Tatty is back!

Hello again everybody, the Tattenator is back, well back writing on this blog anyway. So what have I been doing? Where have I been. In truth, I’ve not been anywhere. I have been writing content for my other blog “Tatty’s Bedfordshire Blog”, and working on numerous articles and getting them published on the internet

Details and links are available at www.ukwriter.co.uk

 I heard on the radio today that Carlo Ancelotti, formerly manager at Chelsea, was actually sacked in a corridor at Everton’s Goodison Park, after Sunday’s Premier League match. 

Has the world gone mad?

I cannot believe how insensitive, unprofessional, call it whatever you like, this is. Is this how things are done in Russia? (Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich is a Ruskie. Thank God I’m not one as well). At least West Ham had the common decency to ask to use a room at Wigan to do the dirty deed on Avram Grant.

They said that 2^nd place in the Premier League was not good enough – after he won them the double (Premier League and FA Cup) last season.

This is all totally beyond me – come on all you Chelsea fans, if you can explain it all to me then please feel free to comment and do so. I and many others would love to know.

So what for Ancelotti now? I have a feeling that he will emerge as the new manager at Aston Villa. I just think that they will be concerned as to Gerard Houllier's health, after his heart problems and the Frenchman will move upstairs in a Director of Football role. I also think that the lure of landing a big name like Ancelotti, will turn the head of Villa owner Randy Lerner. You mark my words.

Horses checking out a fence at Bangor-on Dee

You will all know (or remember) my penchant for all things equine, or more to the point my liking of the Sport of Kings. I like nothing more to watch the horse racing on the telly of an afternoon, having the odd few pennies riding with one or more of the participants.

So why then have I become absolutely useless at picking winners (or even horses to make the frame come to that?) I don’t think I am doing anything different when making my selections so why? I wish I knew.

I am currently working on a system for betting on the greyhounds, which is coming up with encouraging results, so maybe I’ll give up horses (and maybe not). More on the system when I am convinced it works.

Bye for now, will try not to leave it so long next time.

Tatty

A Kauto Star-less Posting

Good evening everyone. Another couple of selections for you, news of a nice winner and a good old whinge....

We had a good day with RAY MOND winning impressively in the 3.30 at Fakenham at an sp of 11/2. MIDNIGHT MACARENA either hated the bottomless ground, or something was amiss and he tailed off early.

In the 4 o’clock at Fakenham, there was the ridiculous situation of 2 horses being withdrawn just before the off, when one kicked out and connected with the jockey on another. Due to injuries, both runners were withdrawn, which is only fair and not the ridiculous part. Suddenly the field was down from 9 to 7, meaning anyone previously taking each way odds would only get paid out on the first 2 as opposed to the first 3. Again, it just proves how much everything is biased in favour of the bookmakers and it’s the poor old punter who gets hit in the “Jacobs” yet again. 


In the bookmakers defence, they would then pay a quarter of the odds for the place instead of a fifth, but that really is no compensation whatsoever when you may well be subject to a rule 4 deduction made for the now non-runner(s). On the exchanges you will still get paid on 3 places, which proves it is high time this was looked at and something done about it.

OK, moan over, now on to Tuesday’s racing. This takes us to super Southwell, fabulous Folkestone and again to the shrine that is Dunstall Park and the absolutely wonderful, Wolverhampton.  Southwell and Folkestone are over the jumps, whereas it’s flat racing on the Polytrack at Wolves.

I suggest you keep an eye on these two:

Southwell 1.00: PATMAN DU CHARVIL has been running poorly for quite a period of time, but here he is right down in the weights and also down in class to a level where he may find things a lot easier than of late.
RESULT: He took the running up from the start, holding on the whole way and looked the class animal he obviously is. I won't say I told you so, but I TOLD YOU SO!  Won at 5/1.

Folkestone 3.10: PETE THE FEAT has improved as the season has gone on. Won well here a month ago with Felix de Giles up and may well do so again. The trip is half a mile less than then, but I don’t see that as a problem.

