A brief review of the 2022/23 jumps season

Champion jockey: Brian Hughes

Champion trainer: Paul Nicholls

Winning owner: J P McManus

Champion conditional jockey: Luca Morgan

In the space of just under an hour on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival Constitution Hill won the Champion Hurdle by nine lengths and then Honeysuckle brought the curtain down on a wonderful racing career by winning the Mares' Hurdle, her seventeenth straight win from nineteen starts.

Galopin Des Champs beat Bravemansgame in the Gold Cup, Energumene won the Champion Chase and Sire Du Berlais surprised a few when coming home first in the Stayers' Hurdle but this year's highlight was that hour on the very first day.

The Ultima form looks strong with winner Corach Rambler going on to beat Vanillier in the Grand National while second Fastorslow provided a 20/1 upset in the Punchestown Gold Cup beating Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame. 

Corach Rambler was beaten nine lengths by Le Milos in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November but Dan Skelton's charge didn't see out the trip in the National and eventually finished tenth.

The long dry summer took its toll on early season fixtures with Wincanton, Exeter and Ludlow among the tracks forced to abandon on account of unsuitable ground. 

February proved unseasonably dry as well. Winter watering restrictions meant Newbury's Betfair Hurdle meeting was run on going officially described as good, good to firm in places; Annual Invictus, Zanza and Betfair Hurdle winner Aucunrisque all posted new course records.

Ga Law won the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham's Open meeting and I Like To Move It the Greatwood under top weight. 

The 2022 Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard was sent off 1/2 favourite for the Betfair Chase at Haydock but Henry De Bromhead's charge ran no sort of race at all and was pulled up behind Protektorat. 

Protektorat subsequently finished fifth behind Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup, having taken up the running two out, while A Plus Tard was pulled up in the race before finishing a well beaten third behind Shishkin in the Aintree Bowl.

L'Homme Presse impressed carrying top weight to a comfortable victory in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle but unseated Charlie Deutsch at the last in the King George when looking held by Bravemansgame.

The world appeared Edwardstone's oyster after victory in the Tingle Creek but Alan King's charge unseated in the Desert Orchid Chase over Christmas, was pipped by Editeur Du Gite in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham and then looked strangely lethargic behind Energumene in the Champion Chase.

A cold snap meant there was no turf racing in Britain from Monday 12th December until Tuesday 20th.

The Paul Nicholls trained Tahmuras won the Tolworth in the new year and was sent off an 11/1 chance for the Supreme on the opening day of the Festival. He trailed in tenth behind Marine Nationale, with Irish trained novices filling the first eight places. 

The dominance of Irish novices was seen again the following day in the Ballymore won by Impaire Et Passe but, come Friday, Nicholls had something to cheer when Stay Away Fay stayed on to take the Albert Bartlett. 

Iwilldoit proved well named when winning the Classic Chase at Warwick while the French trained Gold Tweet caused a bit of an upset when coming from last to first to beat Dashel Drasher and Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle.

Cooper's Cross won the Sky Bet Chase, Moroder the Grimthorpe - both run at Doncaster -and Magna Sam the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh but all three subsequently finished behind Kitty's Light. 

Christian Williams' charge appeared slow to come to hand but encouraging signs were spotted behind Annsam at Kempton in January. The diminutive seven-year-old won the Eider over four miles at Newcastle in February and eight weeks later beat Cooper's Cross in the Scottish Grand National (Magna Sam fifth). 

Connections contemplated an audacious attempt for the bet365 Gold Cup, run just one week later at Sandown's jump finale meeting. Kitty's Light jumped the last upsides Moroder and scooted up the hill to win two and a half lengths and provide a fitting end to the season.

And finally, a quick football note to finish off...

Plenty has been said about my home town club, Wrexham, following the arrival of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Fifteen years ago I wrote a post entitled Wrexham wrelegated. It's good to be back in the Football League. 

