Posted in Horse Racing on Jul 19th, 2008 6 Comments »
I did one thing yesterday that was vaguely clever. I thought Greg Norman was a touch long in the win market - a price of 27 for a guy in outright second felt big even accounting for age and tendency to bottle the big ones. I had £3.5k on at 27 and 28 and put […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jul 5th, 2008 6 Comments »
Jane and I went to the tennis yesterday. Semi-finals day is often the best day to go, but yesterday was just the administration of a couple of sound beatings and the prelude to what might be a classic final.
I grew up in Wimbledon and I’ve been to the tennis virtually every year since I was […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 30th, 2008 3 Comments »
Another group 1 wings its way to Ballydoyle, but again it was an unsatisfactory race. I’ve watched the race a few times - it isn’t clear to me whether or not the AOB trained Tabor owned Frozen Fire would have won had the AOB trained Tabor owned Alessandro Volta not veered dramatically left when he […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 22nd, 2008 8 Comments »
I went to Ascot on Thursday, feeling a bit sheepish - parts of my blog had been written up in the Racing Post, and it had also been written up on an Australian news site.
Skid was running in the first race - I was hopeful of a decent run but he could never go the pace […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 21st, 2008 3 Comments »
On the Swindon front:Â I was extremely pleased to see Town sign the sponsorship deal with Fourfourtwo the other week.
The first I heard of this was through a friend of mine at Haymarket - Fourfourtwo were looking for a shirt deal and they had Swindon on the shortlist. They had a series of meetings with Nick […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 19th, 2008 4 Comments »
Having rung around this morning I’m not recommending Scrapper Smith now. I think he’ll run well enough, but Pete likes his a lot, and I very much doubt we’re the better horse at the moment.
South Central is supposed to be something pretty special against Skid. I prefer Kensington Oval to Dr Faustus in the 4:55.
I […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 18th, 2008 15 Comments »
A good day’s racing today, but one that has left me more concerned than ever before about the state of the game at the top level. It seems to be standard these days for Ballydoyle to have multiple entries in every group one to be run in the UK, and this is a situation that […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 14th, 2008 5 Comments »
It’s been a busy week and I’m glad it’s over. It was my father-in-law’s funeral yesterday and we had all the guests back to the farm - it was a pleasant do in sad circumstances with a fair bit of work getting ready for it. It was also Betfair’s strategy week and I attended as […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Kings Head on May 16th, 2008 1 Comment »
I had hoped for three runners today but I’m down to one after the two Maxes pulled out. He’s a good one though - King’s Head runs at Aintree tonight, and if the rains stay away I see no reason why he won’t go in again. He’s fit and well.
Nine days break isn’t a lot, […]
Posted in Horse Racing on May 3rd, 2008 No Comments »
The 2,000 comes around, and it’s not as strong a race as it might have been. Several leading fancies, Winker included, have fallen away and no surprise packages have emerged. The ground will probably be genuine good ground, which will suit most but not Raven’s Pass.
The big question for me is whether I can get […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Big Paddy, Ours on Apr 23rd, 2008 2 Comments »
Max One Two Three did an important piece of work this morning, and was scoped afterwards. She worked really nicely and scoped clean - we are now bang on for the 1,000. She will have one more piece of work early next week and that will be it. She is a very decent filly with a […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Bouguereau on Apr 19th, 2008 1 Comment »
I was a bit down yesterday thinking about the number of second places I have, so I checked out the stats. The stats are poor for horses running in my name - 3 wins, 7 seconds, 6 thirds from 39 runs. If I include all horses I have a piece of the figures are 22-30-14 - not […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Furtive Glance, Big Paddy, Better Together, Theophrastus, Ours, Mon Michel, Shawhill, Effingham, Bouguereau, Winker Watson, Lord Snooty on Apr 10th, 2008 6 Comments »
It’s a big time of year as an owner, and there are highs and lows. Aintree was ultimately a real mix, and there was a lot of good and bad on Saturday. I didn’t go up as I was at AFC Wimbledon for a match that my wider family were sponsoring in memory of my great uncle, who […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Mon Michel on Apr 4th, 2008 4 Comments »
The big day approaches, and unusually for me I don’t have an ante-post position in the National. In my younger days I was crazily obsessive about the race - it got to the point where I was so tense beforehand that I could barely watch it. A couple of times I can remember watching the race on […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses on Mar 30th, 2008 13 Comments »
My information was terrible yesterday, which is a bit worrying. I think there are a few bugs flying around.
