Wouldn't pick my nose....

....Never mind pick a winner! That's how I feel the last few days anyway. Both of today's selections ran poor races, and are no good for my summer plans in America!

Galatian broke well and travelled ok for the opening 3 furlongs or so, but once he came off the bridle he found nothing and plugged on for a distant 3rd. James Millman (Galatian's jockey) wrote on Twitter afterwards that he feels there may be something amiss with the horse and they'll check it out when they get home as he had hope that it was going to be a star horse for the yard. So far it hasn't lived up to such hype but hopefully they can sort out whatever problems the horse might have and win a few races with it.

Archie Rice ran a shocker, and was probably my worst selection so far. He sat in behind the 2 leaders for the opening mile or so and was then one of the first off the bridle, before fading tamely to finish 6th of the 7 runners, many lengths behind the winner.

An update of the stats is needed, and it's not as pleasant reading as it was a few days ago!

Number of bets: 13
Winners: 2
Placed: 1
Staked: 26 points
Returned: 43.5 points
Profit/Loss: +17.5 points 

I might have some selections online for tomorrow's racing in the morning, I don't know if I'll have time between now and then to get any write up's done. In the 2000 Guineas (Newmarket 3.10), Frankel looks like he will be hard to beat. However, I feel Fury, ridden by Johnny Murtagh, could be the one to have an each way bet on at 16/1. Unbeaten in 2 starts last year as a 2 year old, I think there could be plenty of improvement to come from him tomorrow and he could be the one to give Frankel something to think about. Hopefully I'll get online before tomorrow's racing kicks off to give a proper write up.

Thursday's review and Friday's selections

I was quite disappointed with Kingswinford's run in the end. He was well backed all day, eventually going off at 3/1, so I was happy with that aspect of things as it's always nice to read the race right in a way and get a higher price than he should have been. Having travelled handily throughout the race and holding every chance entering the final furlong or so, Kingswinford found very little when pressure was applied to finish 4th. There should be a similar standard of race within his reach though in the coming months, as I feel he's fairly well handicapped at the moment.

Onto tomorrow, and again the racing isn't exactly top class stuff. The Guineas meeting at the weekend is when the top class animals begin to come out of their stables!

I've two selections for tomorrow that will hopefully give me a good run for my money.

Leicester 3.15 - Galatian - 2pts win @ 9/1
I've decided to have a bet on one of the more unexposed runners in the field in this class 4 handicap race. Galatian won his last 2 starts last season, including one over tomorrow's Course and Distance. The good to firm ground that day was similar to the conditions Galatian will encounter tomorrow, so that shouldn't be a problem for him. On his comeback run this season at the beginning of April, he ran over 5 furlongs at Windsor and missed the kick coming out of the stalls and lost all chance from then on. Hopefully he won't make such a mistake again. It's quite a dangerous race to be having a bet in, because I could make a case for quite a few of the runners. However, I've gone with Galatian, who I feel there's plenty of improvement to come from and he'll surely be a lot fitter from his run at Windsor about 3 weeks ago. Small win stakes for me in a competitive race.

Doncaster 4.10 - Archie Rice - 3pts win @ 5/1
Archie Rice looks to have a good chance of taking this long distance handicap off bottom weight tomorrow. He comes here off the back of a spin over hurdles around 2 weeks ago, where he finished a very creditable 2nd. That run will ensure that Archie Rice is fit for tomorrow's race, and his superior fitness may prove important against some of his rivals over this 1m4f trip who are having their first run in quite a while. Archie Rice won 3 races in his career, with both turf wins coming on good to firm ground, exactly like tomorrow's conditions. He's also won over this trip, and has placed over 2 miles over hurdles a few times so his stamina won't be in question. His last win on turf came over 1m2f last summer at Windsor off a mark of 72, so tomorrow's mark of 68 looks extremely attractive. Trainer Tom Keddy is in good form, with none of his last 10 runners finishing out of the first 5, including 1 winner and 6 places. Jockey Tom Eaves, who I would rate highly, has a respectable 5 wins in the last 3 weeks and hopefully he can add to that tomorrow on Archie Rice. Medium win stakes advised as I feel his mark and race fitness are both attractive when compared to some of his rivals tomorrow.

Can't win 'em all...

...That's what they say, isn't it? I had a poor day, but not every day can be a profitable one in this game.

St Moritz ran a very good race to finish 2nd. He was one of the first off the bridle but much like his previous run, he found plenty for pressure, but had no chance with the eventual winner Side Glance, who you could call the winner about half a mile from home. He'll probably go on to bigger and better things now, with possible graded races on the agenda.

The Betchworth Kid put in an "meh" kind of performance. He was the first off the bridle, as I thought he would be. However, he was always staying on well for pressure but could only manage 4th. Much like the winner of the race above, the eventual winner of this race Asker Tau could have been called the winner a long way from home as George Baker sat motionless for most of the race.

Satwa Laird was the biggest disappointment of the day for me. I had quite a hefty e/w bet on him but he never really got into contention, maybe a lack of race fitness went against him. I'll be keeping an eye on him in future races though as I feel he has a race or two in him off his current mark.

I think it's about time I did a review of my horse raceing bets thus far, and check out how I'm doing overall. In my first post, I didn't list the stakes I had on each horse but they were 2 pts win on Archers Road, and 1 pt e/w on both Trovare and Spanish Duke.

Number of bets: 10
Winners: 2
Placed: 1
Staked: 19 points
Returned: 43.5 points
Profit/Loss: 24.5 points

That means a €245 profit if you take 1pt = €10. Not bad going at all.

I've picked out one bet for tomorrow, in what is generally a poor day's racing.

