Good morning all, and happy Saturday.
As usual I only have a few selections on the horses today, and a usual football treble.
14.35 Newbury
Quite a nice Mill Reef this year, and certainly one I can get stuck into. I am really keen on the Irish raider COUGAR RIDGE who, with a lot more luck in running would have a Group 3 winners medal on his CV. The timings of her runs have been fairly quick and I feel she is open to even more improvement.
9-2 Best price with Bet365
Unplaced
15.45 Newbury
12 runners in a tough sprint. You may ask why I am even attempting to find the winner in this? To be honest, even I am questioning this myself. However, SWISS SPIRIT is a horse I always felt would be very good and better at the minimum distance. With a better ride from Spencer last time out and she would have been a lot closer in another Group 3. Big chance in my opinion.
6-1 Best price with Bet365
WINNER
15.30 Ayr - GOLD CUP
I have this race whittled down to 2. I feel both have an excellent chance on the ground and both look to have been running with this as their top priority. I do not normally do this, but I will be backing them both as I cannot split them. They are MORACHE MUSIC and CAPTAIN RAMIUS. Moranche Music has been off since July, which is a slight concern for this but has everything else in place for a big run. Captain Ramius is trained by Kevin Ryan who likes to target this race and also has pretty much everything going for her to point to a good run.
18-1 Best price with Bet365 for Captain Ramius
WINNER
25-1 Best price with various bookmakers for Morache Music
Unplaced
Footy treble
Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday pays just over 5-1 with PaddyPower
Best of luck all.
The Rascal
Saturday, 22 September 2012
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Donny Day 3 & St Leger Day
As I will be with no access to any internet (well, none for form) I am putting Fridays thoughts and also what I think of the St Leger now.
Friday
13.15
I am still under the impression that SIR PRANCELOT is a very decent sort. With the drop back to the minimum trip, everything is in his favour. Also, the drying ground will be a big plus.
3-1 Best price with Bet365 as of 7pm Thursday evening.
13.50
The old boy BLUE BAJAN didn't have the best of runs LTO and with a clearer run will have a big chance here running off the same mark.
12-1 Best price with PaddyPower as of 7pm Thursday evening.
14.20
MASKED MARVEL is back to where he won the St Leger last year and is going up significantly in trip. I think that he will stay and is definitely worth an e/w bet. However, I would keep it small as there can be a case to be made for many of them.
8-1 Best price with BetVictor as of 7pm Thursday evening.
14.55
I will not betting in this race as I cannot see past CERTIFY, but he is too short for me to bet in a 2 year old race.
NO BET
Saturday
14.25
Clearly Dundonnell has an excellent chance and maybe I am being silly in going against him again, but at the prices and the fact that I feel TORONADO is a serious horse, I have to side with him.
11-4 Best price with PaddyPower as of 7pm Thursday evening.
15.40 St Leger
I may have egg on my face here afterwards, but I find it mental that people are actually backing against CAMELOT. I'm not saying this is a wonder horse or anything, but its certainly better than anything here and I fully expect him to win well. Also, this isn't at all a tip, just my thoughts!
NO BET - If I was watching the market I'd look for a distance bet, but I cant :-(.
Best of luck all!
The Rascal
Friday
13.15
I am still under the impression that SIR PRANCELOT is a very decent sort. With the drop back to the minimum trip, everything is in his favour. Also, the drying ground will be a big plus.
3-1 Best price with Bet365 as of 7pm Thursday evening.
13.50
The old boy BLUE BAJAN didn't have the best of runs LTO and with a clearer run will have a big chance here running off the same mark.
12-1 Best price with PaddyPower as of 7pm Thursday evening.
14.20
MASKED MARVEL is back to where he won the St Leger last year and is going up significantly in trip. I think that he will stay and is definitely worth an e/w bet. However, I would keep it small as there can be a case to be made for many of them.
8-1 Best price with BetVictor as of 7pm Thursday evening.
14.55
I will not betting in this race as I cannot see past CERTIFY, but he is too short for me to bet in a 2 year old race.
NO BET
Saturday
14.25
Clearly Dundonnell has an excellent chance and maybe I am being silly in going against him again, but at the prices and the fact that I feel TORONADO is a serious horse, I have to side with him.
11-4 Best price with PaddyPower as of 7pm Thursday evening.
15.40 St Leger
I may have egg on my face here afterwards, but I find it mental that people are actually backing against CAMELOT. I'm not saying this is a wonder horse or anything, but its certainly better than anything here and I fully expect him to win well. Also, this isn't at all a tip, just my thoughts!
NO BET - If I was watching the market I'd look for a distance bet, but I cant :-(.