One runner today - Hope Road, who goes in the first at Kempton and I’m pretty hopeful. He’s high in the handicap but this is a maiden and he’s well in. He has a bit of pace and […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Mar 22nd, 2008 2 Comments »
I’ll post a few notes about tomorrow’s racing now as I have a busy day tomorrow riding on Thomas the Tank Engine around the Watercress line. I may even take the kids with me.
At this time of year, and with little evidence to go on, I tend to concentrate on looking for 4yos with a progressive […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Mar 14th, 2008 No Comments »
It’s slightly irritating to come to my blog today and see that the post I wrote yesterday didn’t get posted for some reason. I was waxing on about how amazing it was to be sitting in the Betfair tent listening to Harry Findlay and Clive Smith with Jim Lewis sitting on the side - Betfair […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Mar 11th, 2008 6 Comments »
Quick today as I have to rush to Cheltenham.
We had a box for the whole week but unfortunately it blew away yesterday. I’m still going for the week, but I won’t have a base, which is annoying.
I think most of the favourites look solid today. There are only three bets I like, Noland - Catch Me […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Feb 23rd, 2008 1 Comment »
A longer blog in due course as I have a fair bit to write up.
Several horses I’m watching today, but for the most part I’ll be watching. I’m backing in the bumper, opposing the well fancied debutante from the powerful Henderson yard with the Gifford trained Dee Eee Williams. Nick thinks a lot of this […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Feb 22nd, 2008 1 Comment »
Bert and his family moved yesterday and are without internet access today, so he has asked me to add a quick comment about a runner at Warwick this afternoon. Bert has a share of Hope Road, Tom Dascombe’s only hurdler, who runs in the first. I spoke to Tom this morning and he thinks the […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Feb 16th, 2008 1 Comment »
I’m short on time so a quick summary;
 At Ascot Princelet goes well in the second (E/W) and Conflictofinterest is the value against the Henderson odds on jolly in the last.
At Wincanton Torshuffle of Hendersons goes well against the Fanshawe odds on jolly, but Katchit may score later for favourite backers.
At Haydock Estate may make amends for […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Feb 13th, 2008 2 Comments »
A 3-0 win for Swindon was just the ticket - it’s the first time we’ve scored three goals for 19 matches in the league. It’s three points and a boost for our goal difference - just as importantly it may get the team going as they’ve looked a little tense lately.
I didn’t go to the match but […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Mon Michel on Feb 11th, 2008 6 Comments »
A poor day on Saturday on all fronts. Swindon lost to an early goal in a tight match with few chances, which following on from last weeks draw against Northampton makes the play-offs look a bit distant again. Gary and Jamie Moore won the big race, and of course Jamie would have been riding Mon […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Feb 9th, 2008 2 Comments »
Half way through the Wednesday of Cheltenham last year I slipped out and bought a dog - a “Landseer” Newfoundland puppy to be precise (Robbie, named after Wee Robbie at Nick Gifford’s yard). The small bundle of fluff as he was then has grown to be a hairy monster weighing in at over ten stone (although he’s got a […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Feb 4th, 2008 11 Comments »
I was told there was a piece about me in the Swindon Advertiser on Saturday, and I decided to go to the match. I called Jeremy - he told me I had to wear a suit. He knows what I’m like (I hate wearing suits) and he rang later to remind me. Later (and suitably attired) I […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Feb 2nd, 2008 3 Comments »
A quick post today as I have to run off to the game.
