so 5-1 for the each way made it a profitable day.

For those going to Cheltenham on New Years Day buy your tickets online and the cost is only £25 instead of £30 for walk up entry - this is available even on the morning of the meeting

Gates open 10.30 first race 12.15 last race 3.40 - see you there Happy New Year

OK back to business

Long Run - for me poor value so I have to oppose him he is just not quite consistent enough for me to take 2-1.  Have to see evidence of Gran Crus recovery before I could back him and Cue Card will surely struggle over this trip in the heavy. Riverside Theatre is of some interest but beaten by Long Run in this two years ago and has been winning over 21f rather than 3m.  So for me that leaves an each way bet on Captain Chris 20-1 in a place (bet 365) likes going right handed much more than left so his runs at Cheltenham can be excused and was 3rd last year 4-1 to get in the frame sounds better value than 2-1 for the win.

Stand out best bet of the day for me is in the race before the King George - Countrywide Flame a solid 7-4

Ascot today - best bet

Hi

Not going having a weekend off!

However, my fancy today for Ascot is Lyvius in the Ladbroke at 3.10, currently 10-1 (bet365) and shows at 12-1 on Victor and the exchanges.  This is a dramatically open race but he can surely be forgiven for his run in the grade 1 at Aintree last season.  Slight concern that Geraghty rides Cash and Go but not sure how that works at the yard but the claimer takes 5 of the 8lb rise Lyvius picked up for the impressive win at Newbury at the end of last month and there was a suggestion in that run that he got a bit tired at the end so may come on for that as well.  Trainer is sure he likes the ground, a young horse that we may be catching on the way up, backable each way as well at 1/4 first 4

Happy Xmas all

Punchestown Update

Accommodation, flights and badges for course now all booked - all we need now is a pack of cards and cash!

Jimmy/Paul you still need to do your flights from wherever you are travelling from

Cheltenham 14dec12

Today's best bet from me is Dark Lover in the 1.20 (currently 5-1) won at Chelters before this year and the drop back in class gives him a very live chance in an open race - double up with Bradley in the next?

Punchestown Update

Accommodation is booked and deposits paid for 2 x 3 bed houses, total cost E990

Check out at www.avonri.com

Transfer from airport - advice from Avonri is to use people carriers that wait at airport cost E65-70 and they carry 8 so that should work well as only 8 of us are flying together

Flights will be sorted at the weekend

11dec12 images uploaded

Look out for extra images of the presentation on Saturday at Sandown

Martin Broderick joins the Punchestown team - I think as honourary guide as the Punchestown area is an old stomping ground.

ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT - BOOKING UP LATER THIS WEEK

Cheltenham Festival

Hi

Today 10dec12 is the last day for the discounted tickets for next years event you save £10.00 per day - just bought mine for Thursday & Friday

FYI full price for Gold Cup day (Friday) is now a whapping £85

08dec12 Final day

A big group turned up so good time all day in the champagne bar - remind me did Vince Paige move from the bar at all during the afternoon?

Paul Berg collected his winners prize £1,300 and the cup (pictures to follow) in fact there were no movements at all on either leader board on the last day.

There were 5 winners on the day me, Kevin Dighton, which secured his win in our side bet, Mark Quinn to secure 2nd place and Kevin Wood & Justin Sercombe who also selected the same horse and so that secured Justin's 2nd in the plate.

next comp will not start until towards the end of January ready for the final day at Punchestown in April - so have a good Christmas and New Year everybody

Will post the odd blog in the gap such as naps, Punchestown updates (we are now up to 9) and uploading pictures

08dec12 and the winner is

As expected and well deserved Paul Berg wins again - treated us all to copious amounts of champers at the end of the day - well done & thanks

Barry Pemble was already the confirmed winner of the Plate and 2nd/3rd remained unaltered as they both picked the same runner

Full update and final excel in the morning - back to the wine now the driving is over :-)

07dec12 one to go

6 winners today that took us over the 600 winners cumulative!  They were best of the day Alan Daniels 3-1 to move him up to 12th just 33p off cash, Roger Dore & Paul Berg both 15-8 winners, Barry Pemble 2-1 to secure top spot in the plate, Justin Sercombe & Kevin Wood 4-6 to keep alive their rivalry for 2nd spot until the last day.

The 2nd & 3rd Spot is the only undecided position in the plate and well done to Barry Pemble again - showing us just how to win the plate.

