Sunday shorts

Less than two weeks to the Epsom Derby and I still don't have much of an idea what what I'm going to back. At this stage, on grounds of value alone, I have to oppose St Nicholas Abbey. Henry Cecil's Bullet Train put in a decent performance to take the Lingfield trial but immedaitely after that race connections seemed to indicate they didn't think their charge good enough for racing's Blue Riband. Since then there appears to have been a change of heart, although Bullet Train doesn't give much away on the gallops. At the moment 10/1 Bullet Train is of some interest but I'm keeping my ear to the ground.

Canford Cliffs won Saturday's Irish 2000 Guineas in some style -that's two top milers in Richard Hannon's yard - the aforementioned Canford Cliffs and, of course, Paco Boy.

These days a trip down the local bookies to place a bet can lead to something else... Not only are you likely to be relieved of all your cash, there's a chance you could end up with a serious injury. Recently there has been an armed raid on a Ladbrokes betting shop in Peterborough while on Wednesday a policeman was stabbed in a betting shop in Bracknell, Berkshire.

Being the wrong side of fifty, I take that little extra delight in seeing an old-timer do the business. This evening then congratulations go to Ollie Magern who, at the ripe old age of twelve, rolled back the years and made all to win the Perth Gold Cup with something to spare at odds of 14/1.

Finally a story in the current Private Eye caught my eye but I don't have the issue to hand. Apparently a punter placed £20 with Paddy Power on Gordon Brown being the Prime Minister after the election. With the outcome a hung parliament, the punter expected to collect but was informed initially by the company that with a hung parlaiment there was no Prime Minister in post. A further query to the firm raised even more constitutional questions - I promise I'll try and dig out the details...

Ascot, Lingfield, Haydock...

We're spoilt for choice tomorrow with meetings at Ascot, Lingfield, Haydock, Nottingham, Hexham, Thirsk and Warwick; the highlight at Ascot is the Victoria Cup in which 29 go to post. John Gosden was in fine form at Chester's mid-week meet and his course and distance winner Duncan is likely to be all the rage in the opener at the Berkshire track; I won't get involved but will keep an eye on Bergo, owned by Harry Findlay's mother. This gedling won three novice chases on the bounce before finishing a respectable fourth behind Tataniano at Aintree last month; whether he can be competitive in this listed event is another question.

Punters will be on the lookout for Classic clues at Lingfield with the Oaks trial at 2.40 and the Derby trial half an hour later. In the fillies' race, the market suggest Henry Cecil's Timepiece is the one but the favourite has won just two of the last ten renewals; those looking to oppose will want to consider Ralph Beckett's Ceilidh House, while on ratings John Gosden's Dyna Waltz is there with a chance but isn't certain to stay and will need to put a disappointing effort in the Nell Gwyn behind her. In the colts' trial Sir Michael Stoute has come here with Desert Myth rather than Chester's Dee Stakes,won earlier today by Amzeel.

The highlight at Haydock's mixed meeting is the ultra-competitive Swinton Handicap Hurdle in which 24 are set to face the starter. David Pipe fields four - in the last fortnight the yard has won nine from twenty eight, giving a phenomenal strike rate of 32.14%. I note Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Overturn while it's interesting to see that Paul Nicholls employs Irish jockey Paul Townend on Toubab. In the past decade the winner has come from the first three in the betting on seven occasions. I'm torn between two Pipe horses - Dan Breen and Hunterview. Formerly with Michael Jarvis on the Flat, Hunterview didn't appear to get up the hill in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham but won easily at Ayr next time out. At around 10/1 I'll take a small each-way interest in Hunterview.

Only five in the Beginners' Chase at 4.10 but I'd be tempted to take on Mahonia if the gelding were a short-priced favourite. He ran no sort of race in the Martin Pipe hurdle at Cheltenham and has only jumped fences twice in public, falling once. With her seven pound allowance, consistent mare Cool Friend doesn't have a lot to find on ratings and has put in some decent efforts this winter behind Carole's Legacy and Awesome George. Having won after a break in the past, she comes here fresh and goes well for Nick Schofield; she is worth a bet if priced up around the 9/2 mark as this evening's tissue indicates.