Wrexham riddles and a Haydock longshot

My hometown football club has been in the news this week.

As a counter to a number of meretricious articles that have appeared in the media, I bring to your attention a more prosaic, widely ignored piece entitled 'Wrexham wrelegated' - written in 2008 following relegation from the Football League - in which brief details of my own personal association with Wrexham Association Football Club are recorded. 

A former colleague thinks he may have detected early signs of 'Disneyfication' at the club, a concept I'm now coming to terms with, although I've had to call upon previously untapped reserves of tact and discretion to prevent myself from pointing out to him we've been playing a Mickey Mouse brand of football (in a cartoon strip) for years.

On the back of all that I considered making the case for a Disneyesque runner from those competing tomorrow - Heart Of A Lion (Huntingdon 11.45), Sumkindofking (Haydock 3.35), The Turtle Said (Huntingdon 3.43) and Printing Dollars (Ascot 1.30) were all in the mix but, in the end, I decided to look for an outsider in the Betfair Racing Only Bettor Handicap Hurdle at Haydock, due off at 1.50.

Seventeen have been declared with the going described as soft, good to soft in places on the hurdles course; this race is scheduled to be run over brush hurdles.

It's no surprise to see Kid Commando at the head of the market following a facile victory at Ascot three weeks ago (Dear Sire 23 lengths adrift in fourth). I've seen the name of Anthony Honeyball's charge in a number of 'Horses to Follow' lists, with tipsters keen to point to the gelding's third in the Dovecote at Kempton in February. The handicapper raised his mark seven pounds to 143 after Ascot; he shares top weight with Forest Bihan but the step up in trip is thought likely to suit. In the past seven renewals the winner has come from the first four in the betting; over the past decade comparing winning weight figures against entries, the victor is over two times more likely to shoulder 11-00 or more. 

Shake Em Up'Arry made all to win unchallenged at Ffos Las last time while Arrivederci waved goodbye to all his opponents when coming home two and three quarter lengths ahead of War Lord at Wetherby. On The Wild Side is another in the field who likes to race from the front and enters the fray here with two victories in Hexham novice hurdles to his name.

The Harry Skelton trained Flash The Steel is given every respect having won the 2019 running of the Silver Trophy at Chepstow, subsequently finishing second in this year's renewal behind the well-regarded Tea Clipper; he was beaten a long way over an extended trip in last year's renewal of tomorrow's 2.25 race.

I'm not quite sure what to make of Umbrigado on his seasonal debut but I note that Tom Scudamore is booked to ride at Huntingdon - Seymour Promise and Sizing Cuisimano for Colin Tizzard; Kentucky Hardboot for Mohamed Moubarak. 

Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, Fix Sun can be expected to improve for soft ground on this his second run following wind surgery after he trailed in next to last of 19 runners behind Captain Tom Cat (Our Power sixth) at Cheltenham last month. 

Our Power is talented but not entirely straightforward while course winner Ebony Jewel makes his seasonal and also likes to race prominently.

In a race with so many front-runners Kaizer, regularly taken down to the start early, won't mind a hold-up ride; Billy Garrity claims three and the partnership have just 10-1 to shoulder. 

Racing on good ground at Chepstow in early October Dear Sire beat Le Ligerien nine lengths into third (fourth Stimulating Song a winner at Cheltenham last weekend) - seven pound claimer Theo Gillard was in the plate that day. Champion jockey Brian Hughes takes over tomorrow and Philip Hobbs' charge looks weighted to reverse the form. 

'Obbs' 'orses weren't running all that well at the time but they're operating at a better win strike rate now; course winner Le Ligerien has previously won over this distance and should also appreciate the ease in underfoot conditions. 

It's likely to be brutal up front from the off but Richard Johnson's mount looks competitive on Racing Post ratings and on the clock; I'm hopeful he can outrun odds of 20/1 currently available with William Hill who pay six places on this race.

