Saturday horses 3 (amended)

Soap Wars is a non-runner in 18:40 Doncaster so I am going to back another as follows:

18:40D 3pts win Paradise Spectre @ 5/1 Stan James

The blog lived up to its name this afternoon with two winners from the three selections: Fast Shot advised 16/1 (SP 8/1) and Memory Cloth 6/1 (SP, incredibly, 6/4).

Saturday horses 3

A great start to the day with 16/1 winner Fast Shot. No need for BOG as returned only 8/1!

Three more bets for tonight:

18:40D 3pts win Soap Wars @ 7/1 Betfred BOG
18:50L 3pts win Mawjoodah @ 7/1 Coral
19:25L 1pt ew Toffee Tart @ 25/1 William Hill BOG

Eight points invested.

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Saturday horses 2

Action from Newcastle and Chester:

14:45N 2.5 pts win 1pt place Fast Shot @ 16/1 Paddy Power BOG
16:15C 3.5pts win Diman Waters @ 6/1 Paddy Power BOG

Seven points.

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Re Men's Wimbledon - draw

Well the bottom half of the draw has opened up - but not in the way I expected as Nadal is out rather than Murray. The outright betting now strongly favours the top half of the draw with Djoko generally slightly odds on to win the tourney with the Fed no better than 3/1 despite a close shave this evening.

Of course in the lower half of the draw everyone is talking up Murray's chance of reaching the final which will place additional pressure on the Scot. All bookmakers now offer only 1/3rd odds to reach the final - except Ladbrokes and Skybet who still offer 1/2 1,2. This is significant.

The match that interests me in the next round is Nadal's conquerer Rosol who plays Kohlschreiber where the latter is generally priced in the match bet at 4/7 to prevail. Yet in the outright market the Czech is 40/1 and the German 100/1 or more. Why is Kohlschreiber 100/1? After all he has a good grass court pedigree, recently beating Nadal in straight sets in Halle. He also won Halle in 2011. Jimmy Connors referred to Rosol as a "stopper" - someone who knocks out a high ranking seed then goes no further. It will be interesting to see if he can play as well in the next round.

Now the obvious winner of the fourth quarter is Tsonga, with a semi versus Murray widely predicted. Well here is my little portfolio to try and land someone in the final from the bottom half other than Murray:

3pts ew Tsonga @ 11/1 Skybet (1/2 odds 1,2)
2pts ew Kohlschreiber @ 100/1 Ladbrokes (1/2 odds 1,2)
1pt ew Ferrer @ 100/1 Boylesports (1/3 odds 1,2)

Twelve points invested.

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Saturday horses

First punt for tomorrow. Newcastle subject to 8am inspection so may not go ahead. But just in case:

15:55N 4pts win Memory Cloth @ 6/1 Totesport

Tennis bets to follow shortly...

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Thursday horses

Very confusing day. Nevertheless multiple BOG bet with WH as follows:

17:00N 2pts win Dora's Sister @ 9/2 WH
18:40L 3pts win Waking Warrior @ 11/2 WH
21:10L 2pts win Khazium @ 9/2 WH


3x 1pt win doubles, 0.5pt ew treble.

Total 11 points

Clijsters

Kim is in Masha's quarter and is now best priced 4/1 to win this section. However Skybet do not list her so she is included in their "any other" category generously priced at 9/1. I know we are on Masha but this 9/1 has to be taken:

3pts win "any other" to win Ladies' 1st quarter @ 9/1 Skybet

Paszek -what a player!

What a performance by the Austrian, beating Woza in three long sets. Saved two match points along the way. I hope you may have played the match bet which was around 5/2 the underdog at the time of writing. Problem now with our quarter bet on Paszek is that she must be absolutely knackered and has to turn out again tomorrow. No wonder, really, that bet £3.65p still offer 22/1 Paz reaching the last four.

As for the horses, some respite with the Kempton winner tonight. Our Bath punt was a non-runner.

Football - just watching the penalty shoot out. Spain go through, in off the post from Fab. I missed nothing, got home in time for extra time. Was at orchestral concert: Finzi and VW. At half-time (concert) went into Betfred to check on football (HT) and Kempton result. Unsurprisingly no-one from the concert was in Betfred! How did I know that? Well the betting shop was EMPTY. Not even a mug on the crack cocaine machines. Who goes into betting shops these days? Not me, oh sorry just been in one.....manager was hoovering up (literally, as had no punters).

