Thursday, December 27, 2007

Leopardstown 27th December

Morning all.....another day of dossing at my folks place, out for dinner tonight but till then it's laptop on, racing post out, tea made and telly on.

Leopardstown Stephen's festival is in full swing, not much in the way of excitement today gotta say but one race I'm pretty confident in is the 1.30....Nickname won this last year and is value enough as favourite to put some of those fivers your Aunt you never talk to gave you for Xmas on him.

So it's

Leopardstown
1.30 - Nickname €25 win @ 2.6

Good Luck folks

JB

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Days Like These

Not a great day for me with only one selection making any profit sadly it was the shortest price as well.


A day like today brings home that in sport an event can be built up and up only more often than not it's falls flat on it's face.


Kauto Star won today with very little resistance.....My Way De Zolzen pulled up, Taranis never got going from the off, Exotic Dancer was given only what I could describe as an odd ride by Tony McCoy but nothing can take it away from the brilliant Kauto Star.


Harchibald in the Xmas hurdle frustrated me, cruising along and then the average Straw Bear gets up and pips him on the line. The jockey on Harchibald switched off and thought the race was won....aaaaaggggggghhhhhh!!!


2.05 - Harchibald €30 win @ 1.74 -€30

Penzance €25 place @ 6.2 - €25


2.30 - Kauto Star - €50 win @ 1.81 + €90

2.30 - Exoctic Dancer - €30 place @ 2.74 - €30

2.30 - My Way De Zolzen - €20 place @ 2.89 - €20


3.05 - The Hairy Lemon - €25 place @ 2.74 -€25



End of day balance - €951

Slight hit on my bottom line but them the breaks, Lepordstown all week, catch you then.

JB

King George 5th @ Kempton 26th December

Morning folks....sat in my parents house in sunny Kent with a pounding headache after yesterday's festivities round a friends house which involved Wii ten pin bowling £1 a game and Guitar Hero 3 (I rocked) until the wee hours.

While most I'd speak to would like to celebrate fictional beings either on a sleigh or in a manger at this time of year it only really holds one special meaning to me .....The King George the 5th chase at Kempton Park.

Many of my older readers will remember Desert Orchid's triumphs in this race but recently a horse has come through that could rival Dessie's brilliance.

This horse is Kauto Star, won everything over the fences it needs or has been asked to and as the ten year stats go if the previous year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner runs in this race it wins!

A couple of challenger's to Kauto's throne are Exotic Dancer who was only beaten by half a length last time they clashed so is worth a place punt as is My Way De Solzen.

Couple of others for you, the Xmas hurdle precedes the biggie and I can't see Harchibald losing and a decent value each way shout is my friend's horse the former Cheltenham Triumph hurdle winner Penzance.

Now I'm not one to silly bets and I don't believe in luck but one for my Irish friends out there in the 15.05 is The Hairy Lemon which to most is a Pub on South William Street in dear old Dublin but to me it's a decent each way shout.

Hope you had a good Xmas, I fly back to Dublin early on the 28th.....I hope to have time to ;et you know my Leapordstown selection before I head off to the races and take on the old foe face to face.

Until then...may your hangover be few and your winners be plenty.

So as follows:

Kempton

2.05 - Harchibald €30 win @ 1.74
Penzance €25 place @ 6.2

2.30 - Kauto Star - €50 win @ 1.81
2.30 - Exoctic Dancer - €30 place @ 2.74
2.30 - My Way De Zolzen - €20 place @ 2.89

3.05 - The Hairy Lemon - €25 place @ 2.74


JB

Saturday, December 15, 2007

15th December Results

Profits profit if you ask me and today is one of those days.....After watching donkeys all afternoon I was livid....donkeys being those in human form playing in claret & blue over in East London not the majestic animals the were charging around down in the Cotswold's this afternoon. How 11 overpaid professionals can win away from home, hold Chelsea for 80 mins the previous week but then contrive to lose to the ever so shit Everton twice in one week....it really fucks me off.

Rant over -


Not a bad couple of days all in all at Cheltenham, our 1st race was an interesting one. I mentioned in this mornings musings that favourites have a bad record in this race. Paul Nicolls' Little New Brick went off favourite only to be pulled up half way round the 2nd circuit....if I had 2k in the balance I'd have layed him but I'm only a week into it and need to store some "roll"until the next biggy so I let the old foe off there.

Fasser was my each way offering in the 2.40.....bless him he battled to 4th, decent return and it's nice to see such good value for a place on the only horse in the race that had a tick next to every trend on the formbook....some people will never learn, but that's not my problem.