Le Ligerien is the each-way selection.

What chance a happy ending to this particular Disney tale?

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.

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...

Noted this weekend

The two star performances over the weekend were St Nicholas Abbey winning the Racing Post Trophy and over in Ireland Dunguib taking the maiden hurdle at Galway. This evening St Nicholas Abbey is generally 3/1 and 7/2 for next year's 2000 Guineas and 3/1 for the Derby, but Stan James go as short as 2/1. Dunguib is generally a 5/2 shot for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham next March.

Paul Nicholls may have come away from Chepstow without a winner yesterday but it was no surprise to see his Pepe Simo (5/2) take the Paul Nicholls Racing 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle at Wincanton today, beating the 13/8 favourite Henry King a length and a quarter.

During the BBC's coverage from Aintree on Saturday Clare Balding mentioned the John Smith's marketing campaign which is set to offer drinkers a share in the people's racehorse, a three-year-old called Smithy. Viewers were encouraged to check the John Smith's website for details. I've just had a quick peek - there are 'bogof' offers to several interesting meets but finding details of Smithy wasn't easy. An article from Marketing informed us we can register our interest from January 2010, and it was that article that pointed me in the direction of the link to Smithy's Yard, Home of the People's Racehorse.

With Christmas creeping ever closer, two more books of interest - Marcus Armytage offers some frivolous racing tales in 'Turn Me On Guv: 'Tails' from the Racecourse', while those looking for something a little more serious may want to consider fellow blogger Ben Aitken's 'Narrowing The Field - Using the Dosage Method to Win at National Hunt Racing', available from the High Stakes bookshop.

Several acquaintances have been quick to tell me about Wrexham's indifferent start in the Blue Square Premiership this season. Mrs Tips, ever the helpful one, suggested the club sent a scout to run his eye over some dolphins who were filmed off the north Wales coast, playing football with jellyfish... Staying with the football theme, I had to smile at the commentator's introduction to the Chelsea versus Blackburn Rovers match on Match Of The Day last night. "If football was played on paper," he boomed, "we would win the pools every week!" Doesn't sound a bad idea to me.

Finally, spare a thought for amateur rider Victoria Cartmel who made history yesterday by becoming the first jockey to be banned for misuse of the whip and dropping her hands in the same race, the finale at Newbury yesterday. Sometimes, you just can't do right for doing wrong...

Weekend notes

In a strongly-run Irish Derby earlier this afternoon, Fame And Glory gained some compensation for his Epsom defeat by beating stablemate Golden Sword five lengths.This was Aidan O'Brien's seventh Irish Derby and Johnny Murtagh's third. In post-race comments Murtagh identified the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown as a possible target for the winner. Riding in his first classic, the winning trainer's son, J P O'Brien, finished tenth of the eleven runners on 200/1 shot Byzantine.

Michael Owen's wife, Louise, has recently been gainfully employed promoting next Saturday's Coral Eclipse at Sandown. That race has been given an extra fillip with the news that Epsom Derby winner Sea The Stars now goes for that prize, having been withdrawn from the Irish Derby on account of the easy ground.

There were plenty of footballing links at Newcastle's meeting on Saturday, links Derek Thompson wasn't slow to point out. Before the Pitmen's Derby, former Magpies' player Peter Beardsley and Hull City manager Phil Brown tipped up Som Tala from the stable of ex-England international Mick Channon. The beast, a 16/1 shot, won with something in hand. Roker Park won the 2.35 and Horatio Carter the 3.45; both are owned by Sunderland fan Mr T Alderson. Roker Park was the ground Sunderland used to play at while Horati Stratton Carter, better known as Raich Carter, captained them to the league title and their first FA Cup final victory. By the way, just in case you missed it, Derek Thompson originates from these parts...

