Two For Today

Little time for a full write up today but two selections.

Newbury 12.20 Arbeo 1/2PT E/W @9/2 various(1ST 4/1JF made all. A welcome winner for the blog)

Newbury 2.10 Maringo Bay 1/2PT E/W@8/1 various(NR but interesting if takes up engagement at Haydock tomorrow)

P&L for 2012 -13.56

Make or Break Day

Kent Street was a poor selection yesterday as after a mistake at the first he jumped with no fluency and it was only a matter of time before he fell or unseated, which he did at half way. I still think there is ability there and he may pop in at a big price over hurdles later in the season. Two meetings today at Newbury and Ludlow.

Ludlow 1.40 Moonlight Drive 1PT WIN @4/1 various. (PU 7/2JF Poor effort but I found the reason on the BHA website." The representative of Jonjo O’Neill, the trainer of MOONLIGHT DRIVE (IRE), which was pulled up, reported that the gelding was unsuited by the soft ground"). So one to keep a lookout for in the spring on better ground.

I believe Moonlight Drive is a much better horse than his current rating of 125 and the move from John Quinn to Jonjo O'Neill looks interesting. The horse clearly has significant potential being a point winner and on the form of his initial novice hurdle win, when he beat Trustan Times at Wetherby. Last season was a bit of a waste after a promising novice chase debut when partnered by AP Mcoy when usual jockey Dougie Costello was suspended, he reverted back to hurdles and was disappointing. This is a fairly competitive handicap chase and I think it is make or break day for Moonlight Drive to starting fulfilling the potential he undoubtedly has, by taking this before moving on to better things.

P&L for 2012 -12.56

Three For Today

Small winning month in November but again a month plagued by bad luck. There are 26 more day of racing planned for December and my target remains to achieve break-even in what is looking to be my worst ever year for gambling on the horses. It looks like the three meeting at Newbury, Newcastle and Towcester have survived and there are three selections.
A poor day. Managed to beat the SP in all races but that no good if the selections don't win.

Newbury 1.25 Global Power 1/2PT E/W@10/1various (Unplaced 8/1 look to be travelling well till 6 out but seemed one paced after that)
The Oliver Sherwood stable are in tremendous form at the moment and Global Power runs in this competitive novices handicap chase off an attractive mark having according to the trainer been wrong all last season. The trainer comments on his blog today "Global Power is in great form at home and will put up a bold show at a track that should suit. His jumping was good at Fontwell and that race has brought him on a lot physically and mentally. This looks a competitive race but he has a great ew chance".

Towcester 2.10 Thomas Crapper 1PT WIN@3/1 Betfred (4th 15/8F never really got competitive very disappointing effort)
Drop in class from his run behind The New One at Cheltenham last time, where he ran very much like a stayer, so this stiff track should suit. He sets the standard here having been fifth in the EBF final on his final run last season behind the highly regarded Ambion Wood.

Newcastle 2.20 Cinders and Ashes 1PT WIN Evs@William Hill ( 2nd 10/11F never looked happy at any stage)
Winner of last seasons Supreme Novices hurdle at Cheltenham who acts well on heavy ground. This looks an ideal starting point for the season in a race the stable have won for the last couple of seasons with Peddlers Cross and Overturn.

Nothing Today

Another day of competitive racing with three meetings at Doncaster, Musselburgh and Newbury and there is no selection. November has shown a small profit and I will update the pages later.

P&L for 2012 -6.56

Plenty of Racing Today

After a blank day yesterday National Hunt racing returns today with three cards at Newbury, Taunton and Uttoxeter and whilst there are plenty of runners of interest there are no official blog bets as the racing is fairly competitive as exemplified by the 2.05 at Newbury where I would be interested in backing 5 of the 6 runners if they were not running against each other.

Two horses of interest today:- 

Utt 12.25 My Flora (Very good hunter chaser during the last couple of season and now being professionally trained by Donald McCain. I assume the Mares only race at the Cheltenham festival will be the long term target if they stick to the hurdling route so should have the class to win this race over two miles but not prepared to back at odds on to find out as there will be better opportunities to back her over longer trips later in the season).

Taun 3.55 Miss Exhibitionist ( Up 7lb for winning well at Lingfield last time and could be able to defy the rise now dropped back into a mares only handicap)

P&L for 2012 -6.56

Bit Better Racing Today

Saturday 24^th March

Apologies for last Saturday’s selection who I was extremely bullish about, but Maringo Bay ran no sort of race at all and I am not aware of a reason for his poor performance.  I still believe there is a big handicap to be won by the horse but I think it will be next season now. The racing has been dire this week and nothing has interested me and until today where I will be backing one horse who has appeared on the blog before.

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 = +15.52 2012 = -3.86

Stratford 2.00 Loose Chips 1PT WIN 3/1 @Bet 365

Loose Chip was a winning selection earlier in the season at Towcester and was disappointing just over a month ago at Ffos Las, when after travelling well behind the leaders turning in he stopped very quickly down the home straight as was almost pulled up. At the time it looked to me that something was amiss and it transpired that there was coughing in the Charlie Longsdon yard at the time. Assuming the horse has now recovered I feel this race is a good opportunity for him to get back to winning ways given the way he won a Towcester and that fact the trainer was aiming him for a big race at Sandown prior to his last run. 

Another Second and Link to an Excellent New Website

Sammy Spiderman finished 2nd yesterday and was beaten by a well handicapped horse in Allanard, although looking back greed got the better of me in having the bet as I did put in the write up that I was worried that the ground may not be soft enough for my selection, which was reflected with the market drift. From the way he jumped and ran I think Sammy Spiderman is at peak fitness and if he turns up again at Ayr in two weeks time and the ground has gone heavy then he would be worth another consideration. Two meetings today at Newbury and Southwell but I cannot find a selection. One of the most interesting races today is the hunter chase at Newbury and although I don't bet in these type of races I was very impressed when I saw My Flora win at Stratford last May and I have just come across the following site www.hunterchases.com which gives a comprehensive analysis of today's race

P&L at advised prices since 24/8 +19.48 2012= -1.94