There are times to bet heavily when the value is there and we cleared 60 points last week by backing Tottenham at 4/9 to beat Aston Villa and Southampton to beat Bournemouth. In fact, neither game was quite as cut … Read More »

I do not really ‘switch over’ to the jumps until the weekend of the Paddy Power Gold Cup so this is a fairly short update. Last week I went for Withernsea at Newmarket and felt that he was unlucky for … Read More »

Judging by the prices at the recent Tattersalls Yearling Sales, the days when you could pick up a bargain are now long gone. Many years ago I bought a yearling there by the then little-known sire Orchestra for just £1,000. … Read More »

I suppose it’s the way of things at the moment that my selection Max Dynamite should come home a fast-finishing and never-nearer second behind a 100/1 chance in last night’s Melbourne Cup. I have watched the race a few times … Read More »

It proved quite informative yesterday at Carlisle, where there were some interesting long-term prospects on view. I spoke briefly with Danny Cook’s agent, Bruce Jeffrey, who told me that Sue Smith’s horses were mostly needing their first run. However the … Read More »

We were right about Tottenham at Bournemouth last week but a late goal at Anfield cost Liverpool victory against Southampton. I thought the Saints deserved a draw but Liverpool might have edged it if either Sturridge or Ings had been … Read More »

One of the reasons there will always be bookmakers involves punters’ willingness to absorb setbacks and kick on again. There is so much racing that the talk is about the Breeders’ Cup, with defeats for Jack Hobbs and Foundation over … Read More »

There is top-class action all over the place this weekend, on both sides of the Atlantic, but today my eye was drawn to the chasing debut of former top hurdler Garde La Victoire at Uttoxeter. The six-year-old was the best … Read More »

A few big names from the jumping world have entries this weekend, with the possibility that Gold Cup winner Coneygree may make the trip up the M6 for the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase on Sunday. God’s Own, Ptit Zig, … Read More »

We were cruelly denied in the 90th minute when Stevenage made it 3-3 at Exeter last week. Obviously we all have to get used to these things and, in any case, with the amount of time referees add on these … Read More »

I am generally happy to let the Flat racing season go right through to the end before concentrating on National Hunt and I suppose I’m one of those who are happy to regard the former Mackeson meeting, now the Paddy … Read More »

I have just returned from a few days at Newmarket, racing on Saturday and then a couple of days at the sales earlier in the week. All the talk has been about Air Force Blue, for whom there was maximum … Read More »