If you are outside the top 17 shown on the leaderboard you are on a negative total

Hoping for a good turnout tomorrow lots have said they are going see you all there

07dec12 TODAY'S NAPS

Paul Berg               - Tarquin du Seuil SAN 1.45

Julian Ciampioli      - NO BET

Mark Quinn            - NO BET

Jake Fifield             - Monkerty Tunkerty SAN 2.55

Wayne Morton       - Sustainability SAN 1.10 - LOST 5TH

Roger Dore            - Tarquin du Seuil SAN 1.45
Martin Long            - NO BET 

Jed Parramore       - Up and Go SAN 1.45

Michael Brook        - NO BET

Pat Quinn Jnr         - NO BET 

Tom Feeney           - Relax SAN 2.55

Adam Slater          - Sustainability SAN 1.10 - LOST 5TH

Dave Barker         - NO BET

Rest of the plate

Barry Pemble         - Tankaro Emery

Kevin Wood            - Super Say LIN 1.20 - WON 4-6
Justin Sercombe     - Super Say LIN 1.20 - WON 4-6

Vince Paige             - Crookshanks EXE 2.05

06dec12 all very tense

7 winners today 5 of them the 1-8 winner at Clonmel which was all of the top 7 in the plate except Steve Walton & Vince Paige who sat out.  The other two winners were Gary Cawsey who brought up a treble with the best of the day 8-1 but all a bit late and finally Tom Feeney 6-4 which lifted him 3 places into 10th place.

The mathematical chance of me catching Vince Paige in the plate vanished as my winner fell from 10 points to 5 because of a non runner.

01nov11 CORRECTION

Justin Sercombe correctly queried a missed bet from 01nov11 (I keep all texts for everyone for the whole competition on my phone until the whole thing is over!!).

He rightly pointed out that i had missed a 5 point 2nd place runner on that day Stevie Thunder at Hereford, this is of some significance as it alters 2nd & 3rd place.

Apologies for the error to both Kevin Wood & Justin Sercombe - the table over reflects the correction

06dec12 TODAY'S NAPS

Paul Berg               - NO BET

Julian Ciampioli      - Alaskan Bullet LIN 2.55

Mark Quinn            - NO BET

Jake Fifield             - Mezzotint LIN 2.25

Wayne Morton       - NO BET

Roger Dore            - Top Wood WIN2.40
Martin Long            - Glens Melody CLO 1.15 - WON 1-8f

Jed Parramore       - Softsong LEI 2.30

Michael Brook        - Alaskan Bullet LIN 2.55

Pat Quinn Jnr         - Bajan Tryst LIN 2.25 

Tom Feeney           - Ballinahowstar WIN 3.10

Adam Slater          - Renard d'irlande WIN  

Rest of the plate

Barry Pemble         - Glens Melody CLO 1.15 - WON 1-8f

Kevin Wood            - Glens Melody CLO 1.15 - WON 1-8f
Justin Sercombe     - Glens Melody CLO 1.15 - WON 1-8f

Steve Walton          - NO BET

Maurice Edgington  - Glens Melody CLO 1.15 - WON 1-8f

Vince Paige             - NO BET

05dec12 3 to go

7 winners today they were me 13-8, Barry Pemble 4-11, Gary Cawsey 100-30, Julian Ciampioli 11-2 to move 2nd above Mark Quinn & Jake Fifield, Justin Sercombe 4-1, Neil Harrison 11-2, and Roger Dore evens to move above Martin Long.

In the plate Justin Sercombe's fine 10 point winner moved him to within 1 point of Kevin Wood in 2nd - level bets

o4dec12 good day to miss

Only 2 winners yesterday (Tuesday) Gary Cawsey 6-4 and Paul Berg, the leader, 4-7 presumably just making sure that the nearest behind him needed more than 16-1 to catch him - smart tactic

Top 5 in the plate looks settled now and so just the order to sort out

05dec12 TODAY'S NAPS

Paul Berg               - Maison de Ville CAT 3.20

Mark Quinn            - NO BET

Jake Fifield             - Future Profit HER 2.40

Julian Ciampioli      - Hometown Glory LIN 1.30

Wayne Morton       - Officer in Command LIN 1.30
Tom Feeney           - Quetzal CAT 2.50

Martin Long            - Maison de Ville CAT 3.20

Pat Quinn Jnr         - NO BET

Michael Brook        - Cornerhouse Sam HER 12.40
Roger Dore            - Vulcanite HER 1.10
Jed Parramore       - Sean The Storm KEM 6.50
Adam Slater          - Avatar Star KEM 5.20

Rest of the plate

Barry Pemble         -  Doyley Carte

Kevin Wood            - Maison de Ville CAT 3.20
Justin Sercombe     -  Rear Admiral CAT 12.20

Steve Walton          - Whisky Galore CAT 1.20

Maurice Edgington  - Thouva WEX 1.45

Vince Paige             - Maison de Villa CAT 3.20

04dec12 delayed

Sorry wasn't able to get to the update yesterday should be able to look at it at lunchtime today

04dec12 TODAY'S NAPS

Paul Berg               - Dancing Daffodil TOW 2.50

Mark Quinn            - NO BET

Jake Fifield             - LOSER

Julian Ciampioli      - Precision Five WOL 5.10

Wayne Morton       - Projectisle WOL 2.10
Tom Feeney           - Old Dreams FOL 1.00 - 2ND