Following on from recent match-fixing posts, I'm grateful to the Wrexham Supporters Association Blog for bringing to my attention two links that add some detail to the circumstances surrounding the Histon v. Lewes game in September 2008. Cambridge News Online reported the Histon team were threatened by a gambling ring while in May 2009 the Daily Mail made reference to five non-league games that were under investigation. Of course, fixing is a worry in all sports - the first-round tie at this year's Wimbledon Championships between Jurgen Melzer and Wayne Odesnik has been been in the news and has been reported to the authorities. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) for its part has welcomed the recent announcement by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe that he is to set up a Sports Betting Integrity Panel.

Mrs Tips and I were at Wimbledon on Thursday, having been allocated two Centre Court tickets through the public ballot system. The crowds were big, the weather hot - I found it all jolly tiring. I was left wondering whether the tennis product is better consumed through the medium of television. Mrs T. enjoyed it though, so I've asked her to file a report; she says she'll do that when she has fully recovered...

The week in focus

Paul Nicholls was surprisingly upbeat about Denman on Saturday's Morning Line. To my mind the trainer appeared to hint that, with hindsight, he may have sent his charge to Kempton a little undercooked. It's too early to write 'the tank' off just yet but bookmakers aren't taking any chances by offering just 5/1 last season's Gold Cup winner can repeat the trick next month.

As Tom Scudamore passed the winning post on Madison Du Berlais at Kempton, he beckoned to his rivals (in particular Ruby Walsh on Denman) to try and keep up. A week later and another big chase, this time at Ascot, but there was no waving from Tom this time around - he was too busy pushing and shoving on Tamarinbleu who was left for dead by Voy Por Ustedes' classy display.

My advice to rookie paddock watchers, particularly when the going is on the soft side, is to look for the biggest horse in the field and bet it. In future similar advice offered to Eurostar passengers entering the country means they'll probably chance upon Mark Wallinger's sculpture, 'the Angel of the South'. The work is to be modelled on his own stallion, a grey called Riviera Red, but will be thirty three times bigger. Riviera Red won a Class 7 Classified Stakes at Lingfield on Tuesday.

With the Festival just around the corner, you may be interested to learn that The Raceform Update Cheltenham Guide 2009 will be available (from all good newsagents) on Friday 27th February, priced very reasonably at £2.99. Now, I really must go and order my tickets for Champion Chase Day...

Valentine's Day falling on a Saturday often leads to disagreements in the Tips' household. I know I'm the wrong side of twenty seven, but Mrs Tips is still not amused when I suggest a trip to the races as 'something affectionate we can do together' on the special day. Originally hailing from Wrexham, it appears I'm not the only one who lacks something in the romance department. This year Arriva Wales put on a 'love bus' in the area in an attempt to encourage romantics to hop on and 'pop the question' . There were no takers. My guess is the locals know full well that getting hitched is going to cost them a little bit more than a day return to Llangollen.

Guineas weekend roundup

New Approach was beaten for the first time in his racing career when going down by a nose to Henrythenavigator in a thrilling finish to yesterday's 2000 Guineas. Natagora proved beyond doubt that she stays a mile by deservedly taking the 1000 Guineas but Nahoodh would have been a big threat if she'd had a clear run. It's back to the drawing board for Godolphin with Ibn Khaldun giving a most disappointing display on Saturday and Laureldean Gale getting worked up beforehand on Sunday. Sir Alex Ferguson isn't accustomed to finishing last but the horse in which he owns a share, Fireside, did exactly that in the colts' race. To be fair, the horse struck into himself early on; connections say the plan is to lower their sights a little and look for a handicap or listed race.

It's that time of year. I've just switched off the central heating and next week one of my favourite Flat meetings, the Chester May Festival, takes centre stage from Wednesday to Friday. The highlight on the first day is the Chester Cup run over two miles three furlongs. I draw your attention to Philip Hobbs' comments about Fair Along from the Weekender dated 20-24 February - "Whatever happens [at Cheltenham] or at Aintree, make a note of him for the Flat because his big target is the Chester Cup..." Hobbs goes on to say he'd like Jamie Spencer, who gets on very well with the horse, to ride; looking at the entries on Sunday evening Spencer is booked to ride Highland Legacy while Ryan Moore is booked for Fair Along. Read into that what you will.