Haydock's Swinton Hurdle & the Lingfield trials

Plenty to choose from tomorrow, including the evening meet at Warwick, just down the road from me, which markets its Ladies' night as 'perfect for a girls' night out' and boasts (?) a Rod Stewart tribute concert, jewellery, hat and bag stands, a florist, a 'best dressed lady' competition and a 'best hat' competition; the stalls look likely to do more business than the bookmakers. This used to be one the few jumps meetings I was allowed to go to without asking but now it's on the Flat it just doesn't make the same appeal...

The feature at Haydock is the ultra-competitive Swinton Handicap Hurdle at 1.55 in which twenty four are set to face the starter. This evening Cockney Trucker is favourite at a best-priced 9/1 with William Hill. His third in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham behind American Trilogy reads well, although he was beaten fair and square that day. I'd imagine Mrs Alison Thorpe will have a fair idea of the chances of her two, Ellerslie Tom and Dishdasha, as her Nortonthorpe Lad, priced at 50/1, was only a half length behind Cockney Trucker at Cheltenham. Ellerslie Tom has claims as he's top on RP ratings, was third in this last year off a six pounds higher mark and likes to race from the front, a tactic that is likely to serve him well in this. Having said all that, he didn't really take to novice chasing and has been a bit in and out, although his last effort could be read as signalling a return to form. The write-up in the Weekender takes that view but I'm going to take a chance on his stablemate Dishdasha provided the rain stays away. He has a racing weight and at 33/1 with Victor Chandler merits a small each-way investment. Others worthy of a second look include Harper Valley (in spite of top weight) who was third in the Scottish Champion last time and Jim Goldie's Toshi.

At Lingfield the trials have small fields but will be interesting nonetheless. In the Derby trial I prefer Henry Cecil's Father Of Time to Age Of Aquarius; the selection should be sharper for his third behind High Heeled three weeks ago. On ratings there doesn't appear much between Midday (from the Cecil yard) and Tottie in the Oaks trial, while Ralph Beckett used this race as a preparation for Look Here last year. I marginally prefer the Cecil horse, so Midday gets the vote. The same trainer winning both Lingfield trials - when was the last time that happened, I wonder?

Weekend update

First of all, my apologies for the fact that I didn't post any selections for Saturday. Look on the bright side, I've saved you your stake money.

It's been a bit of a hectic weekend. Earlier today, I attended the City Of Coventry Youth Orchestra's 'Music From The Movies' performance at the Arts Centre, University of Warwick. Mrs Tips has been trying to widen my rather narrow horizons. Iain Lauchlan provided witty interludes to the music and singing; at half-time (I should say 'the interval') Mrs T. struck up a conversation with the lady in the next seat who turned out Mr Lauchlan's wife. Fortunately, at that point, I hadn't made any indiscreet comments about the compere...

In a similar vein, I couldn't help but smile at one of Michael Owen's comments when the Channel 4 cameras visited his training facility at Malpas in Cheshire. To paraphrase, Michael said that taking abuse came with the territory for footballers but, in stark contrast, people in racing were far more polite. Obviously I don't move the right circles. I guess Ms. Zara Phillips does, but her first runner as a trainer, Manor Down, was pulled up at Cheltenham's hunter chasing meeting last Wednesday.

The Lingfield Derby trial lost much of its interest with the withdrawal of Luca Cumani's Curtain Call on account of fast ground. In the Oaks trial Look Here didn't handle the course. In the coming week the big York meeting will take centre stage from Wednesday onwards.

A number of readers have told me they preferred FirstTimeRacgoer's recent post to the drivel I routinely pump out. I don't care, I'm going to carry on regardless...