25th Jan Review

Ian Botham once said "Form is temporary but class is permanent", well after the quick sand racing that was Cheltenham yesterday a horse racing punter always questions why his tried and tested formula failed in so many races with so many bets.

But I put the kettle on, opened the books up, logged onto racingpost.com & got stuck in today's card at Leopardstown.

Here what I came up with and how we did.

1.20 @ Leopardstown

Alexandre Severus €50 win @ 5.5 + €325

1.50 @ Leopardstown

Forpaddytheplaster €50 win @ 3.35 - €50 (2nd by a nose!)

2.20 @ Leopardstown

Conem €50 win @ 9 + €500 (wins by a nose!)

2.50 @ Leopardstown

Hardy Eustace €50 @ 11 - €50

It was simply a lousy day here in Dublin, the ground was heavy and these horses who won today are some game animals. One special mention goes to the Great Hardy Eustace, the duel Champion Hurdle winner just might have run his last race.

We've been through allot together since he beat Rooster Booster at Cheltenham in 2004, he's lead from the front and won nearly €2 million in prize money, he's never fallen & never unseated his rider.

His retirement is one that is sad for the sport but if he hasn't got it anymore in the final furlong it's time for the fields for him but the bookies will be pleased as he's been a profitable horse to follow over the years.

He's a horse that warms my soul & one of the reasons I watch racing, Happy retirement Hardy & thanks for everything!

End of day balance .... €1,383

25th Jan

Today is another day & a 7 race card at Leopardstown here in Ireland is the focus.

It's rained all week here and the ground is testing to say the least.

Here's what we're on....

1.20 @ Leopardstown

Alexandre Severus €50 win @ 5.5

1.50 @ Leopardstown

Forpaddytheplaster €50 win @ 3.35

2.20 @ Leopardstown

Conem €50 win @ 9

2.50 @ Leopardstown

Hardy Eustace €50 @ 11

Good Luck folks

JB

24th Jan Review

SHOCKING Day yesterday....all sorts of odd results springing up. No favourite winning either.

I don't think I've drawn a total blank since World Hurdle day at Cheltenham last year, today is another day.

Here's the tale of the tape from yesterday if you have the heart to look!!


2.05 @ Cheltenham

Akilak €50 win @ 6.6 - €50
Private Be €25 place @ 3.35 - €25

2.35 @ Cheltenham

Tidal Bay €50 win @ 6.8 - €50
Snoopy Loopy €25 place @ 4.1 - €25
Nozic €25 place @ 2.02 - €25

3.10 @ Cheltenham

Simarian €50 win @ 11 - €50
Pemberton €25 place @ 4.7 - €25
Walk On €50 Lay @ 2.16 - €106

3.45 @ Cheltenham

Punchestowns €50 win @ 2.12 - €50
Blazing Bailey €25 place @ 2.08 - €25
Lough Derg €25 place @ 4.5 - €25
Turpin Green €25 place @ 12 - €25

2.50 @ Doncaster

Raglan Road €50 win @ 2.36 - €50
Gullible Gordon €25 win @ 7.8 - €25

End of Day Balance .... €658

24th January

Happy Saturday racing fans....A lovely day here in South Dublin, I've been running along the seafront, got my Racing Post, settled down with a cup of tea & read Sir Clement Freud's column.

Cheltenham & Doncaster today, a superb card at both tracks all live on Channel 4 & Attheraces.

There's seven contests I shall be looking at today, the ground is bottomless and it'll take a game horse to get up the Cheltenham hill this afternoon so they'll be a few mud larks in the mix & it'll be the bookies day, but the bookies may win but they don't win off of everyone.

2.05 @ Cheltenham

2 miles 5 on the new course, this handicap doesn't really through up many clues historically but we well rested horse that comes here fresh is preferred.

Akilak from the in form Howard Johnson yard is my pick for this one, he loves the mud, has scored over this trip, he has been unfairly treated by the handicapper but still middle of the weights.

In the place market I'm going for Private Be, another mud lark & if he's not in the money I'd be surprised.

Akilak €50 win @ 6.6
Private Be €25 place @ 3.35

2.35 @ Cheltenham

Big race of the day and many Gold Cup hopefuls line up. Mere words of mine cannot describe how much I love a 2nd season novice with previous Cheltenham form. His win in the Arkle last year sublime, Cheltenham is his track and acts on testing ground, again from the yard in form it has to be Tidal Bay.

History tells us that runners who contested the King George on Boxing Day do well in this contest,only one here to worry about that's Snoopy Loopy & I'll stick a mud lark in there in Nozic.

