I personally had a yo-yo afternoon with my bets at Gowran Park too. One Cool Shabra was robbed in the Stewards Room in the opening race as TJ Doyle nearly dumped JL Cullen over the rail when the horse had surely re-rallied to win. But the afternoon turned around nicely as I took Zaidpour to beat the infamous Voler La Vedette, then backed On His Own to win the Thyestes Chase.

For those of you who know all about my love of Aintree and the Grand National and my 2009 Mon Mome coup, well Operation GN2012 started in earnest this morning with the placing of a couple of long term fancies. It felt good to be on the road again…Oooohh, I could crush a grape!

Today’s fancies are at Fontwell:

1.30 Font- Ballylifen (e/w).

2.00 Font- Oncle Kid & Jordan (e/w).

2.30 Font- Terra Bleu (win).

3.00 Font- Sir Du Bearn (win).

3.30 Font- Amirico (e/w).

4.00 Font- Tecktal (win).

4.30 Font- Knocknareen Boy & Megastyle (e/w).

Seedless!

Hoping to rip up a few tissues today!

Veteran Hello Bud looks set to make his final racecourse appearance in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree in April.

Now 14, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding has run two creditable races since the turn of the year, most recently finishing fifth in the Classic Chase at Warwick.

He was fifth in the 2010 Grand National and also won that year’s Becher Chase over the famous fences, giving owner Seamus Murphy hope that his pride and joy can end his racing career on an incredible high.

“He ran a very good race in Warwick and we’ve decided to go for the English Grand National with him,” said Murphy.

“That will probably be his last run. He’ll have a bit of a break now and go straight to Aintree.

“He’s probably the most consistent jumper in the UK and he’s won the Becher Chase round the Aintree fences.

“I think if we got a bit of luck, he could win the National and there would be some party that night if he did!”

Today’s fancies are at Newcastle:

1.15 Newc- Nodform Richard & Papamoa (e/w).

1.15 Newc- Vosges (win).

2.15 Newc- Kings Chorister (win).

2.45 Newc- Etxalar & You Know Yourself (e/w).

3.15 Newc- Funky Munky (e/w).

3.45 Newc- Fog Patches (e/w).

4.15 Newc- Lucia Bay (win).

Splash it all over!

The drinks are on me!

I have Google Alerts set up for various keywords and topics doing the rounds on the world wide web and one of the items I have set up is “Betfair”. This morning it threw up a story in the Telegraph about the Super League rejecting a sponsorship offer from Betfair. I couldn’t help but stick my two penneth in

Super League rejects Betfair sponsorship

Today’s fancies are at Hereford:

1.30 Here- Albertus Pictus (e/w).

2.00 Here- Gospel Preacher (e/w).

2.30 Here- Get It On (win).

3.00 Here- Beta Blocker & Credit Swap (e/w).

3.30 Here- Goat Castle & Echo Dancer (e/w).

4.00 Here- Rebel Melody (win).

4.30 Here- Putiacca Bella & Witchesintune (e/w).

Is it a bum deal?

Hoping to serve up a treat today!

Just two winners at Wetherby yesterday: Into Wain (B Hughes, 7-4 2nd-fav) & Hopeful Start (R P Mclernon, 5-4 fav).

Today’s fancies are at Leicester:

1.35 Leic- Comb F/C 11-1-3-2 (12 bets).

2.05 Leic- Cesium (e/w).

2.40 Leic- Zahirah Moon (e/w).

3.10 Leic- Mark Twain (win).

3.40 Leic- Plum Pudding & Investment Affair (e/w).

4.10 Leic- Mavalenta (e/w).

Mark Twain

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you!

Native Beauty (A Tinkler, 8-1 ) & Universal Soldier (Felix De Giles, 5-4 ) were the winners yesterday at Towcester here on the blog.

Today’s far from degrading fancies are for Wetherby:

1.15 Weth- Blue Destination (e/w).

1.45 Weth- Sycho Fed & Linseyfield Lodge (e/w).

2.15 Weth- Code Blue (win).

2.45 Weth- Mac Aeda (win).

3.15 Weth- Into Wain (win).

3.45 Weth- Hopeful Start (win).

4.15 Weth- Fair Spin & Moon Melody (e/w).

If your name’s not down you’re not coming in!

I went to Haydock races yesterday afternoon after all the will they/won’t they race speculation overnight. The field sizes were very poor and don’t get me started about the commentator . A superb day for McCain and favourite backers but as a chap who rarely backs favourites it was a tricky day for me. Fortunately According To Pete brought a certain level of parity to my day.

I was quite revealed to back some winners at the away meetings whilst I was there and I left you three Ascot winners here on the blog: Balder Succes (W Hutchinson, 3-10 fav), Violin Davis (R Walsh, 11-4) & Somersby (D Elsworth, 9-2 ).

Today’s Towcester fancies are as follows:

1.10 Towc- Native Beauty (e/w).

1.40 Towc- Majorica King (e/w).

2.10 Towc- Bohemian Rock & Billy Murphy (e/w).

2.40 Towc- Kilmacowen (e/w).

3.15 Towc- Kilvergan Boy (e/w).

3.45 Towc- Universal Soldier (win).

4.15 Towc- Over The Phone & Sole Agent (e/w).

Somersby getting up...

Have a Hen pecking day!

With Haydock hanging in the balance as I write this blog post (Friday evening) I’m focusing my Saturday selections on the card at Ascot:

1.00 Ascot- Oldrik & Vino Griego (e/w).

1.30 Ascot- Balder Succes (win).

2.o5 Ascot- Violin Davis (e/w).

2.35 Ascot- A Bridge Too Far & Shoreacres (e/w).

3.10 Ascot- Somersby (e/w).

3.45 Ascot- Tullamore Dew & Sa Suffit (e/w).

4.20 Ascot- The Pretender (e/w).

Go on Su!

Enjoy your day wherever you’re racing!

Just for fun I’ve created an online collage out of the top twenty items people are trawling the internet for when they accidentally  stumble upon my blog.

Here’s to the next 200,000! Happy Punting!

Today’s fancies are at Chepstow which I dare say will be particularly testing and heavy:

12.40 Chep- Mentalist (win) with small e/w Gap Of Dunloe.

1.10 Chep- Karinga Dream & Edgefour (e/w).

1.45 Chep- Basford Bob (e/w).

2.20 Chep- Cotillion (e/w).

2.50 Chep- Tiger Maguire (e/w).

3.25 Chep- Mauricetheathlete (e/w).

4.00 Chep- Hazeldene (e/w).

Where your life’s seen through cracked spectacles!

The blog had a couple of nice strikes at Southwell yesterday when in form Corkage (J Reveley, 85-40 fav) won again to be later followed up by Bocamix (Mr A Nicol, 11-2).

Today’s fancies are at Taunton:

1.20 Taunt- Dualla Lord (win).

1.50 Taunt- Pearl Swan (win).

2.20 Taunt- Triple Bluff (e/w).

2.50 Taunt- Express Leader (e/w).

3.20 Taunt- Dunraven Storm & Numide (e/w).

3.50 Taunt- Rougham & Holmwood Legend (e/w).

4.20 Taunt- Gee Hi & Welds Prize (e/w).

Eleven runners are declared for the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on Saturday. Who do you fancy?

MM

Best of luck today!