Best of luck all!
The Rascal
Donny St Leger Day 2
Good morning all. Its nice to have a few days off work to be able to concentrate on the racing.
13.15
What an extremely tough race to start the day off. I will not be going in with very much in this, but the one I like is PURE EXCELLENCE at e/w. I am inclined to forgive the last run as something must have been amiss. His race in the one before where he was behind The Gold Cheongsam was more of his true self and that was a better race than this.
10-1 Best price with Boylesports.
3rd - Good run
13.50
Ok, I was mistaken, this is even tougher than the first race. Its not one that I myself will be having a bet in but if you were interested in a small outsider I feel SUNDAY TIMES could run a good race if finding last years form.
NO BET
1st - Still gutted I didn't back it in the end
14.20
Hmm, so the races are just getting tougher and tougher today... but there is one in here that I will be backing. HOTOTO has proven many times this year he's a smart sort and has only been out of the places once, when it was really heavy. He has already beaten many of these this year so what's to say he wont again?
7-1 Best price with various bookmakers.
Unplaced - didn't see out the trip
14.55
A lot more straight forward race to assess. The top two in the market deserve their places, but I'll be going with the more forgotten horse in KAILANI. It looks fair to say that this horse needs softish ground, but with the rain yesterday it should be nice ground for her. Also, I have always felt this would be her perfect trip.
8-1 Best price with various bookmakers.
Last (I think) - Poor show
15.30
ENNISTOWN looks from his debut to have a lot more improvement in him. I fully expect him to be on the ball today a lot earlier and finish well again.
13-2 Best price with BetVictor
Unplaced - Keep on your side, he will win races
16.05
I think that we could possibly see another typical Jamie Spencer ride here. AMADEUS WOLFE TONE if held up will run a big big race. Shane Kelly couldn't have done anything worse than he did in his last race and with Spencer up, I expect him to get very close.
15-2 Best price with BlueSq
1st - Nicely does it by Spencer
16.35
BLACK SPIRIT for me in the last. Has been improving without actually winning, today could be the day.
100-30 Best price with Bet365
1st - Messy race, but a win is a win
Best of luck to all today.
The Rascal
13.15
What an extremely tough race to start the day off. I will not be going in with very much in this, but the one I like is PURE EXCELLENCE at e/w. I am inclined to forgive the last run as something must have been amiss. His race in the one before where he was behind The Gold Cheongsam was more of his true self and that was a better race than this.
10-1 Best price with Boylesports.
3rd - Good run
13.50
Ok, I was mistaken, this is even tougher than the first race. Its not one that I myself will be having a bet in but if you were interested in a small outsider I feel SUNDAY TIMES could run a good race if finding last years form.
NO BET
1st - Still gutted I didn't back it in the end
14.20
Hmm, so the races are just getting tougher and tougher today... but there is one in here that I will be backing. HOTOTO has proven many times this year he's a smart sort and has only been out of the places once, when it was really heavy. He has already beaten many of these this year so what's to say he wont again?
7-1 Best price with various bookmakers.
Unplaced - didn't see out the trip
14.55
A lot more straight forward race to assess. The top two in the market deserve their places, but I'll be going with the more forgotten horse in KAILANI. It looks fair to say that this horse needs softish ground, but with the rain yesterday it should be nice ground for her. Also, I have always felt this would be her perfect trip.
8-1 Best price with various bookmakers.
Last (I think) - Poor show
15.30
ENNISTOWN looks from his debut to have a lot more improvement in him. I fully expect him to be on the ball today a lot earlier and finish well again.
13-2 Best price with BetVictor
Unplaced - Keep on your side, he will win races
16.05
I think that we could possibly see another typical Jamie Spencer ride here. AMADEUS WOLFE TONE if held up will run a big big race. Shane Kelly couldn't have done anything worse than he did in his last race and with Spencer up, I expect him to get very close.
15-2 Best price with BlueSq
1st - Nicely does it by Spencer
16.35
BLACK SPIRIT for me in the last. Has been improving without actually winning, today could be the day.
100-30 Best price with Bet365
1st - Messy race, but a win is a win
Best of luck to all today.
The Rascal
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Andy Murray - US Open Champion
Its a summers evening in 1999. I'm playing in a doubles match for my club in the North Kent League. It doesn't take long for me to realise that the young lad opposite me has some seriously good technique. Its only because he is just 13 years old and his partner (who happens to be his dad) was just not as good as us are the reasons we won 6-1, 6-2. After the game over a drink I speak to the boy. It turns out he is number 3 in the UK at under 14's. WOW, in my excitement I ask him if he will make it professionally, he said he hoped so, however, in a private conversation with his dad, his dad explained that the boys ahead of him are something special and are brothers from Scotland called Andy and Jamie Murray.
