Friday, March 23, 2012

Tight at the top of the Premiership

It's getting tight at the top of the Premiership - the Blue Square Premiership.

Fleetwood Town have amassed 92 points from 39 games whilst closest rivals Wrexham have 86 points from 37 games. Should the Welsh club win their two games in hand, the goal difference is likely to be pretty tight too - Fleetwood's current goal difference is 52, Wrexham's 49. To add to the spice, Fleetwood are set to entertain Wrexham on Tuesday April 10th and it has just been announced that the  Mansfield v. Wrexham fixture will be televised live by Premier Sports Television (Channel 433) on Friday 20th April.

Having said all that, there are likely to be a few twists and turns along the way - tomorrow's fixtures for both leading clubs look no cakewalk. Third-placed Mansfield visit the league leaders on the back of seven wins from their last eight games, having bagged 26 goals along the way - the one draw in that sequence was against Fleetwood eleven days ago.

Meanwhile Wrexham will feel they have a score to settle with Forest Green Rovers who beat them 1-0 in January, knocking the Welsh side off the top of the league in the process; to add insult to injury, Wrexham's Dean Keates had his injury-time penalty saved by former Wrexham keeper Sam Russell. Forest Green Rovers beat fourth-placed Luton Town 3-0 on Tuesday evening.

Those prepared to take a view can bet 9/2 Mansfield with bet365 and 31/10 the draw with Bet Victor. Bet Victor are also best-priced about a drawn Wrexham match (17/5) while Stan James offers 13/2 Forest Green Rovers.

Just down the road from Wrexham, Donald McCain will be hoping to take some of the spoils on offer at Bangor-On-Dee, his local track. Railway Dillon will popular in the 3.50 but this looks a trappy affair - front-runner Calisto Moon returns from a break and couldn't be completely written off if fit enough while Wake Board won as he liked over this course and distance last May.

The bumper is interesting. Imperial Leader's second to The Romford Pele reads well after that one came home seventh in the Festival bumper last week, beaten just over ten lengths. Donald McCain's Ifyousayso has to carry a penalty but it would be no surprise to see Nicky Henderson's mare Miss Ballantyne improve on her third to stablemate Brave Alliance at Warwick in November. I'll monitor the market and bet Imperial Leader if the signs are positive.

Over the years I haven't fared particularly well at tomorrow's Newbury meeting - the race that intrigues is the 3.40. Ikorodu Road is of obvious interest after his victory in the Grimthorpe. He may have been a little fortunate that day as a tired-looking Pentiffic fell at the final fence when holding a three length lead but he battled all the way to the line to pip Junior a short-head. I'm going to take an each-way chance on Henry Daly's Pearlysteps (10/1 bet365, Bet Victor) who didn't jump well at Ascot the last day but has been to Yogi Breisner's since and sports cheekpieces for the first time. His previous second to According To Pete in the Peter Marsh reads well and Jake Greenall takes off a handy-looking five pounds.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

Anyone brave enough to take the suggested contrary view on the football will be in profit.

Fleetwood beat Mansfield 2-0 but the surprise came at Wrexham where James Norwood secured Forest Green's winner in injury time, the hosts going down by the odd goal in three. A one point level stake wager on the four suggested results showed a 3.5 point profit.

At Bangor Donald McCain saddled three winners while Jason Maguire rode a four-timer. Unfortunately that pairing recorded one of their wins in the concluding bumper where Maguire rode a fine race from the front on Ifyousayso to take the spoils at odds of 7/1. There was money for Imperial Commander (9/4 in to 13/8f) but Twiston-Davies' charge had no chance with the winner coming home 10 lengths adrift in second.

It quickly became apparent at Newbury that Pearlysteps (12/1) will need several more sessions with Yogi Bresiner and probably something else too before he carries any more of my money. He jumped mostly to the right and gradually lost his place down the back straight, eventually being pulled up five out. Ikorodu Road (4/1) ran his game, consisitent race to take the honours while talking horse Mon Parrain (7/4f)found little off the bridle to finish a well-beaten fourth.

Jock Jake Greenall dismounted the disappointing Pearlysteps and then dashed to Stratford where his mount 6/4f Kingsmere made all to take the concluding Coventry Handicap Hurdle 'unchallenged'.

Ho hum.