 I’m a huge fan of Straw Bear, but I won’t be backing him at the short odds. Afsoun is a talented horse who has been out of form for most of the year - he may run a big race and he may […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jan 26th, 2008 No Comments »
A better day today but I should have been a little more selective instead of padding out my post with half fancies. I’m glad I substituted in my ten to follow as both of my substitutes (Nickname and Inglis Drever) have won now.
I had a runner today that I forgot to mention - King’s Head […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jan 19th, 2008 1 Comment »
Haydock is off, which is a real blow as we lose a few really nice races. Ascot goes ahead.
Binocular runs in the first against Metaphoric - he’s is rumoured to be Henderson’s Triumph horse. He would be the best of these on the flat on the soft/heavy ground that we have today and he’s been […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jan 13th, 2008 1 Comment »
Just one bet for me today - Silver Jaro in the Pierse Hurdle. I don’t follow Irish form and know nothing about the horse, but Steve from BF, a NH freak, is keen on him. Steve tipped up Carruthers and D’Argent yesterday so he’s in very good form - unfortunately I didn’t listen to him.
Posted in Horse Racing on Jan 12th, 2008 10 Comments »
Russian let me down - jumped very badly, which may have been down to the ground or the “bounce factor”.
Jamie Moore rides a couple for his dad at Kempton and I’m backing both of them.
Posted in Horse Racing on Jan 12th, 2008 No Comments »
A quick post as the day’s racing is approaching.
Tom is back in the country and runs two today - I like Sawwaah running in this class, and although he’s quite a difficult ride I think Kingscote is a reliable pilot who should be able to get him home against this very moderate bunch.
Verasi comes out […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jan 7th, 2008 9 Comments »
No winners and a mixed bag in terms of results.Â
Ollie Fliptrik was awful and I can’t see anything positive to take out of it - his action was unattractive and he looked like he didn’t belong on a race track. It confirms my fears for the horse as we’d had very little feedback from the Coles […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Ours, Mon Michel, Ollie Fliptrik on Jan 5th, 2008 3 Comments »
Paul Cole thinks Ollie Fliptrik will run ok but is an unlikely winner. Nick is positive about Ours - he’s fine in himself, he should get through the testing ground and we’re looking for a big run. Nick has two others today which will run ok and although either could win I don’t advise backing them.
Mon Michel […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Shepherds Warning on Dec 29th, 2007 6 Comments »
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 […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Ours, Shepherds Warning on Dec 28th, 2007 3 Comments »
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 […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Dec 26th, 2007 6 Comments »
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 […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Dec 19th, 2007 5 Comments »
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 […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Dec 5th, 2007 4 Comments »
There was a Betfair board meeting on Monday followed by the board Christmas dinner at a London restaurant. This finished at around 11 and I headed off to Suffolk. I got badly lost heading out of London but eventually found the M11 - I arrived at Ickworth House (www.ickworthhotel.co.uk) at around 1 a.m.
I had hoped to […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Nov 16th, 2007 No Comments »
A couple of small bets for me today.
Short notice but I’ve heard Pravda Street (Ling 1:00) is half decent and may be up to taking this weak maiden first time of asking.
In the 3:05 at Chelts I’ve heard good things about both Quaddick Lake and Petit Robin. I prefer the latter who is a better price. I may […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Nov 15th, 2007 No Comments »
It’s the TTF time of the year, and I enter a local competition alongside a number of Betfair guys. The overall winner collects the cash, the loser within Betfair has to pay for a team curry - I bought the curry last year, largely because I had the only list that didn’t include Kauto Star. That was an oversight […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Better Together on Nov 14th, 2007 2 Comments »
Bert has been tied up with work and I was remiss in failing to flag up his runner at Kempton yesterday. However, since Better Together was tailed off and pulled up 2 out, this was perhaps no bad thing. Whilst expectations were limited in a decent race, it was undeniably a disappointing run. I wouldn’t […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Nov 5th, 2007 1 Comment »
Another horse that I bid on runs today - Mutual Friend, a decent 10f type from Ed Dunlop’s stable which was bought by David Pipe. David paid 72,000 Guineas, which is a lot for an 80 rated handicapper - like us (I had Tom Dascombe check him out) he must have liked the horse.