Regular readers will be aware that my home town team, Wrexham, were relegated from the Football League a couple of weeks ago. In their last league match, at Lincoln City, Wrexham went out with a bang, winning by four goals to two. A rather unsympathetic work colleague (who happens to support Chester City) kindly sent me an email link to the Conference website. Manager Brian Little has recently signed a new two-year contract; can Wrexham bounce straight back next season? They may well do, but I, for one, won't have any money on it.

Wrexham wrelegated

After losing 2-0 at Hereford last night, Wrexham will be playing in the Blue Square Premiership next season. It has been a long tough season. Here are some of my memories of League football at Wrexham... 

Mid 1960s - my first game - Wrexham Reserves 2 Witton Albion 3 in the Cheshire League. I attend several reserve games with my father; I'm regularly 'lifted' over the turnstiles. 

First League game - Wrexham 1 Crewe Alexandra 0. Crewe score but Wrexham keeper Gordon Livesey is injured in the process and the referee disallows the goal. 

Watch several matches from the balcony of The Turf, the public house that overlooks the ground. 

Late 1960s - promotion from Division Four. Eddie May equalises late on against Oldham Athletic to maintain our unbeaten home record. Albert Kinsey is the league's top scorer. 

First game the following season in Division Three - Wrexham beat Bury 3-2 after going two down mid-way though the second half. 

1974 - Wrexham embark on a Cup run that sees them beat Middlesborough at The Racecourse, and Southampton at The Dell, Dave Smallman scoring the winner in both matches. Wrexham are drawn away to Burnley in the quarter finals; Bob Lord, Burnley chairman, refuses to allow Match of the Day cameras at the game; Wrexham lose 1-0. 

Late 70s - John Neal builds a team the like of which we have never seen before. In 1976/7 season Wrexham need a point from their final two games to reach Division Two for the first time in their history. They lose both home games, 4-2 to Crystal Palace and 1-0 against Mansfield. The following season Wrexham are promoted to Division Two as champions, beating Rotherham 7-1 in the final game of the season. 

Mid/late 80s - relegation from Division Two sees an exodus of decent players and soon we're playing in Division Four again. 

Early 90s - Brian Flynn takes over as manager. Club finish bottom of Division Four but are not relegated. 

Following season Wrexham beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Cup, scoring twice in the last ten minutes. Flynn builds a neat passing team that holds its own in the top half of Division Three. 

Late 90s onwards - club hits on hard times, enters administration and is relegated to Division Four. Future of the club is uncertain; property developer, having claimed to acquire the ground (for a song), wants to sell, realising a handsome profit in the process. In court, after protracted wranglings, judge rules in favour of the club. 

2007 - club maintains League status by beating Boston United in final game of the season. 

2008- Wrexham relegated after 87 years of League football. 

"Wrexham Lager, Wrexham Lager, 

Feed me till I want no more, want no more, 

Feed me till I want no more."

Bits and pieces

Tomorrow Great Leighs in Essex will go into the record books as the first new British course to stage racing since Taunton opened in 1927. I think it's fair to say that they've met with more than their fair share of delays on this project; let's hope everything operates smoothly from hereon in. To ensure the course's infrastructure is properly tested, the first few meetings at Great Leighs are 'invitation only' events and, yes, you've guessed it, they forgot to invite me. If you're keen to get to a meeting in the coming week, you could do a lot worse than Sandown's combined flat and jumps card on Saturday, with the Bet365 Gold Cup (formerly Whitbread Gold Cup) serving as the finale to the National Hunt season.

