Racing today comes from Bath, Hamilton, Newton Abbot and Roscommon. I seem to recall at the end of the last hunt season, saying that I'd no longer follow the jumps. Ffttt. What do I know? So with a heart full of hope, I fell back on old failings in an effort to find a winner. The grind. So it's off to Newton Abbot. The 16:30 over 26.5 furlongs and the big fences. It seems that the track will cut up rough (a bit like Stick) so I went for one in decent, recent form, and one who's not only won on the course, but has managed to win a handful of races already. Gets over the tall timber too. A horse who's name reminds me of RV's latest tipping form ..... an Absolute Shambles. NAPS. BATH. 15:20 James Pollard. Jeff. 15:50 The Giving Tree. Blue. HAMILTON. ABD. NEWTON ABBOT. 16:30 Absolute Shambles. Cyc. ROSCOMMON. I once spent a year in Philadelphia, I think it was on a Sunday. - W. C. Fields
Good morning! Horseracing of little interest to me today after Europe's fantastic Ryder Cup win yesterday. Absolutely remarkable come-from-behind win. The Yanks now know how it felt for us in Boston in 1999? Europe's heroes. In memory of Seve....
Will be interesting to see Jump City today in the Novice Chase at Newton Abbot. Paul Nicholls seemed to rate him more than his form last season, keeping him in bigger races which he repeatedly was beaten in - 20L behind Barbatos, 30L behind Fingal Bay and comfortably beaten 1 3/4L by Darlan. However both of those heavy defeats were over distances around the 20f mark, rather than the 16f seen today. His comments for both of the heavy defeats state he 'weakened' at the end. Nicholls said from the off that he was always a chaser in the making. Whilst at 6/4 in his first ever Chase he's not really betting material to my mind, it would be good to see how he jumps. Paul Nicholls will, I suspect, hope for him to hack up here.
Huge effort, to come from so far back was amazing. I think I read somewhere that they had to win 8 of the 12 games. Brilliant. If there is such a place as Heaven, I'm sure Seve and God will be knocking them back for a day or two.
Oh and also - couldn't agree more. My girlfriend got so pissed off with me shouting at the laptop last night. Golf is a terrible, terrible sport 99% of the time, but I love the Ryder cup. Such a great format. Gotta love the calm German head in a pressured situation. http://www.oddschecker.com/specials/awards/sports-personality-of-the-year/winner Wiggins, Murray, Farah, Ennis, Poulter, Weir... Ridiculous. Next year we should shun all sport and just show repeats of this year.
Morning, all. The first thing that strikes me re today’s racing is the thought that is old boy Nige Twiston-Davies trying to go through the card at God’s own racecourse, Newton Abbot, this afternoon?!? What do the great brains on the forum think??? I don’t think he’s a chance but I note that those bookie chappies are currently quoting odds of around 22,000/1 about him achieving quite possibly the greatest sporting achievement of our age. Not advising anything today though, regular readers. Although along with Twiston-Davies’ fait at God’s own racecourse the stamina sapping 10.25 furlong 2YO maiden (2.50), across the county line at Bath, is also of interest as a couple of eyecatching 2YO’s make their racecourse bow in this extreme test for a juvenile namely Newsreader and Sir Frank Morgan. Be interesting to see how they fare with an eye to the future. Good luck though if you do wager.
Thats a good idea, will plan on doing just that. 2012 has been just ridiculous sportswise, we're just not used to it? However, don't worry, bluddy football will always bring us back down to earth, as does cricket quite often.......... (It's all just fate, Sir Barney!).