Wednesday horses 3

Small interest Bath:

19:40B 1pt ew Sunley Pride @ 14/1 S James

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Raonic-Wimbledon

Of course the most likely outcome in the men's event is that the top four in the world reach the semi-finals: hence not a lot of value in the ew market. Of the top four Murray is the weakest on paper and it is quite possible he will come up against Raonic. The big Canadian has come through his opening match without losing his serve. In fact he never lost his serve at last year's Wimbledon because he had to retire injured in the early stages of the tournament. I have therefore had:

4pts win Raonic to win third quarter @ 9/2 with S James.

If you want to back him each-way and are allowed to bet with Sportingbet they will lay you 50/1. Only 40/1 is available with bookmakers for me so I have just had:

1pt win Raonic men's singles @ 50.0 Betfair

Total five points.

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Wednesday horses 2

Have just backed one at Salisbury:

16:25S 1pt ew Leviathan @ 16/1 William Hill BOG

If I play at Bath will post by 18:00 latest.

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Wednesday horses

One at Kempton tonight, possible bets at Salisbury and Bath later:

19:50K 4pts win Athenian @ 3/1 Coral

Tuesday horses

Late post due to tennis commitments. Rain interrupted three-set mixed doubles match. We scraped it 6-1 4-6 7-6(8) . We were 4-6 down in final set tie-break! Anyway back to business at Beverley:

16:00B 2pts win 1 pt place Strong Man @ 12/1 Coral
16:00B 1pt ew Bonnie Prince Blue @ 16/1 S James

Five points invested

Monday horses 3

Two bets at Windsor

19:10W 4pts win Hayward Girl @ 13/2 Will Hill BOG
19:40W 2pts win Restaurateur @ 6/1 Coral

Six points staked

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Monday horses 2

I have had a bet at Thirsk as follows:

21:20T 3pts win 1pt place Gracie's Gift @ 12/1 William Hill BOG

Still thinking about Windsor...

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Monday horses

Two races at Chepstow to start the day:

17:00C Jack My Boy 3pts win @ 9/1 Totesport
17:30C Two Turtle Doves 3pts win @ 5/1 Totesport


1pt ew double the two at the prices

Eight points staked. One race at Thirsk to follow, Windsor bets published around 18:50

Sunday review

I didn't see the Pontefract race as I was on the tennis court at the time but it seems from the review that my selection lost it in the stalls. Amazingly it went off at 9/2, so another good value loser. As for the football this evening I missed that too as I was at a concert listening to Handel's Messiah conducted from the harpsichord and played on period instruments.

This morning Sir BR was saying how England could win the tournament and Rooney was being compared to Pele. What a joke: the only striker worse than Rooney in this competition was Benzema who is the poorest striker I have ever seen, my sincere apologies for putting him up as TGS material. France were crap but we were unlucky they didn't win the group as England are nothing. They are incapable of passing the ball.

After the Handel concert I visited the Church Inn and was pleased to see Dark Star as one of the guest ales. One of the best ales in the country in my view. Had to consume a couple of pints of that whilst news of the abject failure of England filtered through. I thought I recognised the actor on the table next to me and indeed it was Tim Woodward who was superb in the Shakespeare play I'd seen in the open air in Ludlow castle on Friday. Quite fitting for England, this is a brilliant production of "Much Ado About Nothing". Highlight for me was when the female lead sat on my lap during the closing scene!

Incredibly my bet on Andy Carroll being the England top scorer is a winning bet WITH ONE GOAL SCORED. With the dead-heat situation the odds secured of 7/1 become 3/5.

Wimbledon interest on Monday plus (probably) some horse wagers at Windsor, Thirsk and/or Chepstow.

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Sunday horse

Not a very exciting day from a punting point of view. Wimbledon on the horizon. Perhaps Paul Hanagan might have a better time at Pontefract having drawn a blank at Ascot:

14:40P 2pts win 1pt place Goldenveil @ 9/1 Totesport

Three points staked.

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Re Wimbledon Ladies 4th Quarter winner

A very speculative bet here. Aza the obvious favourite. Bartoli second favourite but looked injured in her defeat to Paszek at Eastbourne. The latter went on to win the title saving many championship points against Kerber and indeed suffering a very minor injury herself.

Of the other runners Ivanovic and Kuznetsova are perennial losers nowadays. Julia Goerges is always worth a look (LOL!) but is better on clay.