2.40 - Fasser e/w €20 @ 3.8 + 77

3.10 was the other race of interest today.....Katchit & Mac Joy were the selections, Katchit come 2nd after a very good race, just didn't have to at the end but he's shown that next year's Champion Hurdle could have his name on it.

It was a race that sadly took more than it gave with Mac's Joy breaking his leg and the vet decided his injury was too bad and he was quickly put down. As a horse owner and racing fan, this is the harsh reality of horse racing and one can only feel for all connected with the horse.

3.10 - Mac's Joy (bless him) e/w @ 1.9 - €20

Katchit win @ 5.9 - €20

Account Balance €991

Next time you'll here fro me is Boxing Day to Stephen's Day for the benefit of my Irish friends for the the Kempton King George and the Stephen's Festival on the Emerald Isle.

JB

Cheltenham 15/12

Hung over isn't quite the word for it so if I'm not making much sence please excuse me.

2nd day of Cheltenham's December meeting....two decent races I've taken a look at.

2.40 - Faasel just about fits the bill for this type of race, favourites have a shocking record in this race over there years so I think he'll be in the frame come the end.

Faasell - €20 e/w @ 4.2

3.10 - Interesting hurdle race with some top horses lining up. Not convinced by the favourite Sublimity so gonna go on Kachit to wn with Mac's Joy e/w

Kachchit - €20 win @ 5.9
Macs Joy - €20 e/w @ 1.9

Good luck & I'm going back to bed

JB

Friday, December 14, 2007

14/12 @ Cheltenham Results - Still In The Green

Well....after the week I've had a nice pint and gee gee's on the TV wudda been nice. Pint yes but the usless Gastro pub we use had no Racing UK . Had to get a mate to text in the results and what results they were.

Allow me....

13.20 - Monkerhostin e/w - €20 @ 3.85 + €77
Cornish Set e/w - €20 @ 3.92 - €20

13.55 - Royal Auclair e/w - €20 @ 3.9 + €78

14.30 - Jack the Giant LAY - €30 @ 1.37 - €30

15.05 - Leading Contender win - €30 @ 1.97 + €59

Some of the old heros still can get round the course and pitch in with some each way profit & it's JB in the lead and the old foe left shaking his head.....till the the next time.

End of Day Balance - €974

JB

Cheltenham 14/12/07


Morning folks.....Just about calmed down after last Sunday and Ramonti's win, well done to anyone who invested.

Had a hellish week at work, just going to crack this out then head to the pub.

Back to the jumps today and Cheltenham. Four races I'll focus on today.

13.20 - 3 mile 1 chase...it's a handicap and there's some horses that are not going to like what they've been given.

Can't really come up with an out and out winner from the stats.....two that tick all boxes for though. One is the ever popular Monkerhostin and the other is Cornish Set (who gets the most ticks)

13.55 - This cross country marathon is a funny one, a classy grand national is the only way I could describe it. Not much interest here but Royal Auclair stands out so he gets the nod.

14.30 - Ring the Boss is the form horse, ground might be against him but he's the best horse in this race....will be favourite though so I'm going to lay Jack the Giant (bet on it to lose)

15.05 - The Pretemps Hurdle, an interesting race for me as my own horse is a stable mate of last year's winner Material World. I'll got for Leading Contender in this one to win, course form is paramount at Cheltenham and this is what sways it for me.

To conclude -

13.20 - Monkerhostin e/w €20 @ 3.85

Cornish Set e/w €20 @ 3.9

13.55 - Royal Auclair e/w €20 @ 2.94

14.30 - Jack the Giant LAY €30 @ 1.67

15.05 - Leading Contender €30 win @ 1.97

Be back on tomorrow....Good luck folks.

JB


Monday, December 10, 2007

1st Week & In The Green


Mere words of mine cannot discribe how tired I am.....Up all night watching the Hatton fight, poor old Ricky, he gave it everything he had but it just wasn't enough. It was clear from the 1st bell Mayweather had his number but it still took ten rounds to knock him out.
I'm pleased he's come out with his health in tact.

Aaaaaanyway, Horse racing.

