Tatty in Mourning

Hello

Tatty is in mourning tonight, after the Albion lost 2-0 at Blackburn. It doesn't really help when one of your centre backs heads into his own net, when being barely challenged, to make it 1-0 and letting in a 2nd, so soon after the interval put an end to any hope for a point we had.

We really are in need of a striker who can get a few goals here and there, but what Premier League club (except the obvious few) are not? We lost out on John Carew, mainly because of the boards reluctance to pay his high wages. It seems the board are quite content with the Albion being a yo-yo club. That is all well and good, but soon enough the yo-ing will end, more than likely with us stuck in the lower of the two leagues.

The Horsey Bit

Well, we started the week with a 2nd place. It surprised, nay amazed me to see OLD WAY go off as 9/4 fav at Towcester. Somebody, somewhere must have had a hefty old punt on. He was going well until clobbering the last and ended a couple of lengths back from the winner.

Tomorrow sees a return to slightly iffy Monday cards at Wetherby over jumps and Kempton and Wolverhampton on the all-weather. As Kempton (AW) is a continual no-no, we look at the other two for inspiration.

The best quality race of the day is the Novice's Chase at Wetherby 2.35 Always notoriously dodgy affairs to say the least, this one gives us 4 competitors, all of which have a squeak. If Alfie Sherrin can jump the larger obstacles as well as the timber, he must be in with a decent shot of taking this and similar thoughts could be given to Sir Tantallus Hawk. Donald McCain's Glenwood Knight won well on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter and remains a threat, but my, very tentative choice goes to KNOCKAVILLA who, if you ignore his last run here at Wetherby, has had decent form over fences. I am concerned however, about tipping any horse with the disgusting word Villa in its name - UGH!

The best race at Dunstall Park is the 7 furlong handicap at 4.35 Stef Liddiard's SARAH'S ART won well at Lingfield on New Year's Eve and only goes up 1lb for it. Previously having winning form at Wolverhampton, he will certainly be there or thereabouts.

KNOCKAVILLA Wetherby 2.35

SARAH'S ART Wolverhampton 4.35

Right, I am now going back to my mourning, black armband at the ready.

Tatty the Baggie