I am taking a chance that Paszek could overcome an out of form Wozniacki in the first round and is worth a speculative play to win the quarter as follows:

1pt win Paszek to win 4th quarter @ 33/1 William Hill

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Saturday horses

Three selections today including my only individual bet at Ascot - in the Wokingham. I'm going for High Standing drawn over on the far-side in box one. RL Moore takes the ride and I can see him heading over there like he did with Fast Or Free in the Britannia. Whether this one is good enough to win we shall see :

16:25 1pt ew High Standing @16/1 Bet365 (ew 1/4 1,2,3,4,5) BOG

My other two selections run this evening:

19:20H 1.5pts ew Sally's Swansong @ 16/1 Paddy Power BOG
20:05L 3pts win Picansort @ 5/1 Paddy Power BOG (or Ladbrokes BOG)

I see that Lads have now cut W Buick to 8/1 for the championship. Still 12/1 at Boyles though. Total staked today eight points

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Royal Ascot top jockey

We are in a strong position here with my two selections dominating the market going into the last day. After a treble at Ascot today William Buick is 4/9 with RL Moore his closest rival generally priced @ 13/8. You can get 66/1 bar these two. Looks like a 14 or 13 point total return is on the cards.

I note that William rode a double at Newmarket tonight to move onto 52 for the season, nine behind RLM but nine clear of Hughes who is in third. I know we are already on WB at 25/1 but I can't resist a further punt with Lads tonight:

2pts win William Buick to be 2012 champion jockey @ 12/1 Ladbrokes

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Ladies' Wimbledon

Our main hope is of course Masha @ 7/1 (now no bigger than 3/1 joint-fav). We also have Radwanska at 100/1 who was beaten in the first round of Eastbourne (as were Kvitova and Woza). Someone who is doing rather better on the south coast is Angelique Kerber. I would be very surprised if she doesn't reach the final and indeed she may well win it in which case she will no longer be 66/1 for Wimbledon.

I have had 1pt ew A Kerber, Ladies' Wimbledon @ 66/1 Boylesport (1/2 odds 1,2)

I have also topped up with Blue Square @ 60/1 given the small wager permitted with Boyles.

50/1 is widely available and still represents a bit of value.

Jockeys and sequences

I'll just be watching Ascot today and hoping at least one of my two selections for Ascot top jockey finds themselves in the winners' enclosure.

In the overall championship I am rather concerned about the steady progress of Richard Hughes who will destroy my book should he prevail. Worryingly he says he is going for the title (he repeatedly said he wasn't going for it in 2010 when he rode 189 winners and lost by two!). We will just have to hope for the best as his current price of 7/2 is not worth a trade given our commitments. Hanagan has dropped away having obviously decided to be more selective. The results from the last 14 days tell the tale:

Hughes 16/65 24.6%
Buick 14/46 30.4%
Moore 11/54 20.4%
.
.
.
Hanagan 5/49 10.2%

Hughes taking 65 rides in 14 days is significant.

Spare a thought for last year's runner-up De Sousa (161 wins, four short) who managed to break an 84-loser streak with last night's treble at Kempton.

Talking of losing streaks, I am now on seven (in five races). Let's hope this is not going to be a streak of Pricewise proportions. Tom Segal ended a 36-loser streak when the favourite won the last yesterday (4/1, 7/1 advised). Even when you are allegedly the "best tipster service in the world" you have to cope with these spells!

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Wednesday horses 4

Back at Hamilton:

16:10H 2pts win Moheebb @ 11/2 Stan James (or Skybet)
16:10H 0.5pts ew One Pursuit @ 18/1 Coral


Three points staked

Wednesday horses 3

Another Kempton race:

19:40K 1pt ew Sole Danser @ 25/1 Skybet
19:40K 0.5pt ew Dvine Call @ 33/1 William Hill BOG

Three points staked

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Wednesday horses 2

At Hamilton:

16:45H 2pts win 1pt place Always Ends Well @ 12/1 William Hill BOG

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Wednesday horses

First horse bet today is in the last at Kempton:

21:10K 4pts win Furbelow @ 3/1 Paddy Power BOG

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Good price, rubbish selection?

Yesterday's 4/1 poke at Thirsk quickly shortened up to 6/4 before being returned at 9/4. Never looked like winning though. I will be selecting from Hamilton and Kempton later today. Before that I am going to take an interest in the Royal Ascot top jockey market. As few as three wins can pick up the trophy and Ryan Moore got off the mark with a comfortable six length success on Simenon in the Ascot Stakes yesterday. Willie Mullins' charge will probably run again in the Queen Alexandra - the last race at Ascot on Saturday. Moore would be in the saddle again.