If we fast forward to 2005, I'm travelling across Africa on a truck. The BBC World Service is playing and during the news I hear that a young brit of 18 called Andy Murray has been knocked out by David Nalbandian in the 3rd round of Wimbledon. I'm sure you can imagine my excitement at this, as even though its the first time in 6 years I had heard that name, I had remembered it and the above match's memory came flooding back.
Now, I am an amateur tennis player and a qualified LTA coach so tennis is a passion. I have since spent 7 years arguing with many friends, colleagues and family that this Andy Murray would win a grand slam in his career and that I'd assume the US Open would be his first, although, I admit, I never expected it to take so long. Why so many people dislike Andy Murray is beyond me. I applaud this man, who has taken hatred from the public (mainly just because he is Scottish) and the pressure from the media in his stride. He has also laughed in the faces of people who believe he should have more of a personality, or should be more 'bubbly' on camera. Why exactly? Why ask him to be any different than he is? If you are ever lucky enough to see Andy Murray in a training session you will see clearly that he has a sense of humour, can be jolly, but this is in his own time and not just because the public expect it.
You do not have to be an avid tennis fan to see that the appointment of Ivan Lendl has been a major impact in this victory, but you cannot argue that the class has always been there.
Well done Andy Murray, a true champion.
The Rascal
If we fast forward to 2005, I'm travelling across Africa on a truck. The BBC World Service is playing and during the news I hear that a young brit of 18 called Andy Murray has been knocked out by David Nalbandian in the 3rd round of Wimbledon. I'm sure you can imagine my excitement at this, as even though its the first time in 6 years I had heard that name, I had remembered it and the above match's memory came flooding back.
Now, I am an amateur tennis player and a qualified LTA coach so tennis is a passion. I have since spent 7 years arguing with many friends, colleagues and family that this Andy Murray would win a grand slam in his career and that I'd assume the US Open would be his first, although, I admit, I never expected it to take so long. Why so many people dislike Andy Murray is beyond me. I applaud this man, who has taken hatred from the public (mainly just because he is Scottish) and the pressure from the media in his stride. He has also laughed in the faces of people who believe he should have more of a personality, or should be more 'bubbly' on camera. Why exactly? Why ask him to be any different than he is? If you are ever lucky enough to see Andy Murray in a training session you will see clearly that he has a sense of humour, can be jolly, but this is in his own time and not just because the public expect it.
You do not have to be an avid tennis fan to see that the appointment of Ivan Lendl has been a major impact in this victory, but you cannot argue that the class has always been there.
Well done Andy Murray, a true champion.
The Rascal
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Racing & Football Saturday 1st September
Hello and good morning to all. Not the most inspiring days racing for a Saturday, but there are a couple that have taken my fancy.
14.30 Chester
Quite a tough little handicap this, but I was taken by Area Fifty One's Ebor run last week. This horse has made significant improvement over the last couple of years and last weeks run was the first time stepped up to this trip. Maybe he didn't quite see out the trip last week, but that shouldn't be a problem at Chester and he runs off the same mark.
13-2 Best price with BetVictor.
15.05 Chester
Imperial Djay is definitely a course specialist here with 3 wins and a place from 5 runs. At the prices its well worth an e/w bet.
12-1 Best price with Bet365.
14.50 Sandown
Probably the best race today. I am looking forward to seeing some of these horses again, but none more so than Master of War who steps up to 7 furlongs. I believe he will relish this extra furlong and I take him to win this today.
5-2 Best price with SportingBet.
Football Treble
Today I am going with Wigan, Ipswich and Stevenage at just over 8-1.
Best of luck all.
14.30 Chester
Quite a tough little handicap this, but I was taken by Area Fifty One's Ebor run last week. This horse has made significant improvement over the last couple of years and last weeks run was the first time stepped up to this trip. Maybe he didn't quite see out the trip last week, but that shouldn't be a problem at Chester and he runs off the same mark.
13-2 Best price with BetVictor.
15.05 Chester
Imperial Djay is definitely a course specialist here with 3 wins and a place from 5 runs. At the prices its well worth an e/w bet.
12-1 Best price with Bet365.
14.50 Sandown
Probably the best race today. I am looking forward to seeing some of these horses again, but none more so than Master of War who steps up to 7 furlongs. I believe he will relish this extra furlong and I take him to win this today.
5-2 Best price with SportingBet.
Football Treble
Today I am going with Wigan, Ipswich and Stevenage at just over 8-1.
Best of luck all.
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