Tom liked […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Nov 4th, 2007 No Comments »
Just the one bet for me today - Weather Front in the 4:00 at Carlisle, a horse I tried to buy back in February and regretted not having bid more as I drove home.
I met up with Henry Cecil at the February sale at Tattersalls this year. Henry had looked at a lot of horses, […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Oct 31st, 2007 3 Comments »
I added another to the string recently as the CSH bought a Mizzen Mast filly at Keeneland. The filly is a full sister to Mystery Sail, who beat Lord Peter Flint in her only start at Newbury - that race was only a couple of hours before the Keeneland auction. She was cheap, partly because […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Oct 27th, 2007 No Comments »
It’s a great day’s racing today, with the afternoon highlight for me the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. This race has thrown up the Derby winner three times in recent years - in a hot contest I’ll go with City Leader of Brian’s, who is a half brother to a previous winner of this race […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Oct 20th, 2007 1 Comment »
Lilac Moon ran well enough in third last night. She handled the surface well and was running on again at the finish - she was drawn 13 of 13 which is a tough place to be at Wolver and she may just have needed it.
In the Dewhurst today I can’t see past New Approach. He’ll […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses on Oct 19th, 2007 No Comments »
Lilac Moon runs for me in the 8:55 at Wolver tonight. We claimed her from a mile claimer at Carlisle and sent her to Nicky Vaughan - Mick liked the look of her profile beforehand and she won well enough. From breeding and running we think she should get a little further and she runs […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Big Paddy, Better Together, Theophrastus, Ours on Oct 18th, 2007 3 Comments »
I visited Nick Gifford’s yard in Findon on Wednesday morning to catch up with news of the four horses owned by the Core Strength syndicate of which Bert forms a third. The horses are all five year old geldings who were selected with a long term perspective and there has been little racecourse action from […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Oct 13th, 2007 2 Comments »
Quite a few old favourites running today, and I’ll be having a few bets.
I spent a fair bit of time with Pete C-H last week, and he runs Spirit of Sharjah in the first at Ascot. From what I’ve heard of the horse I give him a small edge over his principal opponent Captain Gerrard, another favourite […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Shawhill, Major Eazy on Oct 4th, 2007 2 Comments »
Hoorah!! Another win for the heroes as Major Eazy triumphs at Salisbury in a pretty hot conditions race under a nice ride from Richard Hughes. He was returned at 12-1, but there was clearly a bit of money for him (ahem…). He’ll go into the sales at some point and this will have done him no harm […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Prince Ary, Effingham, Shepherds Warning on Sep 29th, 2007 2 Comments »
The boss had a late one last night after the Betfair Pro-Am Golf Tournament so I’ll fill in for now. Bert has Prince Ary running at Market Rasen (3.45) today in a valuable handicap hurdle with £30,000+ to the winner. He was touched off by a short head on his only previous visit to the […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Effingham, Shepherds Warning on Sep 26th, 2007 3 Comments »
As noted by Bert below, I’m going to be contributing to the blog from time to time to help keep things up to date and maybe prompt further thoughts and discussion. Comments are very welcome.
Shepherds Warning runs in the 2.50 at Pontefract to-morrow – a Nursery Handicap for fillies run over a mile. She has […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Sep 12th, 2007 No Comments »
I advised Angel Rock in the first last night - I’m hearing that he is a decent animal but will probably need the run, explaining the long price. Probably but not definitely - he could still be value for a place. I’m also hearing that there is considerable confidence behind Rochfort, and with Gosden’s 2yos going […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Sep 10th, 2007 No Comments »
I lasted about two hours at the WSOPE. After a reasonably breezy start I limped along for a while before blowing my stack in two hands in the space of five minutes.