RESULT: Another winner. Kept a few lengths off the lead for most of the contest, he made his challenge about 2 fences out, going on to score nicely by 2 and three quarter lengths at an sp of 11/4

And Finally

You have to laugh. After all the garbage reported at the weekend, that Avram Grant was on his way out of West Ham irrespective of the result against Arsenal and Martin O’Neill was waiting in the wings to replace him, tonight I hear that O’Neill has ruled himself out of the running. 


I found it hard to believe that he even seriously considered it in the first place. O’Neill needs to be in charge, needs money to spend and has to have his own way on everything. At West Ham, with owners Gold and Sullivan and Karren Brady sitting on their laps? No chance. There was never any way O’Neill was going to Upton Park.

That’s your lot for tonight, hope to speak to you all tomorrow.

Tatty

East End Change and the Star Goes for a Fiver

And it's a good morning to all my subjects, waiting for inspirational words from their beloved leader, to help ease them through another day.

All Change at West Ham

Sky Sports are reporting this morning, that irrespective of West Ham's result today at home to Arsenal, manager Avram Grant will be on his way down the job centre afterwards, ready for the impending arrival of Martin O'Neill.

I can imagine that there will be massive celebrations about to take place over in the east end, but I wouldn't be too quick on partying if I were one of you Irons. I have always thought of O'Neill as a bit of a nearly man and he will only stay as long as he gets his own way. I know he was successful at Celtic and did a reasonable job at the Vile, but with the way the Hammer's ownership like to rule the roost, it surely will only be a recipe for disaster in the long term?

King George at Kempton

Today we get the re-running of the Boxing Day highlight after the snow and ice put pay to the race 3 weeks ago. The great equine God that is Kauto Star, goes for his 5th win in the race on the bounce and the only thing stopping him, it seems is himself. Normal pilot Ruby Walsh is injured and the chosen replacement, Noel Fehily also sits on the sidelines, leaving it to the great AP McCoy to steer the Star to glory. Kauto will win so long as he keeps his concentration when jumping; he made a right old mess of last year's Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but I can't see a repeat of that - can I?

Just a quick comment on the 9 conditional jockeys who took the wrong route yesterday in the 1st race at Huntingdon - what a bunch of idiots! All of them have been given hefty suspensions and rightly so, but it does happen with the professionals from time to time as well. Maybe they should all be sent on a map reading course or, better still, how about someone giving me loads of money to develop and produce a jockeys sat-nav system? Am off down the patent office in a minute....

Have had a quick look through the racing cards today and I like NIGHT WITCH in the Lingfield 2.20 She won at Southwell, 4 weeks ago, noticeably with Jimmy Quinn on board who gets the leg-up again today. I just think that his experience had brought the best out of the filly and a raise of 3lbs should not cause too many problems to her. RESULT - Unplaced

When it comes to the jumps at Kempton, I have been keeping an eye on Nick Williams' 6 year old JAMES DE VASSY that runs at 3.35 for a while. Back to 2m5f after trying 3 miles which was too far, he may well get into the frame in this rather big field RESULT - WON at 8/1

Writing News

I have had a historical piece published this week. A short bio entitled Bernardo O'Higgins: Supreme Director of Chile. By all means have a look, if that sort of thing is your bag.

And Finally

It looks a bit damp outside of Tatty Towers this morning, but I suppose we should be used to that by now. Can you imagine how much snow we would have had if it were cold and it was the white stuff as opposed to the wet stuff? The Tatty Hound will not be amused however. Very little chance of her going outside when it rains - she takes a peek and then glances up at you with a "do you really think I'm going out in that?" look on her face.

I was hoping to go out to watch the football this afternoon. Waders v North Greenford United in the Zamaretto League, but travelling up the A1 last night which overlooks the ground, it seemed like a bog down on the pitch. I will be amazed if the fixture survives. Will just have to watch the King George on the telly instead - UPDATE Match now postponed, waterlogged pitch.

Have a good day, Tatty will return soon...

Chairman T