An Anti-Frog Blog!

Good morning everyone

I hope I find you all fit and raring to go.

Bit of a change on the blog front as of today. Instead of the daily horse racing tips as before, I am going to concentrate on my more opinionated comments. This will mean posts will not be every day as before. I will only write when I have something to say (or moan about).

The tips were not doing too well over the last week or so, mainly due to me not having enough time to devote to them. I am of the opinion that if you are not going to do something properly, then don't bother at all.

Please still keep an eye on Twitter for updates and if there are any nags I like, I will be sure to let you know. This is to the degree that I posted a couple on Thursday this week that both trotted in at sp's of 7/1.

http://twitter.com/uncletatty

Six-Nations Rugby

This afternoon brings us the possible grand slam decider between England and France at Twickenham. I hear on the radio that the French coach, Marc Lievremont, has been commenting about how much the French dislike the English. Well, listen here mon ami, the feeling is bloody reciprocated. He goes on to say that he has recently been reading a biography of Winston Churchill, where he had started to like the English a little, so he's left it at back at home.

Well just note, Monsieur Lievremont, we won't be wasting our time reading any such Froggy offerings about the likes of Charles de Gaulle, Asterix the Gaul, Sacha Distel or Hergé and those damn stupid adventures of TinTin (hang on, they were Belgian weren't they? Oh well, I don't bloody like them much either). The one things you can guarantee about the French is that they will need us to bale them out every time there is a war and that they stink of garlic.

COME ON ENGLAND!

Carling Cup Final

On Sunday the Carling Cup Final takes place at Wembley between Arsenal and Birmingham City. Surely it is high time this cup was scrapped and melted down. None of the major clubs seem to take it particularly seriously in the early rounds and it is just an excuse to give fringe squad players and youngsters a run out. Saying that, the FA Cup sadly seems to be going the same way.

Just a thought, Arsenal's manager is Arsene Wenger. What do his friends call him? Arse maybe?

OK, that's all for today. Bye for now

Tatty

A Racing-Less Day

Hello all

Just a quick entry to inform everyone that there will be no selections today. I have an important appointment this afternoon and do not have the time to study the horses to a full degree.

Back to normal soon.

Tatty

A Little Pre-Occupied Today

Good morning everybody

As the title of this posting suggests, I have other things on my mind today. The Dingles are a-visiting the Hawthorns at lunchtime. There is no love lost between the Albion and the Wolves and today, being Roy Hodgson's first game in charge of the Baggies, gives extra significance. Also with both clubs hovering close to the bottom of the League it could be classed as a 6 if not 12 pointer.

COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!

Aa for horses, we had an 11/8 winner, 2 unplaced and 2 non-runners yesterday so not particularly anything to write home about. Today brings jumping at Sedgefied, Market Rasen and Naas, along with AW flat at Kempton. A couple to watch are listed below:-

LESANDA Sedgefield 3.10 (place or e/w)

SNOWY PEAK Kempton 4.25

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I will be back (all being well) tomorrow.

Tatty

Saturday Again and Time for Improvement

Good morning all,

Well, yesterday’s lot certainly got me a bit concerned to say the least. The afternoon choices were all disastrous, all bar good old GOODBYE CASH who at least managed to get 2^nd at a starting price of 13/2. The evening choice at Wolverhampton obliged however, at a reasonable 11/8 after opening at evens. STRICTLY PINK, with a good ride from that little Irish terrier, Cathy Gannon, secured the victory which gave us a little damage limitation.

All my racing friends here in the UK will most certainly remember Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who spent some time here a year or 2 back, riding for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin stable. I believe he now has the position of no.1 jockey to Darley in Australia. 

I have been following his tweets on Twitter for a while and yesterday, sent him a question asking him whether he had any plans to return and ride in the UK this year. Sadly he replied in the negative, but he definitely intends to come back to Royal Ascot again one day. I always liked Kerrin as a jockey. Strong in a finish and very tactically aware, I often wondered if he was being groomed to take over from Frankie Dettori when the Italian maestro decided it would be time to hang up his race riding boots. 

It makes a nice change to actually receive a reply to a tweeted question, so thanks Kerrin. I wish you every success back home down under and very much look forward to seeing you ride here in the UK again someday.

I won’t go through all of today’s meetings, but will leave a list of a few old nags to have a ponder over.

PROBLEMA TIC Ascot 1.20

GRANDMA’S DREAM Lingfield 2.55

MILGEN BAY Ascot 4.05

BENNY BE GOOD Haydock 4.30

DESTROYER DEPLOYED Ascot 4.40

Bye for now and happy bookie bashing.