Tidal Bay €50 win @ 6.8
Snoopy Loopy €25 place @ 4.1
Nozic €25 place @ 2.02

3.45 @ Cheltenham

Interesting novice hurdle here and one course & distance specialist has appeared to have been over looked on this card.

Simarian has won twice here at Cheltenham & on heavy ground, why is he such a big price? That's not my concern & he's the one for me.

Our mud lark is AGAIN from the in form yard of Howard Johnson and that's Pemerton, the favourite isn't the winner in my opinion and is short enough to take on.

Simarian €50 win @ 11
Pemberton €25 place @ 4.7
Walk On €50 Lay @ 2.16

3.45 @ Cheltenham

Cleeve Hurdle, 3 mile staying contest....Punchestowns is the only winner for me, course form, acts on spongey ground. If he get's beat I'll want to know why.

Soft ground horse and one of my favs is Blazing Baily for a place as are old warriors Lough Derg & Turpin Green

Punchestowns €50 win @ 2.12
Blazing Bailey €25 place @ 2.08
Lough Derg €25 place @ 4.5
Turpin Green €25 place @ 12

Doncaster 2.50

The best two horses in the race are Raglan Road & Gullible Gordon, both act on the ground and both have class form

Raglan Road €50 win @ 2.36
Gullible Gordon €25 win @ 7.8

Good Luck folks

JB

Jan 17th Review

Off to a decent start, I think the track at Ascot was riding the soft side of good & was more testing than the official going indicated.

However some decent winners, two near misses & a dead cert flying home is what one wants for the 1st day of our little project.

We started the day with €800 & this is where we ended up....

Ascot 1.40 - Calgary Bay €50 win @ 3 - €50

Ascot 2.15 - Master Minded €50 win @ 1.28 + €64

Ascot 3.25 - Iron Man €25 place @ 4.6 - €25

Haydock 1.20 - Snap Tie €50 win @ 1.98 - €50

Haydock 1.55 - Cloudy Lane €50 win @ 8 + €450
Kandjar D'aller €25 place @ 2.66 - €25

Haydock 2.55 - Dee Dee Williams €50 win @ 2.72 - €50
Alfie Fitz €25 place @ 3.05 + €100

End of Day Balance...... €1,214

17th Jan

This is the 1st day of the Eurontoawinner 2009 syndicate. The starting pot is €800 & 8 people who drink to much & gamble to much have put their faith in me to repeat recent success.

Thankfully the weather has improved and the jumps racing can recommence, Ascot & Haydock are the focus today in the UK also there a decent card at Nass here in Ireland.

There's 6 races that will need investing in today & the selections are as follows:

Ascot 1.40

I'm looking for a horse who has been out in the last two months, won over the larger obstacles & has been up against listed company.

The one that stands out for me here is Calgary Bay, won a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last time out, he's dropping back in trip but that won't worry me & I think he's good value in the market.

Calgary Bay €50 win @ 3

Ascot 2.15

The Victor Chandler chase....only one horse can win it & if he doesn't I'd want to know why. Master Minded is so good it's frightening. Short price but it's better in our pockets than theirs.

Master Minded €50 win @ 1.28

Ascot 3.25

A big field in testing ground always throws up an each way gem, I think I've found it in Iron Man. Form over course, ground & distance, very good value to get in the frame.

Iron Man €25 place @ 4.6

Haydock 1.20

The champion hurdle trial, history tells us that previous winners have come from Christmas meetings at Kempton, Cheltenham or Ascot, have been lightly raced and have form in this class.

One jumps off the page & that's Snap Tie

Snap Tie €50 win @ 1.98

Haydock 1.55

The Peter Marsh chase over 3 miles, previous winners have arrived via the Rowland Merick @ Weatherby, the Hennessy or previous form at Haydock.

Cloudy Lane ticks all boxes if history is to repeat itself (and it generally does!) with Alan King's runner Kandjar D'aller for a place following his form on this track.

Cloudy Lane €50 win @ 8
Kandjar D'aller €25 place @ 2.66

Haydock 2.55

Decent looking novice hurdle...I'm looking for a horse who has won or came 2nd last time out, Irish bred & has scored over hurdles before, Haydock form is a plus. It leaves me with 2 here, Dee Dee Williams to win & Alfie Fitz place.

Dee Dee Williams €50 win @ 2.72
Alfie Fitz €25 place @ 3.05

That's it for today....Good Luck folks

JB