In the news...

Following a week in which the fallout from last week's Grand National could be described as significant, racing again finds itself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Reports in the press this weekend indicate that the British Horseracing Authority is at present refusing to comment on fresh race-fixing allegations that could involve up to five jockeys. Watch this space, as they say...

On the Grand National... Professor Tim Morris, Director of Equine Science and Welfare at the BHA, has had a busy week with media commitments and he appeared on Saturday's Morning Line. He acknowledged racing is a sport that comes with its risks and can never be made risk-free; nonetheless every avenue would be explored to reduce the risks involved in response to public reaction to last Saturday's events. Interestingly, he inferred that many of the comments the BHA had received related to the misuse of the whip; he appeared unequivocal on that point - the whip is not a welfare issue.

In amongst it all, I just wondered about SamWaley-Cohen's thoughts after the big race. Should he have kicked on when Ballabriggs blundered and lost the lead six from home? Another opinion I've heard in places - if the field had jumped 30 (rather than 28) fences, Oscar Time would probably have collected the spoils.

Former BBC political correspondent and racing man Robin Oakley has been busy of late. Following the hardback release of Frankincense and More: The Biography of Barry Hills last September, The Cheltenham Festival: A Centenary History has just been published. Incidentally, the paperback version of the former title is set to be released on 20th May. If  Robin Oakley isn't quite your cup of tea, perhaps Gary Wiltshire, 'The Belly from the Telly', is. Winning It Back: The Autobiography of Britain's Biggest Gambler is now on the bookshelves. Gary lost £1 million when Frankie Dettori famously went through the card at Ascot on 28th September 1996; that event made Gary Wiltshire famous - as he says in the preface, every cloud...   

The day after the Trials

Two stand-out performances at yesterday's Trials Day were Grand Crus' victory in the Cleeve and Wishfull Thinking's display in the Murphy Group Chase. Grand Crus is now 3/1 second favourite for the World Hurdle while Philip Hobbs indicated connections will wait for the ground before deciding whether to go for the Jewson or the RSA with Wishfull Thinking. Generally I don't tend to play ante-post but the RSA market looks rather lop-sided at the moment - Time For Rupert 5/2, 14/1 bar. I always think a trouble-free preparation is important for Cheltenham and the RSA favourite missed his appointment here on account of a low-grade infection. Wishfull Thinking is 16/1 for the RSA, 10/1 for the Jewson but those prices led me to consider Robinson Collonges who has now missed his intended race on two consecutive Saturdays as a result of abandonments. Back at the beginning of November Paul Nicholls' charge looked to be running all over Wishfull Thinking in a novice chase at Wincanton but crumpled on landing three from home; current quotes about Robinson Collonges include 33/1 for the RSA, 20/1 for the Jewson and 14/1 for the Centenary Novices Chase (which is to be run on the opening day).

Along with many I suspect, I wasn't impressed with Punchestown's jumping in the Argento but after the race Nicky Henderson indicated Barry Geraghty "...was very pleased with his jumping." The handler is keen to get another run into a horse that takes "...a massive amount of work to get ready."

Talking of trials, a couple of weeks back I was offered a free one by Dave Rensham at Racing Trends and I decided to take up the offer. Dave's email cribsheet has landed in the inbox on a daily basis and contains a wealth of statistical information on the following day's racing. Now I know stats are stats and they're not necessarily for everybody but I think they're useful in exploring different angles - of particular interest to me were the positive / negative sire stats together with pace stats - suitable 'in running' trading opportunities were highlighted. Further details are available on the website - a monthly subscription costs £29.99 which works out at just under £1 a day.

The 'all new' Morning Line hit our screens for the first time on Saturday but looked remarkably similar to the old version with a few gimmicks and cosmetic changes thrown in (including a cyan settee that presenter Nick Luck seemed particularly proud of for some reason.) The Mac and Tania's Betting Guide item, in which a guy called Hamish, sporting a tweed jacket, asked about the different types of bets he could strike, didn't really work, neither did the technology in the attempted Skype-type link up with trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, ironically based ten miles or so down the road... Kim Bailey's impressive performance in the Guest Test just about saved the day.

Taken from Saturday's Times Magazine - What I've learnt by A.P. McCoy:
"Racing has never been a rich man's sport."
I'm with you there, Tony.
Mind you, I'm sure several owners would tell us that even if you come into this game rich, you won't be leaving it rich...

Finally, with Cheltenham just over six weeks away, it seems a bit early to be talking about Grand Nationals but apparently the good people of Harrogate are set to play host to the UK's first 'rabbit grand national'. Quick - pass me tablets - I can feel a headache coming on.

Weekend snippets

Festival clues aplenty at Leopardstown today where Willie Mullins won the Irish Champion Hurdle with Hurricane Fly as well as the opening maiden hurdle with Day Of A Lifetime. This evening Paddy Power offer 5/1 about Hurricane Fly for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March while Day Of A Lifetime will be entered in both the Supreme Novices' and the Neptune - Coral go 20/1 about the gelding for the opening race of the Festival.

Mullins' grey Flat Out looked set to be involved in the finish of the Arkle Novice Chase but came to grief two out when in the lead; Realt Dubh and Noble Prince fought out a ding-dong battle to the line with the former prevailing by a short-head. Best prices about these for the Cheltenham showpiece in seven weeks' time - Realt Dubh 14/1 (William Hill), Noble Prince 20/1 (Stan James), Flat Out 16/1 (Coral).