Tatty

Let's Hope it's not Goodbye Cash at Lingfield

Hello everyone

Well what a dreadful day Thursday was. All 3 choices shouldn't have bothered and the less we dwell on it all the better. Let's move on very swiftly.....

Friday brings us the re-staging of the Newbury meeting of last Saturday, when the 2 horses sadly died of what has now been confirmed as electrocution. There is also jumping at Fakenham and Sandown Park, along with AW meets at Lingfield and the evening card at Wolverhampton. 

Every Friday evening, TV channel, Attheraces hold a tipsters competition in their Get In programme. Generally based around the Wolverhampton meeting (at this time of year anyway), the top prize is a £100 bet. Watch it if you are able to receive it on Sky 432 and Virgin 534 and go to the website to enter your selections. Well worth it just for the banter between the presenters, ex jockeys Jason (Shark) Weaver and Luke (Meerkat) Harvey. Check it out at www.attheraces.com

A few I like the look of are:-

NOUS VOILA Fakenham 1.30

MINELLA STARS Newbury 2.25

GOODBYE CASH Lingfield 2.55

FLYING SQUAD Fakenham 3.45 (each way or place)

STRICTLY PINK Wolverhampton 8.05

Good luck and I hope your bookmaker ends up with van empty satchell.

Uncle Tatty

From Cold to Chest Infection

Hi

Am not doing very well health wise in the last couple of days. First a stinking cold that has moved down to my chest. I went to see the Doc yesterday who's given me some anti-biotics, so it's a case of suffering on for a day or so.

Racing wise, yesterday SOCIAL FORUM ran well to score at 7/2. SCARY MOVIE was a total horror story finishing unplaced, LORDSBRIDGE was 2nd at 9/2 and GRINGO was a no-go, down in 5th.

Today throws up Southwell and Wolves on the AW and jumping at Ffos Las, Kelso and Clonmel. Selections below:-

COLD HARBOUR Ffos Las 2.30

SIRDAVE Southwell 2.50

YEOMAN Clonmel 4.05 (each-way)

That's your lot for today.

Tatty

Still Snorting and Sneezing!

Hi everyone,

The cold is no better than yesterday, I am sad to report. My nose is very sore from the constant blowing and I have a raging fever to go with it all. Never mind eh?

2 winners at 7/4 yesterday were very pleasing. The each way shot didn’t oblige however, but to be honest, I put them up more for entertainment value than as serious selections.

As for Wednesday, it’s north of the border jumping at Musselburgh, along with other NH action at Leicester and over the pond at Punchestown. All-weather fare at Lingfield, along with a twilight meeting at Kempton, makes up the rest of the day’s entertainment. 

Choices in time order are as follows:-

SOCIAL FORUM Lingfield 2.00

LORDSBRIDGE Leicester 2.40

SCARY MOVIE Lingfield 3.00

GRINGO Musselburgh 3.50 (e/w)

I will sign off at that for now and I am off back to the pit, to continue trying to sweat this bug out           

Tatty

Aa Aa AAa AAAaa- CHOO !!

Hello

Tatty is down with the dreaded lurgy, so this mornings post won't be the longest ever.

If you read yesterday's blog, you may remember my comments about MAVALENTA in the Plumpton 2.00 I suggested that 33/1 would be a fair reflection of her chances, so imagine my surprise when the best on offer in the morning was 12's. Then my shock when she opened at 3's and went off at an sp of 11/4 joint favourite. OK, there were 3 taken out of the race at different intervals, but 11/4 jf? Anyone who took that needed their bumps feeling at the very least. She ran poorly and jumped badly, ending 6th of 6, a good 40 odd lengths behind.

Other than her, we had a winner at Catterick in MAC AEDA at a skinny looking 11/10 and  EMPEROR'S CHOICE in the Plumpton 5.00 ended about 10 lengths back in 3rd. He opened at 5's, going in to 5/2 fav before the off. Probably due to being from Venetia Williams stable I would imagine.

On to today's offerings. Newcastle has passed its 10 o'clock 2nd inspection and goes ahed,along with more NH action on the Kent coast at Folkestone. The all-weather flat meeting at Southwell makes up the day's entertainment. Today's suggestions are listed below.

THORNTON ALICE Newcastle 2.40 Won @ 7/4

RENARD D'IRLANDE Folkestone 3.30 Won @ 7/4

LADY SAMBURY Newcastle 4.40 (Each Way)

I am off now to try and sweat this stinking cold out. See you all tomorrow.

Tatty

And Here Starteth Another Week

Hello my friends, 

I hope you all had a great weekend and are fit and raring to go for another week.