We start with £20k of chips. I am down to £18k when I pick up 10-6 suited on the big blind - a raise […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Lord Peter Flint on Aug 28th, 2007 1 Comment »
The summer holidays wind to a close and I’m back at my desk for a while now, which feels pretty good.
Lord Peter Flint made his debut last Friday and he ran well, finishing fifth of 13 in what may have been a decent maiden. He’s sure to improve for the run and he looks like […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Aug 23rd, 2007 1 Comment »
It’s another excellent day’s racing at York today.
The sales race at 1:35 is always an interesting heat. Brian (Meehan) has won this race in three of the last four years - he’s had a total of seven runners in the last two years - but he has no runners today. The favourite has won in […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Baldovina, Effingham on Aug 22nd, 2007 No Comments »
Authorized did fantastically and I’m thrilled for Pete. I backed him but I was a bit cowardly and I should have had more on. It was nearly a very good day as Oasis Wind came close - the unlucky horse in that race was Hitchens, who ran behind Effingham and backs up that form.
 Day 2 […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Aug 20th, 2007 No Comments »
I’m off to Malta tomorrow on Betfair business and I’ll miss most of the Ebor meeting. I’ve pored through the card tomorrow looking for value, but I can’t find anything at big odds that interests me - there are of course some serious races being run.
The Juddmonte comes top of the list, and Pete was […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Captain Hurricane on Aug 11th, 2007 No Comments »
Captain Hurricane is napped by Tony Lewis in the 3.45 at Haydock today. He is also the spotlight selection, and Emily Weber describes it as “the moment of truth” after a long haul. It may be a fair description - if he can’t show up well today then it may be that he never will.
I’ll […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Effingham, Etoile Argentee, Shepherds Warning on Aug 9th, 2007 1 Comment »
A very disappointing run from Effingham, who never got into the race and finished down the field at Ponty. The ground, which was good to firm in the morning, was changed to firm with G/F patches immediately after the race. Michael Hills reported that the horse wasn’t enjoying the ground at all.
I guess it wasn’t […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Aug 2nd, 2007 3 Comments »
I wonder how much of my character has been created by fate. As a boy I had a lot of luck. My father took me to the races for the first time when I was nine - I was allowed one 25p bet on the big handicap of the day. I picked the horse I most liked […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jul 31st, 2007 3 Comments »
It’s a glorious day - perhaps summer is finally here. Goodwood starts and I have a early runner.Â
Major Eazy goes today in the Betfair sponsored Molecomb at 4:00. It’s a pretty decent race - he’ll have to step up on his last run but I give him a respectable chance and he should go well. I’ll […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jul 29th, 2007 No Comments »
Shawhill ran well but never looked like being the winner. I don’t think there are any excuses - it was a decent run and she was fairly beaten by a couple of decent horses. I guess it was asking a lot to of a first season filly to see off these experienced handicappers over a […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Effingham on Jul 26th, 2007 No Comments »
A fantastic result at Sandown today with Effingham coming second in his maiden. I’m extremely positive, for a number of reasons;
He clearly needed the run and will come on a lot for it
He ran green, missing the break a little and he lost ground jumping the walkway
Sandown maidens are generally pretty good (although I’m not so […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Captain Hurricane, Shepherds Warning on Jul 25th, 2007 3 Comments »
One I forgot to mention - Captain Hurricane runs on Friday at Newmarket. He’s been pretty useless for a long time now, but I think that there’s a decent chance he’ll come right one day and when he does he’ll be a seriously well handicapped horse. He got to a point where he was so […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jul 21st, 2007 1 Comment »
Two going today, and I’m not expecting any results. Prince Ary I fancied a couple of days ago, but that was before the rains came. He’ll go ok on it but it doesn’t do him any favours and I won’t be backing him now. Baldovina has shown nothing in her last two runs - we’ll try […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Prince Ary, Baldovina, Major Eazy, Bouguereau, Lord Snooty, Shepherds Warning on Jul 17th, 2007 2 Comments »
Nothing runs for me during the week, but a fair bit of action at the weekend.Â
Prince Ary is down to run on Saturday at Market Rasen in a race that the Pipe’s have won on several occasions. He ought to have a decent chance. Baldovina has two entries for the Saturday and one at Windsor on the Monday […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Conservation, Master of the Race, Thunderbolt Jaxon on Jul 17th, 2007 3 Comments »
The July sale at Tattersalls has just come and gone, and also a big sale at Saint Cloud. We’ve been pretty busy, but the market still feels pretty toppy and the selling has gone better than the buying.