Moore has a fine book of rides between now and 17:35 on Saturday. I also like the look of William Buick's chances so I have had:

4pts win @ 5/2 Ryan Moore to be top RA jockey with Ladbrokes
1pt win @ 12/1 William Buick to be top RA jockey with Totesport

Total five points.


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Tuesday horses

Probably just the one bet today, Thirsk as follows:

17:15T 2pts win Spinatrix @ 4/1 William Hill BOG (Also P Power BOG)

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Good selection, rubbish price

Italian Tom did the business in style at Windsor yesterday but was weak in the market. Fortunately I put up a BOG price so the payout is at the SP of 15/2. In my post I said it could be bigger on betfair, and indeed moments after posting 10.0 was available! Hope you took that rather than the bookmakers' prices. As for today most punters will be trying to find winners at the ultra-competitive Royal Ascot meeting (Frankel's race excepted). No doubt "Pricewise" will be trying to end his current losing streak of 26. The pressure from the RP must be tough. Well no pressure here, no guarantees, free access to my daily wagers and up to you if you follow me. I'll be swerving RA and looking at the Thirsk card. More later.....

Late wire from Windsor

Just a small interest in the next race at Windsor:

19:40W 1.5 pts win Italian Tom @ 6/1 Ladbrokes BOG

(May be slightly better price Betfair/Betdaq)

Total 1.5 points staked

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Flat season update

Another nice winner yesterday when Lady Percy got up to win by a nose @ 14/1 (SP 9/1). Did not look like it was going to win until the line arrived. We were owed one of these though as Eastwood Ho led everywhere at Beverley the other day except on the line!

Unlikely to have a bet today but if I do it will be in the 19:40 Windsor however it will not be blogged until about 20 minutes before the race.

Meanwhile I have just had a quick appraisal of my flat racing selections since the start of the turf season: stakes 289.25, return 372.53, profit 83.28 points (28.79%). Full details here.

Sunday horses 2

Just one bet at Salisbury today:

17:35S 2pts win 1pt place Lady Percy @ 14/1 Totesport (also S James, Betfred)

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Sunday horses

Disappointing day Saturday - our first losing Saturday for a month (-8.5 pts horses).

Flat cards at Doncaster and Salisbury tomorrow offer some interest. Just missed 9/1 the lightly raced Shahzan with Ladbrokes in the 15:35 Doncaster. Had to settle for 8/1 albeit with the BOG proviso with William Hill. I have had:

15:35D 3pts win 1pt place Shahzan @ 8/1 William Hill BOG

Possibly one, or even two, bets at the other gaff in the morning.

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Saturday horses 2

16:00S 3pts win Jack Luey @ 9/4 William Hill BOG
16:00S 0.5pt win Matsunosuke @ 20/1 William Hill BOG

Total 3.5 pts

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Saturday horses

Today's horses are at Sandown and Lingfield as follows:

16:30S 2.5 pts win Cockney Dancer @ 13/2 Skybet (also Stan James)
19:05L 1pt ew Johnny Splash @ 25/1 Ladbrokes BOG
19:35L 3pts win Invincible Beauty @ 7/1 William Hill BOG

Probably another race to follow.

Total 7.5 pts staked.


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Friday review

A good day today. Only two horse racing bets suggested which both obliged - W11/4 & W12/1 (SPs only 13/8 & 15/2). A profit of 32+ points and it isn't even Saturday! Both comfortable winners.

Even the Cheshire cat reached the semis at Queen's.

With regard to our interest in France, they now top group D going into the final round of matches and must of course at least equal England's performance against Ukraine in their final match to stay there. It is important that they do so for two reasons. Firstly to land our group winner bet and secondly to almost certainly avoid Spain in the quarter-final.

There will be horse racing wagers to look forward to tomorrow, Saturday......

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Friday horses 2

Chepstow tonight and the handicap at 18:40. Eight runners and therefore ideal for an each way punt (no doubt a non-runner announced as soon as this is posted!). Going French is a big price but frequently makes the frame (nine times in 19 starts) so I have placed the following:

18:40C 1.5pts ew Going French @ 12/1 Bet365 BOG

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Friday horses

The Irish raider looks the one to be on in the Sandown sprint:

14:40S 4pts win Bogini @ 11/4 William Hill BOG

Possible bet at Chepstow tonight.

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Queen's - Querrey

Very annoyed that I have not paid more attention to this tournament. Favourites often get turned over in the move from clay to grass and two big ones have departed in their first matches - namely Murray and Tsonga.