We had a good day on Sunday with both win choices doing the business at evens and 2/1. The each way punt went somewhat astray, but that one I really only add for a little bit of entertainment. That is very much the case with the each way choice for today. It really should go off at anything up to 33/1 which should give you some idea as to how much chance it has to win, but strange things happen at the racecourse. It is thought that on the whole, one in 33 horses going off at an sp of 33’s will win – I can’t really see that, but never mind. Today’s suggestions are listed in time order below:-

MAVALENTA Plumpton 2.00 (each way)

MAC AEDA Catterick 2.20

EMPEROR’S CHOICE Plumpton 5.00

With the sad story of the deaths of 2 horses at Newbury on Saturday, I never got to comment on the appointment of Roy Hodgson as Albion Head Coach on Friday. I am very pleased with the choice. He feels he can avoid relegation at the end of the season and you do think that if anyone can get us out of the mire, he can.

I have read some interesting supposed info regarding his predecessor over the weekend. Apparently Signor di Matteo was very aloof from certain members of the squad, having his favourites. I’m not saying that this is the gospel truth, but it does explain the selection policy on occasions and, in hindsight, one or two tactical decisions that were made.

Good luck Roy. His first game is home to the Dingles (Wolverhampton Wanderers to the un-initiated). Nothing like a baptism of fire.

I have just one last comment for you. Did you see Wayne Rooney’s goal for United against City on Saturday? Some people are saying it’s the greatest goal ever in the Premier League. I think that is overstating things somewhat, but I have a question for all you United fans. Apart from the goal (which he quite easily could have made a complete hash of), what else did he do in that game? The words b*gg*r  and all come to mind! £250,000 a week for just that can’t be bad can it?

Have a good start to the week.

Tatty

Such a Sad Day!

Good morning everyone.

What a terribly sad day yesterday was. If you haven't heard, 2 horses walking around the paddock at Newbury suddenly collapsed and died. Of course the meeting was abandoned after that 1st race had taken place, but what on earth caused such a disaster? Obviously an inquiry is taking place, but the current popular opinion is that the horses were electrocuted. It maybe had something to do with a supposed dormant electricity cable that had somehow come to life after recent work taking place in the area.

No compensation for the owners, trainers, stable staff and not to mention the poor horses. Indeed a sad day for racing. To read the Racing Post's take on the events, please click on the following article:-

Newbury Launches Probe After Horses Die In Paddock

On to more trivial matters, we had a good day with our suggestions yesterday. 3 winners and a 2nd place from 5 choices is not to be sniffed at, but I'm not going to go on about them.

For today we have jumping at Exeter, Hereford and over the water at Navan. 3 suggestions, all are listed below:-

Exeter 2.10 HIGHLAND VALLEY WON evens

Hereford 3.30 OSMOSIA (each way) unplaced

Exeter 3.40 GOLDEN CHIEFTAN WON 2/1

There'll probably be no Tweeting later today so that's all for today. Let's hope to be a little more cheerful tomorrow.

Tatty

Saturday: Inspiration Required

Hello

A quick posting for Saturday's racing. Friday's suggestions were pretty disasterous, so we'll try a little harder for tomorrow.

Here's a few to consider for Saturday:

SPONTANEITY Lingfield 1.00 (each way) 2nd @ 100/30

A LITTLE BIT DUSTY Lingfield 1.30 WON @ 11/10

SHALAMBAR Warwick 1.40 WON @ 4/1

RADETSKY MARCH Warwick 4.20 WON @ 7/2

CRACKERJACK LAD Ayr 5.05 (each way) unplaced

Best of luck

Tatty

From Huntingdon, Back to Reality.

Good morning

I had a lovely day at Huntingdon races yesterday - shame about the constant rain. Typical that the sun is shining this morning, as it was earlier in the week, but the day I go racing the heaven's open.

I must praise Huntingdon Racecourse and especially their staff. From the man on the gate when I collected my ticket, to the guys behind the counter serving food and drinks in the Lenton's bar and the young lady on the hog roast stand, everyone was polite, friendly and made it a pleasure to be there. WELL DONE HUNTINGDON - You have definitely got something right.

As for my suggestions, MTPOCKETS was well behind, it seemed, with half a circuit to go, but managed to run on whilst others struggled to only get headed for 3rd in a photo. PANTXOA ran well, but came across one far too good in A Media Luz who really looked the business to me.