Three of the string sold last week. Thunderbolt Jaxon made £6k, Master of the Race £11k and Conservation […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jul 17th, 2007 No Comments »
No big racing bets today but a couple of small ones for me.
Brig : 4:00 I’ll have a little on Murrumbidgee. This solid performer seems to lack a real turn of foot at the end of his races and needs to win with a sustained gallop. He has the right man on board today.
Kemp : […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Winker Watson on Jul 17th, 2007 3 Comments »
I thought it was an absolutely stunning performance from Winker in the July Stakes - everything went wrong and we still won. I couldn’t have a higher opinion of the horse. We have believed for a while now that it would be an understatement to just call him a classy horse - his work at […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jul 7th, 2007 9 Comments »
With Haydock off Shawhill misses her chance today, but the race is rescheduled for Wednesday at Newmarket. I don’t think we’ll go for it now - it was always a big ask trying to win a group 2, and there’s a Listed race at Longchamp on Saturday that looks more suitable. It’s a 3yo fillies […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jul 3rd, 2007 8 Comments »
I’ve been very busy lately and I haven’t been updating my blog as I should - fortunately I’ve had a couple of able deputies keeping things moving.
George and Ned started on a week’s work experience last Monday, and it was great to have them around. Betfair is an interesting place to be - the atmosphere […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Conservation, Master of the Race, Baldovina, Shawhill, Major Eazy, Captain Hurricane, Winker Watson on Jul 2nd, 2007 1 Comment »
I’ve been waiting to write that headline for a long time. Major Eazy’s win at the fifth attempt on Saturday night was long overdue, and at last we have confirmation of something we have believed for a long time - he is a proper racehorse.
Every jockey who has sat on ME has told us that […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Major Eazy on Jun 30th, 2007 2 Comments »
I’ve got some catching up to do, but first a quick note on Major Eazy in the 7:15 at Lingfield tonight.
Brian described him this morning as “a certainty”. I’ve been in racing for long enough to know that certainties as described are anything but, and I suspect ME is no exception to this. Two hurdles […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 28th, 2007 No Comments »
We spent the day preparing questions that we were going to put forward to some of the more senior members of Betfair.
It was challenging as we had to do a bit of research on their background and had to think of suitable questions; we were kindly helped with some of the questions that we were […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 25th, 2007 1 Comment »
I went to Ascot on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Winker was obviously the high point, but I managed to find one winner each day, including Binanti on the Friday which I backed at 44.
There still seems to be a lot of talk about the new stand and the redesign of the course, and a lot […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 25th, 2007 No Comments »
The heavy rain of the past few days have got into the ground pretty much everywhere, and this changes my betting strategy. I won’t be placing any big bets for a while, but I’ll have a few small ones on outsiders with the right sort of breeding. Today I’ll back Indian Days in the 7.10 […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 21st, 2007 22 Comments »
It’s a great day’s racing but for me the day starts and ends with the first race. Winker Watson makes his long awaited Ascot appearance, and I’ve told pretty much everyone I know to get on.  I’m a star if he wins and a my name is mud if he doesn’t.