Anyway we are where we are and the remaining field is not of the highest quality. Sam Querrey has not won a tournament since 2010 but Queen's was one of the four he won that year. The draw has opened up for him as he plays Tsonga's conquerer next. He is 1-0 with Dodig thanks to a victory at Wimbledon. His projected semi-final opponent is the new tournament favourite Cilic. The latter beat Sam at Wimbledon in their only meeting, but it took him five sets. Therefore I would rather take 7/1 Querrey than 5/2 Cilic for the tournament, particularly as the American is a previous winner here.

Only problem is I find it hard to watch him. That all American grin just does my head in but that has not stopped me having:

2pts win Sam Querrey to win Queen's @ 7/1 Paddy Power



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Thursday horse - Haydock

A low key day:

20:50H 1pt ew Methaaly @ 33/1 Coral
Also available with Bodog (LOL!!)

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Bodog

Ludicrous name. Ludicrous company. I had an account with them and traded for more than a year. Made many deposits and some withdrawals following winning bets. However when I had a decent return and requested a withdraw I suddenly had to provide proof of my identity despite the company apparently being content with my "identity" whilst I was making numerous deposits. The ID required included a scan of the debit card I had been using, passport and utility bill. After further delays I eventually received my money. I have not bet with them since.

Now a friend tells me he is still trying to obtain his winnings from the Champions' League from Bodog after weeks of identity issues and banking "delays".

The other issue to be wary of is the fact Bodog do not recognise IBAS. Many punters are sceptical of IBAS because they are financed by the UK bookmakers. However I think IBAS provides a useful service and my dealings with them have been very satisfactory (whether being on the losing or winning side of their judgements). Having worked in the betting industry (but not at the sharp end for over a decade) there are still people working in the industry who obviously know who I am. What I have found on occasions is that some small minded people have attempted to manipulate their company's rules so as to deny me a genuine payout. Fortunately IBAS sees through this behaviour and will deal only with the betting facts.

If you were to have a dispute with Bodog you will be on your own as they are based in Antigua. I would not now bet with any firm that does not recognise IBAS. Ultimately though it's your choice whether you bet with Bodog.

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Wednesday horses 3

Not our afternoon. Karlovic served 35 aces, never lost his serve and had a match point. Lost.

Our three pointer at Beverley (13/2 chance) led all the way except on the line and went under by a short-head.

Oh well, on to this evening's fodder. My selection in the 19:10K is a drifter but at least we are on BOG so should it win at a bigger price that will be OK. Don't like the rest of the Kempton card so we have a couple of races at Hamilton as follows:

18:20H 1pt ew Cheyenne Red @ 14/1 William Hill BOG
21:20H 1pt ew Madam Bonny @ 25/1 William Hill BOG
21:20H 2.5pts ew Fairy Mist @ 8/1 Totesport

Nine points staked.


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Wednesday horses 2

Further bets at this afternoon's meetings:

15:30B 3 pts win Eastwood Ho @ 13/2 PP BOG
15:40Y 1 pt ew Flynns Boy @ 20/1 William Hill BOG
16:10Y 2pts win Seventeen Seventy @ 6/1 William Hill BOG

Seven points staked.

I will be having more bets later at Kempton and Hamilton evening meetings.

Re Wednesday horses

My first horse bet of the day, there will be others, is at Kempton:

19:10K 4pts win Dressed In Lace @ 5/1 William Hill BOG

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Queen's tennis

Not seen any of this yet. Top three players not there so Murray, the holder, heads the seedings with Tsonga seeded to meet the Scot in the final. One eye-catching result from yesterday was Karlovic's defeat of multiple Queen's winner Hewitt. Both these players are getting on a bit but in firing 22 aces (11 in each set) the Croatian showed how difficult he can be to beat on this surface.

Murray is one player that seems to be able to read the 2005 finalist's serve but Ivo is in the opposite half of the draw to the Brit. I think Ladbrokes are just too generous in offering 33/1 Karlovic so I have had a small interest:

1pt ew Karlovic to win Queen's @ 33/1 with Ladbrokes (1/2 odds 1,2)

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Windsor 19:40, 5f

A poor afternoon at Folkestone but undaunted I have had a bet at Windsor tonight. This one is 2lbs out of the handicap but the excellent Raul Da Silva takes off five:

19:40W 2pts win Welease Bwian @ 17/2 William Hill BOG

16:45 Folkestone

Already on Tevez in this but cannot now rule out Soweto Star so:

16:45F 0.75pts ew Soweto Star @ 33/1 Stan James 


Total 1.5 points.