Sandown and the Tingle Creek Chase -

Not happy at the sight of Voy Poy Ustedes under the whip 2 out, not sure what was up with the horse but Twist Magic was cruising....not a good start. - €50

End of Day Balance - €450


Hong Kong Vase Festival -

06.00 - Miss Andretti run well but the draw hampered her, disapointed she didn't win as she was definatly the best horse in the race - €25

06.40 - Dylan Thomas - I'm in better condition than he was on Sunday, Johnny Murtagh never got him in the race. A dispointing end to a great horse's career. - €50

07.30 - Darjina - Christoph strikes again, how he get's so many top rides is beyond me. At this point I'm kicking the arm chair and now the weekend all rest on the next race. - €25

08.30 - Ramonti - Now what more can one say....his 5th group 1 win of the season, coming into the home turn Frankie had him there ready to strike. Had opposition from the local favourite but got there by a nose. Sufuckingperb..... + €380

End of Day Balance €730


All's well that ends well....

JB

Saturday, December 8, 2007

9/12 - Hong Kong Vase


One is tired and emotional and just can't watch anymore of the build up to the Hatton fight....one preys he comes out with his health in tact.


Back to god's own sport.....Tomorrow in a galaxy far far away at Sha Tinn racecourse in Hong Kong on of the best flat meetings of the year takes place....The Hong Kong Vase. I 1st watched this when *wipes tear from eye* Ouija Board broke the sound barrier to sprint home to take the vase.


This year 4 big races take my eye on Sunday morning.


06.00 (uk time) - Miss Antretti is the one to beat, superb at Ascot this season and a true champion sprinter. Top Aussie horse that's been globe trotting this year....ground and climate should suit.


06.40 - Dylan Thomas, well his last race looks a tough one. This horse is a hero...win after win after win. Can't see him losing to be honest and it's the last chance I'll get to stick it to the bookies before he goes off to stud and a well earned rest.


07.50 - Darjina - superb French filly....winner at the Arc festival in October...only doubt would be the jockey who I hate (Christoph Soumillon), who is a known to bottle it in the biggies


08.30 - Ramonti....Mere words of mine cannot describe how much I love this horse. Won for me 3 times this year. I cheered him home at Royal Ascot as did everyone I was with on the day, he battled at Goodwood and then again at Ascot in September...Frankie in the saddle, if he leads from the front and dictates the race then it's his. Such a high cruising speed has left his rivals with two much to do in the latter stages. Up in trip but he needs that now...C'mon RAMONTI


So it's -


06.00 - Miss Antretti €25 win @ 3.25

06.40 - Dylan Thomas €50 win @ 2.6

07.50 - Darjina €25 win @ 5.8

08.30 - Ramonti €100 win @ 3.8

Friday, December 7, 2007

8th of December - Tingle Creek Chase, 2.35 @ Sandown


Evening folks.....


Day one of my challenge see the Tingle Creek Chase run tomorrow afternoon at Sandown. An interesting race with last year's winner Kauto Star not running has opened up proceedings somewhat.

It's pissed down all week in the South of England so soft ground is more or less a certainty & Alan King trainer of Voy Por Ustedes is wanting the softer ground for his 7 year old gelding who was 2nd last year in this race.

A thorn in the side of a lot of races is Monet's Garden who is slightly behind VPU in the betting but isn't as good a horse in my opinion. So for this race I'm sticking €50 on Voy Poy Ustedes, he jumps well, travels well, is a Cheltenham festival winner and with Robert Thornton on board he's in safe hands.

2.35 @ Sandown - Voy Por Ustedes €50 win @ 2.5


Friday 7th of December....€500 to €25,000

My name is John....I'm 30, English, about 2 stone overweight, unmarried, uninterested in most things, live and work in Dublin.

My life story isn't an exciting one but I love horse racing, it stems from a young age watching Desert Orchid on TV and my 1st trip to Epsom when Lamtarra smashed the course record in 1995 to land The Derby & give me a 14/1 return on my £30 bet (a fortune for one so young back then) and I was in love with the sport.

Since then money won and lost would have probably seen the old foe ahead until I decided to concentrate only on Group 1 races and Grade 1 races on the jumps and it's been a different story since then.

I'm not rich and if I'm honest any winnings I've had have gone either in the pub, the resturants or a cloths shop in Covent Garden but if the bookies treat you to a Saturday night out then you are a rich man in my opinion.

I've been sharing my knowledge with friends and coworkers for a few years now and have even been invited to write for the BBC. A recent phone call from an old friend set me a challenge of turning €500 into €25,000 in the space of 12 months using my Betfair account.

This isn't for charity or any of that bollocks it's just something to keep me focused and have fun with....what will I do with the money if I succeed? Well I'll probably take a lass I have my eye on shopping and then goto South Africa to watch England play cricket next Christmas & New Year......the rest I'll keep.

Anyway....that's what I'm doing, purley Horse Racing, backing and laying.

Remember......A bad day at the races is better than a good day at work.

JB