I think the world of the horse. The […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 19th, 2007 3 Comments »
Some good racing, but I probably won’t go.
US Ranger will be all the rage in the Jersey with good reason - no bet for me.  I’m told that there is considerable stable confidence behind Nannina in the second, but she won’t appreciate any softening of the ground. If the ground is right I’ll be backing […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 19th, 2007 No Comments »
Henry the Navigator was my only winner of the day, but he only scraped home - if he’s the best that Ballydoyle have it’s good news for Winker. Miss Andretti won in an unbelievable time - Dandy Man may have been unlucky and Enticing ran very well and if progressive could be the real deal one day. […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 19th, 2007 No Comments »
Thunderbolt Jaxon runs in the 9:00 at Yarmouth tonight. I definitely give him a chance - he is capable and performs well at home but he isn’t straightforward and always seems to throw his races away. He’ll come right one day, and maybe today is the day.
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 18th, 2007 2 Comments »
I was very disappointed with the way Baldovina ran on Sunday - she never looked like getting into the race. She’s been doing some eye catching work at home and in time I thought she’d become one of the stars of the string, but on the basis of that run she’s not going far. I’m hoping that […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 14th, 2007 No Comments »
I’m having a small bet today on Coyote Creek, who impressed me when third behind Shawhill a couple of runs back. He’s been third since then - he was unlucky that day and I think the trip was a little short in any case. He should go well today - I’d have a decent bet […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Shawhill on Jun 12th, 2007 2 Comments »
I’ve had an enormous number of second places this year, and there haven’t been many that I have been genuinely happy about. Shawhill’s courageous second place in France, clobbered close to the line with a decent gap back to third, is one I will remember affectionately for a long time.
Taking a horse abroad is not easy. We took […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 12th, 2007 1 Comment »
I’ve had a little time to go through the card today and I’ve made a few calls, but not a lot to report. I’ll be having two small bets. Cassies Choice makes a belated appearance as a 3yo in the 3.30 at Redcar - she might be an improver and the conditions look right. Equally […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 11th, 2007 1 Comment »
I was sad to hear that my former horse, Berkhamsted, was put down on Saturday after breaking down at Towcester. Evan Williams bought him off me in the February sale at Tattersalls and immediately took him novice chasing - this was a pretty bold move by Williams as Berky was a flat horse who had […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 11th, 2007 No Comments »
Shawhill, who has run extremely well for me without winning, takes her chance tomorrow in a listed race at Le Lion D’Angers in France. It’s a fairly bold move - she’s proved that she’s a decent handicapper but she’s done nothing to suggest she can compete at listed level.
I’m very happy to be taking this […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Mon Michel, Master of the Race on Jun 7th, 2007 No Comments »
Two runners today - Mon Michel in the first at Uttoxeter and Master of the Race in the last at Sandown.Â
I’ve just got off the phone to Gary. We’re running Mon Michel because he needs this to qualify for the Jewson in October, which is his early target. If the ground is too firm then […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 5th, 2007 No Comments »
I’ve not had much time today, but the racing looks pretty grim and I’m not going to get heavily involved. I’ll be having one (extremely small) bet tonight on Squiffy in 7:40 at Southwell.
Squiffy and his two full brothers are trained by Peter Cundell - collectively they have not won a race in 20 attempts.  In […]
Posted in Horse Racing, Berts Horses, Etoile Argentee on Jun 4th, 2007 2 Comments »
Tom has had Etoile Argentee for a while now, and we have had a chance to check her out in full.
She is reasonable sized - around 15h3 but solid. She was skinny and appeared underfed on arrival, but nevertheless weighed in at 440kg - for comparison Baldovina weighed in at 410kg and Shawhill 418kg when […]
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun 4th, 2007 No Comments »
One more horse I’ll be following today is Chain of Gold in the 2:20 at Carlisle - well entered up from an interesting stable, and rumoured to be pretty decent.
Posted in Horse Racing on Jun