Well that's a fait acomply then! Morning chaps, no betting for me today but inspired by last nights Ryder Cup win I have dusted down my bats and I am off to play my first round of golf in 2 years On the horsey front, may I point you at Sea of Thunder. He ran yesterday at Clonmel, carrying Davy Russell and some of my hard earned dough. Started as evens fav and won in a canter by 13 lengths - his first novice chase. He had the Albert Bartlett novices hurdle at his mercy last year and fell at the last when 6 lengths clear. He had three subsequent runs - all poor including pulling up LTO in a 3m nov hurdle (heavy going, Punchestown) I can't explain his bad runs last season but couldn't put out of my mind the Albert Bartett race, and decided that this is a horse worth persevering with. His first run over fences yesterday wasn't without drama, he nearly unshipped Davy at the fifth, and was a bit fiddly at the last. I doubt that the opposition was up to much, but even so, for me at least, it was fairly impressive from an early season novice. Good luck if you bet today - I'll be doing some tree surgery on my local course - unpaid naturally
One last thing, I promise, just to think Rory McIlroy damn near missed the start having screwed-up on time zones and whatnot. Reading this article, hope someone bought that state trooper a beer. Although I bet that's a pretty unpopular policeman with the locals out there! http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-his-own-time-zone-of-brilliance-8191607.html
Amazing stuff in the golf. Justin Rose's last 3 holes against Mickelson had to be seen to be believed. The nerv-jangling putt on 16 to halve it and stay 1 down, the monster putt on 17 to level it up and then the cool, calm play on the 18th - safe tee shot, beautiful approach to 8ft and then knocking the putt in for birdie, absolutely awesome and Mickelson had no answer. For me that was the match which sealed the American's fate - it knocked the stuffing out of them. Reebs - see yesterday's daily thread on Sea Of Thunder Off to Ladbrokes now to collect my winnings - first time in ages I've bet in a bookies, can't wait to have those crisp notes handed over to me Nowt today, don't like the look of the ground at Newton Abbot. Best of luck to those who dabble though.
Loves me some soft ground, all the form goes out the window and the mud larks romp home at big prices Not had a chance to look, will post some donkeys up in a bit. The look on Tigers face when ze German put away that winning putt will forever bring a smile to my face, only 728 days till the next Ryder cup
Agree with that Oddy, when Mickleson chipped it stone dead on 17 i just thought if only Rose holed this it would be some kick in the balls for them all and maybe a turning point, not only did he hole he went and birdied 18 for good measure, i never seen Mickleson look so deflated, if you look at it in slow motion when he goes to shake hands with Rose his facial expression is just of bewilderment, i loved that. All of them were unreal though, all battling to the end. Well done on a great victory.
Good morning gents, and what a good feeling it is today after last nights heroics in Funky Cold Medinah...!!! So many good sporting stories to come out of the days play that it would be hard to try and single any one thing. But Jim Furyk will be wondering what could have been had he holed his putt on the 16th that lipped out, for his celebrations were cut short when it did. It must have been like a dagger through the heart as he never looked like getting that putt on the last to halve the match... The yanks were just rabbits in the headlights once the momentum shifted towards the Europeans and no one player showed the momentum shift better than Justin Rose. His last 3 holes all needed putts making whilst under so much pressure that he stepped and holed to beat a very gracious Mickelson on the 18th... And what can we say about Ian Poulter. The one man i feel made this possible with his fightback on Saturday to get us to within 4 points for Sunday... The mans a legend...!!! And finally how much did it mean to Olazabal to win this years Ryder Cup. The emotions of the man was very heart felt and im sure he is being looked down on from above... Thank you Seve for the inspiration you gave our boys... Anyway ive not looked at the horses today but with whats on offer it might not be worth looking anyway...
Oops - sorry Oddy - I wasn't on here yesterday so didn't realise you had flagged him! He's on my tracker so I backed him on Saturday night but had to take SP.
morning all, I see that the BHA have published the fixture list for next year, I was wondering if anyone could update us with the headline figures from the release (are all courses accounted for - who has had a loss of fixtures etc). No bets today, this week looks dire, at least we will have the Arc on TV.... oh wait.
Newton Abbot 2.30 - Double Ross (Evs) 3.00 - Regal One (4/1) 3.30 - Moulin De La Croux (7/4) Bath 3.20 - James Pollard (14/1) NAP
Just noting that the Channon horse in the first at Bath is being upped a full four furlongs on it's handicap debut. There is nothing o suggest it should be backed except that fact and that it has attracted a little money, not enough to suggest a plot horse but enough to suggest someone thinks he will show improvement. I am not backing it but just wanted to point it out. Bath 2.20 Nine Iron 13-2