Watching a review of this week's Guineas trials on televison, Infallible looked impressive in winning the Nell Gwyn but John Gosden clearly rates Natagora. Twice Over held Raven's Pass, the pair clear, in the Craven; both John Francome and Jim McGrath envisage the same outcome should the pair reoppose in a fortnight's time. John Dunlop's Muthabara won the Dubai Duty Free at Newbury despite looking backward in her coat - you would expect her to improve significantly, although it was interesting to hear the trainer rate her as 'good but not fantastic' before the race. Mick Channon's yard is under a bit of a cloud at the moment; Nahoodh took a walk in the market and went on to disappoint but she is clearly held in very high regard. 6/1 shot Paco Boy took the Greenham and will probably be supplemented; Sir Michael Stoute's 11/8 favourite Confront didn't handle the soft ground. To my mind this Greenham form looks weaker than the Craven.

Missing a birthday - a mere peccadillo, isn't it? Three weeks ago this blog celebrated its second birthday with over three hundred and forty posts. I know what you're going to say - you wouldn't care if the tips were half decent. The truth is I only do blogging so I don't have to watch East Enders...

On the footballing front, Wrexham's 1-0 defeat of fellow strugglers Notts County appears to have postponed relegation from the Football League for another few days. The inevitable now looks likely to become reality at Edgar Street on Tuesday evening when promotion-chasing Hereford entertain The Dragons. I feel a little like someone who works on obituaries at a newspaper - I've done the preparation, I know what has to be said, it's just a question of when it comes about...

Sporting snippets...

Racing takes place at Cheltenham on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening this coming week, while Ayr race on Friday and Saturday, with the Scottish Grand National the highlight.

I'm not an avid follower of the The Times' 'Ask Lucia' feature, where readers are encouraged to write in to Lucia van der Post with their fashion queries. Anyway, Mrs Tips brought my attention to last Friday's column which carried the headline 'I want to look gorgeous at the gee-gees'. A female reader with £500 to spend was seeking advice on what to wear; just one week after the Aintree meeting, Lucia was pulling no punches. "Well, we certainly got a lesson last week in how not to do it. The pictures from Aintree were awful. Quite apart from the vulgarity of so much flesh on display (the cleavage, the thighs), I wondered how many of the women ended up with pneumonia." Yikes. Ms van der Post advocates the Carla Bruni approach - 'the combination of beauty and demure clothes' - but isn't convinced you can pull it off with a meagre £500 in your purse. Different world, isn't it?

It was a case of footballing highs and lows in the Tips' household this weekend. My home town team, Wrexham, suffered another defeat that brought relegation from the Football League a step closer but Mrs Tips' home town team, Queen of the South, beat Aberdeen 4-3 to reach the Scottish Cup Final for the first time in their history - well done Queens!

Relegation beckons...

When we were kids there was a rule in our house - no boasting when you win, no sulking when you lose. I still try to abide by that rule but, as the end of this football season approaches, I'm finding it increasingly difficult. It's not so much I have a case of the sulks as a case of downright depression. I have supported Wrexham Football Club for most of my life; there can be little doubt now that they will lose their Football League status in May. I accepted the unthinkable a couple of weeks back when we played out a hapless no-score draw at home to Dagenham and Redbridge. Interviewed after the game, manager Brian Little talked about preparing for next season in 'The Conference'. In my lifetime Wrexham have finished bottom of the Football League on two occasions - once in the mid-sixties when they were 're-elected' (as used to happen in those days) and once in the early nineties, when, for some reason I don't recall, relegation from the league was suspended. They are likely to finish bottom this season after 87 years of League football. The warning signs have been there for all to see - victory against Boston United in the final game ensured survival last year. Yet, twelve months on it's come to this. Without judging, I point out that Darren Ferguson, a former club captain who was keen to learn the ropes while still a player (and whose father knows a thing or two about football management), was denied his chance. Darren has gone on to prove his worth at Peterborough United who are currently challenging for the League Two championship; Wrexham will start next season in the Blue Square Premiership.