Nearly an hour to the off so hopefully readers will pick this up, or not of course if it's unplaced...

Folkestone horses

Our selection from last evening, Mr David is a non-runner so I have had:

16:45F 2pts win Tevez @ 9/2 Coral (also available Stan James)

Folkestone

Two more selections at Folkstone today:

14:45F 2 pts win Bookiesindex Boy @ 7/2 William Hill BOG
15:45F 3 pts win Anjomarba @ 5/1 William Hill BOG
0.5 pts ew double at the prices

Total six points.

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Horses - Saturday/Monday

The last three Saturdays have produced 56, 20 and now 38 points profit from horse betting. This week's haul was thanks to winners at 12/1 and 6/1 from just four races analysed (SPs 11/1 & 5/1 respectively). What a huge priced winner at Chester in such a small field! - never in doubt - led all the way and trotted up.

Had a break from punting today with a full day visit to the Hay-on-Wye festival. It's just such a magical place and superbly organised too. Unfortunately it was the closing day so that's it for another year. Went to four events though including talks by William Boyd and Martin Amis. Latter in particular was in fine form. Unleashing his latest low-life character on us: Lionel Asbo. He follows in the footsteps of these unpleasant Amis' creations: John Self, Keith Talent and Clint Smoker.

I'll probably be having a couple of bets at Folkstone tomorrow but need to have a close check of the going. However must have an interest in one wearing blinkers for the first time that could shorten up:

16:45F 2pts win 1pt place Mr David @ 10/1 William Hill BOG

We also have the France v England encounter to look forward to. France have somehow shrunk from the 14/1 we took a few weeks ago down to 8/1 without having kicked a ball yet. Good to see the general support though.


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Pova

Great win by Masha to land the spoils in Paris. Classy victory speech too. We have 7/1 for her to win Wimbledon. You'll do well to get half those odds now. I expect her to move to favourite ahead of Serena. Looks like she is not playing Edgbaston this year, which is a shame as I will not get to see her in action there. Maybe I will catch her at the Olympics...

Saturday horses 3

Three more selections including the NAP in the 19:15 Newcastle:

18:15N 2pts win Le Chat D'Or @ 6/1 William Hill BOG
18:15N 0.5pts ew Monthly Medal @ 16/1 William Hill BOG
19:15N 3pts win 2pts place Daring Dream @ 12/1 William Hill BOG

Total eight points.

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Saturday horses 2

Next bet is at Windsor - Richard Hughes who is the best jockey at this track in my view.

19:30W 2pts ew Silenzio @ 9/1 Coral (1/4 1,2,3)

Four points staked, possibly more to follow.

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William Buick

Ladbrokes have just cut WB for the jockeys' championship from 25/1 to 16/1. Hopefully you were able to secure the bigger price last night or this morning. I backed him last night on the Internet and then topped up this morning by phone so (unusually) plenty of time to get on. Still 20/1 with two other firms.

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Saturday horses

One bet at Chester to start the day. Beau Mistral in the 5F handicap from 2lb out of the handicap but ably assisted by the useful Cathy Gannon:

16:50C 3pts win Beau Mistral @ 12/1 Totesport (also available skybet, Stan James)

More to follow

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Jockeys' championship

William Buick has ridden an incredible five winners today to join Hanagan on second place with 38 wins - ironically from exactly the same number of rides - 210. Ladbrokes still go 25/1 on William whereas our original selection Paul Hanagan is 9/2.

The momentum is with Buick and I can see him finishing in front of Hanagan. Whether either can catch RL Moore is another matter as the latter is ten clear of the duo on 48. We have Moore covered with our 20 point bet at 7/4 and he has since moved to odds-on in the market.

I have just had 3pts win W Buick to win Jockeys' championship @ 25/1 Ladbrokes

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Friday horse

Bath 5f.

Thought this might happen, hence the delay in posting. Perfect eight-runner field reduced to seven. Therefore small win bet only as follows:

19:35B 2pts win Hey Fiddle Fiddle @ 12/1 William Hill BOG

Errani hedge

Having said yesterday I would not recommend a hedge on Errani I have changed my mind. Although Masha played really well yesterday in beating Kvitova her performance in recent Grand Slam finals has not been good. She lost this year's Australian final to Azarenka in straight sets and also lost last year's Wimbledon final when favourite to beat Kvitova.

Errani is playing without fear and has had incredible results in this tournament against players she has never beaten before (Ivanovic, Kuznetsova, Kerber and Stosur).

