Ching ching

Phew.  I decided that having not backed Shepherd’s Warning last time I’d have a proper go at her this time.  She got home and she wasn’t claimed – a win double.  The RP marked the run at 65, 3lb below her last run, commenting that she was “not exactly progressive”.  Richard Kingscote told us that she was flicked in the …

Saint Nic

There are certain horses that really catch the eye, and one that caught mine a couple of years ago was Nicanor, who saw off the mighty Denman at Cheltenham in imperious fashion.  Harry Findlay had taken the box next to ours that day, and I know him pretty well – it wasn’t his best day and I don’t think he returned to …

Bad to Worse

Ugh.  This season is going from bad to worse – it’s the fourth time I’ve decided to have a big bet on a horse the day before the race only to change my mind on the day and then see it win (others were Osana, Twist Magic, Denman).  I think I suffer from having too much information – I was probably …

Update

Ours was beaten into second – I haven’t spoken to Nick since the race but I’m told he ran well.  Somehow I missed the race as I had it down as being at 12:50 – saved me a few quid.  I’m a lot less keen on Straw Bear than I was last night and I don’t think I’ll back him …

Follow the Bear

A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL It’s been a fairly low key Christmas for me this year in as far as Christmas with four small children can be.  My side of the family come round tomorrow – 18 of them with 11 children, which may get a little noisy.  I’ve been to church a couple of times this year, which is something …

Ladbroke

I was hoping to be at Ascot today cheering Mon Michel on in the Ladbroke, but it wasn’t to be.  It’s a shame as I’d have given him a real chance – everything would have been in his favour.  Gary has two other entries, including Altilhar which I’ve backed.  I spoke to Gary about him yesterday – he loves the …

Lost and alone

Day 2 of life outside of Betfair, and already bored and depressed – after years of being institutionalised within Betfair I feel lost and alone, like Brooks in the Shawshank Redemption.  I’m contemplating carving my name on a rafter in my office and hanging myself with my Betfair tie.  Goodbye cruel world. But there’s no great rush as it’s another great days …

Secret squirrels

I normally disclose everything about my horses on here, but occasionally I have to keep mum for the sake of my co-owners.  Today was one of those days – two days ago a new syndicate completed the purchase of a horse called Parisian Gift.  I have 1/8, as does Mick.  He was strongly fancied – the syndicate had a good old fashioned gamble on him, sending …

Irish tour

I’m still having a busy time in the run up to Christmas.  On Thursday night I went to a do in the city – later on the Duke and Duchess of York turned up (separately), giving me my celebrity action although I didn’t talk to them.  I got to Heathrow late, meeting Tom Goff, and we flew to Cork – from there we …

Maternity leave

It was a big day for me yesterday, with Betfair finally launching the SP mechanism.  I kicked the product off over 2 years ago, but it was a year and a half before we started work on it (the Betfair roadmap is permanently backed up).  It is a very big piece of work – in many respects the biggest single …