A flutter on the football?

Wrexham have been rooted at the bottom of League Two for most of this season. Back in October things looked pretty bleak and on the surface they don't appear any better now with the club five points away from safety. Nonetheless I detect improvement over the past couple of weeks. Manager Brian Little has brought eleven new signings to the club in the January transfer window and has also made a bid for Chester's Kevin Ellison. The last three matches have yielded five points with a win against MK Dons, and draws against Bradford City and Morecambe. Scoring goals remains a big problem (just nineteen in the league to date) but there's a hint of light at the end of the tunnel. The plan is to avoid becoming isolated over the next few games; the run-in to the end of the season contains a number of matches against teams currently in the lower half of the league. The new faces appear to have brought a new resolve to the club, as shown by the fact they came from behind twice at Morecambe. I'm not keen on football betting but I shall be monitoring bookmakers' prices on individual matches in the forthcoming weeks and will consider a wager on the club avoiding relegation.

Aintree aftermath

On Sunday, while Kauto Star was busy getting himself beaten by Monet's Garden and Gabby Logan was busy getting herself voted off Strictly Come Dancing, I was busy driving back home, via Wrexham. After the anguish of last season, the club managing to
stay in the Football League by beating Boston United in their final game, I thought there might be better things ahead; it hasn't worked out that way. Twelve games played and Wrexham sit next to bottom of League Two with a meagre nine points. We called in at the ground and took a couple of photos; one wag commented it was just as quiet on match days. Manager Brian Carey's position looks precarious. I think it's going to be another long hard winter...

Wrexham's great escape

Wrexham managed to escape relegation yesterday, sending Boston down in the process by beating them 3-1, although it was far fom plain sailing. 1-0 down at half-time, Wrexham were staring disaster in the face but the three second half goals, two in the last four minutes, changed the picture completely.

The BBC's report and pictures capture the occasion well.

I managed to catch live radio coverage in Coventry on BBC Radio Wales. What a truamatic season! I wouldn't want to go through a final day like that again in a hurry; in the end it was just a huge sense of a relief. Let's hope the club can progress from here.

D-Day at Wrexham

At present I'm distracted by Wrexham's plight at the bottom of League Two. On Saturday they need a win or a draw at home to Boston United to ensure league football next season. Boston are next to bottom of the league and need to win to survive. If Wrexham lose, they will need to rely on Notts County winning at Macclesfield.

I know it's sad but last night I worked out the various permutations (discounting goal difference scenarios), as a kind of displacement activity.

Wrexham win, Macclesfield win - Boston relegated.
Wrexham win, Macclesfield draw - Boston relegated.

Wrexham win, Macclesfield lose - Boston relegated.

Wrexham draw, Macclesfield win - Boston relegated.

Wrexham draw, Macclesfield draw - Boston relegated.

Wrexham draw, Macclesfield lose - Boston relegated.

Wrexham lose, Macclesfield win - Wrexham relegated.

Wrexham lose, Macclesfield draw - Wrexham relegated.

Wrexham lose, Macclesfield lose - Macclesfield relegated.

Earlier in the week Wrexham were 5/1 to go down; now I see they're priced at just 3/1. My fear is that if Boston score first, Wrexham will struggle as, during this nightmare of a season, the goals have been difficult to come by. Saturday afternooon I shall be watching the match - on teletext. Fingers crossed...

One adult return to Wrexham

Last weekend I went back to Wrexham for the first time in ages. Destination: The Racecourse Ground - to check out for the first time a brick my brother and I had purchased when The Pryce Griffiths stand was under construction.

It's been a traumatic time for the club over the past 18 months but hopefully now there's a sound foundation on which to build.

It's all a world away from the Premiership with players earning over £100,000 a week, or from the World Cup which kicks off in seven days.

Maybe one day in my lifetime Wales will get to the finals; I'm not holding my breath though.