I am also painfully reminding myself of the 2011 US Open final when Serena was an overwhelming favourite to beat Stosur (and we were anticipating a major pick-up on the American).

Incredibly Stosur has only won three WTA singles titles in her 12-year career - including the US Open. That's why she is worth opposing when she is a short price. That's another subject though.

For now I have to go with Ladbrokes' 7/2 Errani to win the match on Saturday. Although this is a match bet we can classify it as an outright wager because if there is an early retirement the bet is settled on the winning player.

4pts win Errani @ 7/2 to beat Sharapova (Ladbrokes)

The outright book total stakes therefore rise to 25. A Sharapova win now nets a 15 point profit. Whereas a win for Sara produces an overall profit of seven points.

No good on the horses yesterday. Fields disrupted by many non-runners, including three of my selections despite selecting them quite late in the morning. There may be one small bet today at Bath to follow.


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French Open: Ladies' singles review

In total I invested 21 points in the outright ladies' market (excluding refunded stakes on Clijsters). Mash has got me out of jail by reaching the final. Our 2pts ew at 12/1 yields 14 points for her place in the final and a potential further 26 points should she lift the trophy. I consider myself to be fortunate to be in this position given the 10 points lost on Serena in the first round.

I will not be advising any hedging on Errani as I managed to take some 40s whilst she was beating our fancy Kerber - not something one can blog of course as the markets move so quickly. Therefore I will leave it to you as to whether you back Errani - who will be around 3/1 to beat Masha. They have never played each other before so there are no clues there. Mind you the 0-5 against Stosur was hardly a clue to today's match.

Anyway I will be cheering on Masha for a 19 points blog profit for the outright book.

Thursday horses 3

Final selections for today you may be pleased to hear.

15:30H 0.5pt ew Naafetha @ 25/1 Stan James
16:00H 2pts win 1pt place Restless Bay @ 12/1 Skybet
15:20L 1.5pts win 1pt place Zingana @ 16/1 William Hill BOG
19:25S 2pts win Gaul Wood @ 8/1 Stan James

Total 8.5 points staked.

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Thursday horses 2

Sandown:

18:50S 3pts win 1pt place Bouncy Bouncy @ 12/1 William Hill BOG
19:55S 1.5pts win 1pt place Peponi @ 16/1 Paddy Power BOG

Total 6.5 points, more to follow.

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Thursday horses

A few bets today. The first at Lingfield:

15:50L 1pt ew Calypso Magic @ 25/1 Ladbrokes BOG (also available Corals)

More selections to follow.

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The Shed

Unfortunately the Shed could not close the door on Kvitova despite winning the first set and then holding a 4-2 advantage in the final set. I think she just ran out of steam, the three qualifying matches taking their toll. Kvitova was available at 3.5 in-running so the opportunity was there to take some profits or at least recover stakes.

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Wednesday horses 2

Looking forward to the tennis at 13:00, particularly the Kvitova match, should be interesting.

Meanwhile one further bet which is at Kempton tonight:

19:30K 3pts win West Leake @ 9/2 William Hill BOG

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France: Euro 2012

We are already on France @ 14/1 and they continue to attract support, now a best priced 11/1 but 10/1 with most bookmakers. Nothing coming out of the England camp would worry you with regard to our bet on France to win their group either.

I have not played the top goalscorer market yet but after Benzema showed his well-being in the friendly against Estonia last night - scoring two of the four goals - I have had the following bet:-

3pts ew Benzema top goalscorer Euro 2012 @ 14/1 William Hill (1/4 1,2,3,4)

And I could not resist a point on the mug double as follows:-

1pt win France/Benzema winning double @ 50/1 Bet365

Total seven points.

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Wednesday horses

One small bet so far for tomorrow at Nottingham:

16:45N 1.5pts ew Candycakes @ 14/1 William Hill BOG

Three points invested.

French Open Ladies

Looking again at Shvedova, she is around 3/1 to beat Kvitova tomorrow who has not been playing brilliantly. If she was to win that she would probably play Sharapova, assuming the latter gets past the choker Kanepi.

Based on Masha's performance yesterday though that is no certainty. Our 12/1 pick for the tournament was very disappointing with countless double faults, service breaks against her and numerous unforced errors. A dramatic improvement and warmer weather is required if she is going to win the tournament.

It should be remembered that Svedova reached the quarter-finals of Roland Garros in 2010 before a horrendous series of injuries. Hence a small each-way is suggested as follows:

2.5pts ew Shvedova @ 33/1 Ladbrokes (1/3 odds 1,2) 

If you are allowed to bet with Sportingbet they go 40/1.