At Ascot yesterday Master Minded didn't jump with his usual zest when taking the Victor Chandler by a short-head from the fast-finishing Somersby; as a result Paul Nicholls' charge is out to 5/2 for the Queen Mother Chase while Somersby is generally a 10/1 chance. In the post-race interview McCoy implied he hadn't given his mount the best of rides by sending him to the front too soon on the testing ground. The hard luck story was Kalahari King who was all but carried out by the riderless Petit Robin but then stayed on well to take fourth. Connections had been bullish before the race and now go straight to Cheltenham for the Ryanair - totesport's 16/1 looks tempting given the likely better ground will suit Ferdy Murphy's charge.

One that sluiced up at this meeting was Grandouet who is now as low as 6/1 with some firms for the Triumph. Although the gelding won without a bother, the second, Brendan Powell's game filly Two Kisses, could be considered a useful enough yardstick but nothing more. Connections aim to go to Kempton for the Adonis before Cheltenham which should prove informative. The Triumph is a rough enough race at the best of times - 6/1 Grandouet makes no appeal whatsoever.

Pat Rodford's mare Sparky May caused something of an upset by beating even money favourite Carole's Legacy four lengths in the mares' hurdle. Sparky May is now quoted 8/1 for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle while Carole's Legacy is out to 16/1. Willie Mullins' Quevega has won the past two runnings of the race and is just 5/4 to complete the hat-trick.

More clues to ponder over next weekend when Cheltenham hosts the Festival Trials Day...

In the meantime, three quick points to finish with...

1. Keep an eye out for the revamped Morning Line next Saturday;
2. Check out the triple dead-heat at Romford dogs last Wednesday;
3. Spare a thought for Mischief the horse who recently got stuck in a neighbour's swimming pool.

Playing catch-up

A few days away and I've completely lost touch...

The current big betting story centres around allegations in today's News of the World that Pakistan bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammed Asif bowled three no-balls at pre-determined, specified points in test match play on Thursday and Friday. William Hill representative Graham Sharpe, speaking on Radio Five Live this morning, indicated that punters would struggle to strike bets of this nature with his firm.

I missed the first of Martin Clunes' two part series, Horsepower; apprently tonight's second episode (ITV1 21:00) starts with a visit to racecourses in England and Italy.

While away I did manage to catch small snippets from the two most recently broadcast editions of The Morning Line. Am I just getting too old and cynical? Perhaps so, but I did feel Nick Luck's fawning over firstly Jeremy Kyle before Sandown's Variety Club Day and then Guy Harwood and Amanda Perrett before Saturday's Goodwood Celebration Mile meeting left a bit of a taste...

Two quick points noted on recent travels - firstly Sanquhar in south west Scotland celebrated 100 years of the riding of the marches on August 18th 2010. Secondly, one of the halls of residence of Durham University has been built on the site of a house that once belonged to John Gully, an English sportsman and former MP for Pontefract. Appearently in 1827 Mr Gully lost £40,000 when backing his Mameluke to win the St. Leger but happier times followed in 1832 when he had a share of £85,000, his St Giles, part owned with Robert Ridsdale, winning the Derby and Margrave the St Leger. Wikipedia records 'Gully was twice married and had twelve children by each wife.'

With the jumps season on the horizon trainer Philip Hobbs had a word for a couple in an article in today's Racing Post - Captain Chris and Tarablaze were mentioned, as was Qroktou who has apparently strengthened up nicely.

Finally, a football note to finish on. As a lifelong fan of Wrexham FC (who now languish near the foot of the Blue Square Bet Premiership) I can't help but wonder why ITV employ our current manager Mr Dean Saunders (also known in our house as 'Pearl & Dean' and 'The Colonel') to pass comment on European games involving clubs such as Liverpool and Aston Villa while closer to home Mr Saunders presides over Wrexham defeats at places such as Forest Green Rovers and Eastbourne Borough. Perhaps he's lining up his next job...

Ascot aftermath

Hmmm... not very chuffed at all. Blogger has just 'lost' my post, no draft saved. Re-typed shortened version below.


Punters came out on top at Royal Ascot. Coral spokesman Dave Stevens 'It has been carnage.'

Blog's highlighted selections - just two wins from eleven selections resulting in loss of 6.28 points over the five days.

Best performance - Starspangledbanner in the Golden Jubilee. July Cup is next target.

The Form Book Jumps Annual 2009/10 published Friday 25th June. 35% off RRP at Amazon.

Emma & Jamie Spencer split after jockey admits affair with leading lady rider Hayley Turner.

Finally a quick question & answer from Wednesday's Times:
What are the Queen's Plate, Prince Of Wales Stakes and Breeders' Stakes collectively called? Answer in the comments section.

A couple of small notes...

An article in Friday's Guardian highlighted Channel 4's desire to save money without cutting its racing coverage. Bosses aiming to save £10,000 per programme are examining the manner in which presenters are used - Nick Luck looks set to become anchorman on The Morning Line.

Unfortunately the Racing Post's campaign to try and ensure Tony McCoy was one of the finalists for the 2009 Sports Personality of the Year has failed. McCoy rode his 3,000th winner, Restless D'Artaix, at Plumpton in February, but it would appear that the wider public aren't really all that interested.

A letter from Charlie Flindt of Alresford, Hampshire was published in The Times earlier this week. Apparently Google released its list of 'most searched words and terms' on December 1st, yet included figures for the whole of December. Mr Flindt enquires 'Is there any chance of it publishing all the racing results for the next month?' If only...

Finally, it has taken a long time but I'm starting to realise what many of you know already - that the tips on this blog are not the road to untold riches. Obviously I'm disappointed but you'll be pleased to hear I'm still keeping an eye out for new opportunities... At Liverpool earlier in the week I was fortunate enough to be in a position to give an impromptu concert at the world famous Cavern Club (picture below); halfway through my routine, for some unfathomable reason, the audience started to boo the previous act all over again. I think I could be on the verge of something big...