Martin Long            - Present View TOW 2.20 

Pat Quinn Jnr         - Vintage Kid TOW 1.15 - LOST

Michael Brook        - Portrait Emotion FOL 1.00 - LOST
Roger Dore            - Up to Something TOW1.50
Jed Parramore       - NO BET
Adam Slater          - Guydus FOL 3.00

Rest of the plate

Barry Pemble         -  NO BET

Kevin Wood            - Projectisle WOL 2.10
Justin Sercombe     -  LOSER

Steve Walton          - NO BET

Maurice Edgington  - Projectisle WOL 2.10

Vince Paige             - Present View TOW 2.20

03dec12 CTFC called sorry

Had to go to the match last night to see if we can make it through to play Everton at Whaddon Road!! - We didn't but got a replay so not over yet

10 winners yesterday so not time to go through them all, the high points were Adam Slater 11-4 to get back onto the foot of the leader board, Ian Carpenter 20-1 but still only in 38th place! Jake Fifield 9-4 to put Mark Quinn in 2nd under a bit of pressure, Michael Brook 5-2 to move up into the cash in 9th.

In the plate the top 3 all had 5 point winners - the same one, and I unraveled one of my in hand bets against Vince Paige with a winner but he's too far away now with no 10 point races around!

02dec12 last week is here

What a shower! 2 meetings Leicester a farce with 5 fences taken out because of the sun and Kempton did there best to put something on - come on racing industry get a grip no wonder you have no cash.  Just compare with Eire brilliant day at Fairyhouse.

As we enter the last week clear leaders in both comps Paul Berg looks quite secure in the main one but maybe Barry Pemble is slightly more vulnerable only 20 ahead of Kevin Wood who has a bet in hand.  Today 6 winners the best was for Gary Dighton 5-1, Gary Pascoe & Vince Paige had a nice 4-1 winner in Eire others were Pat Quinn Jnr 7-4 to sit 10th, Grace Loder 4-6 & Barry Pemble evens.

In the plate Vince Paige's 4 timer (all impressively 10 pointers) pretty much secured his 5th place cash spot and he has a chance at 4th only 12 points behind Martin Long.

The late withdrawal of Top Wood at Leicester sent me, Roger Dore, & Tom Feeney all dormy as well as Neil Harrison who sat out.

02dec12 TODAY'S NAPS

Paul Berg               - NO BET

Mark Quinn            - NO BET

Jake Fifield             - Kilmacowen KEM 4.05 

Julian Ciampioli      - Wychwoods Brook LEI 12.50

Wayne Morton       - Likearollingstone KEM 3.35
Alan Daniels           - LOSER
Tom Feeney           - Top Wood LEI 3.30

Martin Long            - Definitly Glad KEM 2.00 

Pat Quinn Jnr         - Zaidpour FAI 2.40

Michael Brook        - Shop DJ FAI 2.05
Roger Dore            - Top Wood LEI 3.30
Jed Parramore       - Our Girl Salley FAI 2.05

Rest of the plate

Barry Pemble         -  Free Thinking KEM 2.00

Kevin Wood            - Talbot Road FAI 3.40
Justin Sercombe     - Talbot Road FAI 3.40 

Steve Walton          - Henryville KEM 1.30

Maurice Edgington  - Top Wood LEI 3.30

Vince Paige             - Outlander FAI 3.40

01dec12 38-21 wow

8 winners from 61 bets 4 of them had Bobs Worth they were me, Annette Berg, Jimmy McGarrity, & Grace Loder.  The other 4 winners were Martin Long & Vince Paige both on an even winner at Fairyhouse, Celeste Beaty 4-1 to go back to 13th and one off of the leader board and finally the best of the day Roger Dore 8-1 to go back onto the leader board in 7th.

In the plate the top three all did the same odds on loser to pick up 5 points, and Vince Paige, me and Martin all scored 10 points with Julian Ciampioli & Steve Walton, missing out.

Mark Nutting went dormy today

01dec12 TODAY'S NAPS

Paul Berg               - Michael Flips NWB 3.40

Mark Quinn            - Tidal Bay NWB 3.10

Jake Fifield             - Magnanimity NWB 3.10

Julian Ciampioli      - Hold on Julio NWB 3.10

Wayne Morton       - Rey Nacardo NWB 12.15 - 4TH
Alan Daniels           - LOSER
Tom Feeney           - Doll NWB 3.10

Martin Long            - Bog Warrior FAI 3.00

Adam Slater           - Rey Nacardo NWB 12.15 - 4TH
Pat Quinn Jnr         - NO BET

Michael Brook        - Michael Flips NWB 3.40
Jed Parramore       -  Bobbie Magern TOW 1.35

Rest of the plate

Barry Pemble         -  Ned Buntline FAI 12.10 - 2ND

Kevin Wood           - Ned Buntline FAI 12.10 - 2ND
Justin Sercombe     - Ned Buntline FAI 12.10 - 2ND

Steve Walton          - Hold on Julio NWB 3.10

Maurice Edgington  - Bobs Worth NWB 3.10

Vince Paige             - Bog Warrior FAI 3.00