Being somewhat of a form junkie, I really went against the grain in the 2nd race at 2.10 Looking at the horses in the paddock, I was really taken in by Alan King's 6 year old gelding Midnight Appeal. He had a series of duck eggs in his form when hurdling, but something just suggested to me that fences may be his making. With Robert "Choc" Thornton on board, he was always going well and took over at the last, winning with a bit in hand. Went off at 6's, but I managed to get a couple of points better than that.

OK, before I go on to today, if you kept an eye on my Tweets yesterday evening, you would have got a 7/2 winner in Spinning Bailiwick and a couple of placed animals at 11/2 and 9/2 at Kempton (yes, Kempton again - something strange going on here). 

http://twitter.com/uncletatty

Right then, today. Flat at Southwell and twilight at Wolves. Jumping at Kempton and Musselburgh. The best race of the day is the class 2 chase at Kempton 3.45, but with only 4 participants I think we will steer well clear of it. Nothing inspires me (as yet) north of the border and I haven't even looked at Wolverhampton, so it's off to the fabulous Fibresand at Southwell and the 1st 2 races on the card at that.

The opener at 1.15 brings a few capable of getting there, but I have a liking for NEVADA DESERT who come here on an all time low rating of 54. He's never won on the Fibresand, but has been runner up on a couple of occasions. If the old boy can deal with an 80 day lay off, he can get into the frame in this.

Half an hour later, we have an 8 runner, 3 year old, 6 furlong handicap. I like both Rylee Mooch (who I seem to remember writing about a week or so ago) and WINNING DRAW. My choice for Paul Midgley's filly is based on a pleasing run here a week back, when she was less than a length away from Fifth In Line. I fancy her to come on from that.

NEVADA DESERT Southwell 1.15 (e/w)

WINNING DRAW Southwell 1.45

That's all folks, remember to join me later on Twitter.

The Chairman

Off to Huntingdon Tomorrow

Hello everyone

Hope you are all doing well.

Recently, I have been writing an article for a local magazine, about Huntingdon racecourse and in my research, I contacted the racecourse marketing department who were very helpful and provided me with some great images to use (one of which featuring a close up of AP McCoy). They also have given me a complimentary ticket for tomorrow afternoon's meeting which I am greatly looking forward to. It goes without saying I will try as much as possible to keep the Twitter page updated via the Blackberry with snippets etc (it does depend on how many bottles of lager get consumed however). Address below:-

http://twitter.com/uncletatty

A couple I like the look of on paper (but that may well change when I see them in the paddock).  In the 1.40 MTPOCKETS ran really badly a couple of weeks ago up at Wetherby, but is capable of far better. In a competitive opener, the cheekpieces go on in an attempt to sharpen him up and keep his mind on the job. We shall see if they work.

Probably the race of the day is at 3.10 This 2 mile juvenile hurdle brings together some rather smart types, all of which could be at the head of the queue as it were. 

Nicky Henderson's A Media Luz fell last time at Kempton, but this sharp track should suit and she will be of a warm order to prevail. 

Seven Summits was useful on the flat, initially trained by Aidan O'Brien and later Jeremy Noseda. Not the easiest start for a hurdling career, but now in the hands of Barney Curley, keep a sharp eye on the market for any stable confidence. 

I think Two Kisses and Looks Like Slim may just find one or two too good for them, which leaves us with PANTXOA. He won his first two hurdles and came back down to earth with a bump (literally, not physically) last time, ending in 5th place at Cheltenham. If he settles well I think he can take this.

MTPOCKETS Huntingdon 1.40

PANTXOA Huntingdon 3.10

So it's off to the land of nod in a bit to dream of emptying the Bookies satchels (or if the weather forecast is right, trying to keep dry - if you are at Huntingdon, I'll be the drowned rat with the silver Lambert and Butler brolly).

Cheers

Tatts

Short and Sweet

Hi y'all

A bit short of time today I'm afraid.

No reply to my email to WBA yesterday, but I'm not surprised. I'm only a fan, not in the least bit important as far as they are concerned - in fact, the lowest of the low, so what do I expect?

Both selections ended in 3rd place yesterday and not at very good prices so were not worth backing each way. I did pick a winner on Twitter ridden by Southwell's answer to Dick Turpin, namely Hayley Turner in her mask, so if you are able then have a look. Address below.....

http://twitter.com/uncletatty

OK, only 1 for Wednesday and that is at Lingfield 3.35 VEROON regularly gets into the frame and should do so again. Beaten only by a head on his last 2 starts, you do wonder if he is a bit of a nearly horse who is not keen on getting his head in front. We'll give him this 1 last chance.

VEROON Lingfield 3.35

Keep your eyes peeled on Twitter for updates.

Bye for now

Tatts