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

Washout North of the Border

Good day my old buds

Well yesterday was a bit of an anti-climax was it not? I return to the land of the tipping, only to find its been a bit soggy up in Western Scotland and Ayr had bitten the slurry. Shame that, Ayr is one of my fave courses; I love the Ayr Gold Cup meeting and the locals are so friendly. I must go up again someday. Matter of interest, has anyone any idea who trains at the Cree Lodge stables across the road from the course now? I remember when Linda Perratt was there and I used to follow her gelding Ho Leng. He won me a few quid at Newmarket in (I believe it was) the Bunbury Cup one year.

In case of abandonments and non-runners etc, please follow my Twitter page where I will endeavour to update any of my blogs.

http://twitter.com/uncletatty

Back on to my pet subject of the moment, the dismissal of Robbie di Matteo from the Hawthorns. I wrote an email to the club today which I reproduce in full here:

I am totally at a loss over the relieving of Roberto di Matteo from his duties as Head Coach. The Chairman says it is due to the bad run of losses that has taken place, but why no strengthening of the squad in the January window, bar Carlos Vela?

1) Surely the idea of a Technical Director overseeing the bringing in of players means that Ashworth should go as well? He has surely failed in his remit to strengthen the squad. A coach is only as good as the players he has at his disposal.

2) Who are we going to find to do a better job than di Matteo? Unless the incumbant Manager has total control of all aspects, it will never work and we will be down in the Championship again before we know it.

3) Where is the logic in removing a Coach one week after the transfer window has closed? Any replacement will not have the opportunity to get in any players he requires to help keep us up (maybe that is what the board want - it won't cost them any more money will it?).

After almost 50 years of being an Albion fan, all I can say is that I am ashamed of the club for this totally ridiculous decision. I wish Robbie well and thank him for the excellent job he has done. Peace and his cronies have made one almighty big mistake with this and I for one wouldn't be sorry to see the back of them!

Will I receive a reply? Well I won't be holding my breath..... 

On to those 4 legged, annoying things that eat hay and nay a lot (and don't seem to run very fast on occasions). Southwell (AW), Market Rasen and Sedgefield are the courses of action for today, but to err on the side of caution, I will make both selections from the all-weather flat meeting at sultry Southwell.

Last week I went against EILEAN MOR who runs in the 3.15 maiden, but today I quite fancy Bryan Smart's gelding to get his head in front. I am not convinced the extra furlong was to his liking and a return to 6 should help.

An hour later at 4.15 ACE MASTER is one going up in distance  from 6 and 7 furlongs to a mile. He has been running ok at the shorter trips, but really does stand out to me in this field and I fancy him to prevail.

  EILEAN MOR Southwell 3.15 3rd @ 11/4

 ACE MASTER Southwell 4.15 3rd @ 3/1

Good night and good luck. Remember, updates if required on Twitter.

Tatty

Tatty's Weekly Report: Doing Very Well

Hello everyone

Saturday's Shennanigans

Another Saturday's racing over with, which ended up with the meetings at Haydock Park and Gowran Park over in Ireland being abandoned. This cut my daily selections in half, down to 3 and from those 3, we had a 9/2 winner, putting us in profit over level stakes again. Comments for the 3 runners have been added to yesterday's posting (as usual).

The race of the day was the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot. As I commented yesterday, I really couldn't see past Master Minded for the winner, but it was oh so, so close. I had mentioned to Mrs Tatty, as the horses rounded the final bend, that there was only ever going to be one horse in it and that Master Minded was a class above the rest on show. Suddenly, Somersby started eating up the ground and made a terrific challenge, just failing on the line. I nearly had to eat my words and lied through my teeth to my better half, saying that it was all under control. Nothing could be further from the truth and thank the Lord I didn't have any money resting on it, because I would be in the cardiac unit of our local hospital by now and not writing a further bulletin for your entertainment.

Weekly Round-up

I have just had a look back at some of the old nags that I have suggested backing for this week. From 17 selections, we have had 7 winners at such prices as 8/1, 5/1, 4/1, 11/2, 9/2,11/4 and one odds on at 5/6. I must admit to being quite impressed with those statistics and can only hope that it will continue again this week. 
Eat your heart out Micky Fitz!


It's Plug Time

I have just completed and had published an article about Great Leighs racecourse. Please click on the title below to read:-

Will Horse Racing Ever Return to Great Leighs Racecourse?

Sunday Racing

Sunday racing, more often than not, is not up to a great deal and I have to admit that little of the fare on offer inspires me greatly. This is except for the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, which brings together Hurricane Fly and Solwhit again for the third time this season. Hurricane Fly has prevailed on both previous occasions and there is nothing to suggest that the tables will be turned this time. Not worth a bet though as Hurricane Fly will go off at prohibitive odds.

Racing over this side of the pond is from Market Rasen and Towcester over obstacles and Kempton Park on the Polytrack. I have versed my thoughts on Kempton before, so we'll have look at the National Hunt fixtures only.

As I said earlier, none of it does a lot for me and it is difficult to suggest anything at all. If I had my arm twisted up my back and had to make a selection, I would go to Towcester and the 2 mile Novice's Hurdle at 3.05 Coolbeg should be the favourite here and will not be far away that is for sure, but Venetia Williams' OLD WAY interests me. Placed more than once when racing on the flat in France, he ran encouragingly 12 days ago in his public debut over timber at Taunton and should be able to progress for that experience.

One last thought. I notice in Saturday's Sun newspaper that trainer TR George, won the 1.30 race at Towcester in 2007 and 2009. He has Gentle Bob in the race for 2011 - could he continue the run?

SELECTION:-

OLD WAY Towcester 3.05

Good night everyone.

Tatty