Finally a match bet as follows:

3pts win Shvedova @100/30 to beat Kvitova: Stan James

Total eight points staked.

Tuesday horses

We could do without Richard Hughes' winners as he looks the only danger to Moore (or Hanagan) for the jockeys' championship. However I am going with his mount in the lucky last at Leicester as follows:

17:25L 3pts win Mata Hari Blue @ 4/1 William Hill BOG

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Yaroslava Shvedova

When was the last time a qualifier won a major? Well I don't think it has ever happened. Several have reached the semis - e.g. McEnroe. So it's not impossible that "The Shed" could join the elite by beating Kvitova on Thursday.

I watched her beat Li Na today. She dropped her serve in the first game of the match and hence the set. After that she allowed Li Na only two more games winning the third set 6-0. It's not that the Chinese player played badly - she didn't - but Shvedova completely out played her. I stole some 200/1 ew from Paddy Power in-play and I see that she is now only around 25/1 if you want to back her each-way. During the match she kept looking at some trinket around her neck - possibly a religious symbol? That woud be good news if you are backing her - blind faith is good for self belief (even if you are deluded).

I will have a look at the match prices tomorrow. Meanwhile two great ladies' matches tomorrow - Domi must have a chance against Stosur and our selection Kerber plays the in-form Errani which could be very tricky for her given the way the latter dispatched Kuznetsova.

Monday review

Well it was worth having a few bob on today as Full Shilling has just won hard-held @ 3/1 (advised at 13/2, no Rule4 fortunately). Together with the placed horse it means 12 points profit on the day.

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Monday horses

Having considered Carlisle, Leicester and Redcar I am playing only at Chepstow as follows:

17:00C 2pts each-way Little Rainbow @ 8/1 Ladbrokes BOG
17:35C 2pts win Beachwood Bay @ 8/1 Stan James
18:05C 2pts win Full Shilling @ 13/2 Stan James

Eight points invested. Small profit yesterday thanks to Taurus Twins but much reduced winning odds owing to the withdrawn runners..

Sunday horses 2

14:50N 2pts win Welease Bwian @ 7/2 William Hill BOG

Sunday horses

Nottingham action today:

15:20N 2pts win 1pt place Taurus Twins @ 8/1 Paddy Power BOG
16:20N 1pt ew Als Memory @ 12/1 Paddy Power BOG


Five points staked

Possibly another race to follow

Saturday only betting?

Another good Saturday following last week's 56 point haul on the horses. Today we won 20 points overall thanks to Annie Walker winning @ 17/2 (12/1 advised).

Strangely our Catterick race was abandoned owing to unsafe ground. Perhaps I should only bet at the weekends? That would be rather dull. I may have a go at Nottingham tomorrow.

Meanwhile with Camelot winning AOB is now 4/4 in the English classics. Therefore we have a winner @ 12/1(and 10/1) or 40/1 depending whether or not Camelot wins the Leger. I must publicly thank my shrewd friend Richard for steering me in the direction of these excellent AOB wagers.

As someone who once worked in the same office as Derek Smith, with 100 Group One winners, I must say he's come a long way!

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Saturday horses 2

One more race today:

16:55C 3pts win Green Park @ 9/2 William Hill BOG
16:55C 0.5pt ew Rutterkin @ 33/1 Stan James

Four points staked

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Saturday horses

Two races to start things off today:

17:15H 3pts win Pretty Primo @ 8/1 Stan James
15:35B 2pts win Annie Walker @ 12/1 Skybet
15:35B 1pt win Abhaat @ 12/1 Bet365 BOG

AOB duly won his third English classic yesterday but not with Maybe as was widely expected. We, of course, have a small bet on him winning all five @ 40/1 and two bets on him winning four @ 10/1 and 12/1. Camelot or Astrology winning the Derby will guarantee the win.

Possible further horses later.

Six points invested.

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Friday horses

Disappointed to see that Kissed has just been withdrawn from the Oaks which will lessen the chance of our AOB classic 4/5-timer. Looks like Maybe is our only realistic chance as his other runners are all big prices.

Some late plays at Newcastle:

16:25N 2pts win Inffiraaj @ 100/30 Stan James
17:00N 2pts win Ma Kellys @ 9/1 Paddy Power BOG


And a small interest in the first at Pontefract: tonight:

18:30P 1pt win Seldom @ 10/1 Stan James
18:30P 1pt win Goal @ 20/1 Stan James


Six points invested