Brighton 6.05 - Kingswinford - 2pts win @ 11/2
Kingswinford looks to have a very good chance of taking care of this small field handicap at Brighton tomorrow evening. It's a class 5 handicap over 6f209y, which is the best part of 7 furlongs. The trip is right up Kingswinford's street, having won twice over this distance in the past. The good to firm ground should also suit. Kingswinford has won off a mark of 79 before, and is running off an attractive 75 tomorrow, with a further 3 pounds being taken off by the jockey, Richard Evans. He has won 1 of his last 10 races, and placed on 3 of the other 9, including on Kingswinford, who made an eyecatching comeback run from a 228 day break around a month ago when he was doing his best work towards the end of the race. Kingswinford will surely strip much fitter for that run and I expect a bold bid from him tomorrow. Small win stakes advised as the current 2nd favourite Mandhooma is a danger in my opinion.

Good luck for tomorrow and thanks for reading.

I've quit...and I'm ready to continue the Winning!

I quit my job last week, and worked my last night on Sunday night last. It really was a great feeling to walk out of there for the last time, and know I'm on the final stretch until San Diego. I've been doing well lately, and I took a nice wad of cash out of the bank today to buy my first batch of dollars. Seamie's Dream and Wannabe King can be thanked for those dollars!

I've got a few horses picked out for tomorrow's racing, one really strong fancy and 2 that I feel have reasonably good chances.


Ascot 3.05 - St Moritz - 1pt win @ 8/1
His new connections have forked out 105,000 guineas for this fella, and they've been instantly rewarded with 2 wins already this season. His most recent win came over a mile, which is the same trip as tomorrow's race. The ground tomorrow is good to firm, the same as tomorrow's ground conditions. It was a listed race at Doncaster and St Moritz found plenty for pressure to win by half a length. The form of his first win of the season was franked over the weekend as King's Gambit (2nd to St Moritz in my selection's first win of the season) won a Group 3 race at Sandown. Tomorrow's opposition are probably of a higher standard, but there's still more improvement to come from my selection in my opinion and 8/1 looks too tempting not to have a bet.


Ascot 3.40 - The Betchworth Kid - 1pt win @ 6/1
The Betchworth Kid has been busy during the winter running a few times over hurdles. He was given around a month off before making a comeback at Nottingham over 1 mile 6 furlongs. He stayed on best of all that day after looking outpaced to get up on the line, beating 3 of tomorrow's opponents in the process. Tomorrow's race is a return to 2 miles, which won't inconvenience my selection in the slightest. He's won on all sorts of grounds in the past, so tomorrow's good to firm shouldn't cause any problems. He was one of the first off the bridle at Nottingham last time out so I won't be worried tomorrow if he comes off the bridle early as I'm confident he'll be staying on best of all near the finish. Again, small win stakes advised as the 6/1 looks too big to turn down.

Ascot 4.50 - Satwa Laird - 2.5pts e/w @ 16/1
I really fancy Satwa Laird's chances tomorrow in this class 4 handicap. Frankie Dettori takes the ride, who's undoubtadly one of the best around. Dettori was on board for this horse last won a race, at Chepstow last May. Conditions that day are similar to conditions tomorrow. Good to firm ground, 8 furlongs, class 4 handicap, and Satwa Laird's handicap mark has slipped back down to 83, the exact same as when it won that day in Chepstow. The low draw in stall 4 shouldn't inconvenience my selection's chances either. Ed Dunlop, the trainer of Satwa Laird, is in decent form in April, and hopefully that trend can continue tomorrow. I'm having a sizeable each way bet as when all the factors listed above are taken into account, I feel it has a fantastic chance.

Happy punting folks.

A Good Day at the Office...

...And a step closer to a great summer I go.

Stratigic Gale was friendless in the market, but travelled well throughout the race. However, when the squeeze came on before the 2nd last hurdle he found nothing and faded tamely.

Triggerman ran a cracker to finish 4th, securing the valuable place money. His jumping was a little bit sketchy throughout the race but he stayed on well and I was very happy with his run.

Dazzling Light ran a great race as well, despite being giving far much to do. He was dropped miles out the back throughout the race but he stayed on very well to claim 4th. No good for my bank balance but an encouraging run none the less.

Wannabe King turned out to be the King of the day, getting up to win by a nose. Despite my slight hesitation about backing Ted Durcan, he produced a fine ride on board Wannabe King.

Of my football accumulators, Barnsley's failure to score has let down the both teams to score one. The long shot one didn't go well, with only Notts County and Sunderland winning. Gillingham's heavy home defeat really came as a shock to be, but you can't win them all!

I'm working tonight and tomorrow night so I don't know how many selections I'll get to put up between now and Monday.

Happy punting folks.

I Had A Dream....

...And his name was Seamie's Dream. Backed at 8/1 with a hefty stake down in the 19.35 race at Clonmel on Thursday evening. Davy Russell always looked like he had plenty of horse under him as he tracked the 2 leaders, and when he asked him for effort coming to the second last hurdle he duly kicked on. However, coming to the last the race was still in the balance as Allys Bubble came back to challenge but Russell rode out the winner well and won me a nice few quid.

I decided to reinvest some of that money into last night's League of Ireland football. Longford Town were a tasty 9/5 to beat a rubbish Finn Harps team, and they duly obliged for a nice winner. I also had them in a treble with Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers. Bray won comfortably and Sligo were leading going in at half time against Bohemians but within 10 minutes of the second half starting Bohs were in front, and held out for the win. It was disappointing to say the least but at least Longford won to get my single bet up.

On to todays sport, where I've picked out 4 horses and two different football accumulators. I'm going to start advising a point based system for bets. Basically, a 1 point bet is my standard bet, and a 5 point bet is my maximum bet. A 1 point bet could be varying stakes, depending on the punter. It could be a tenner to me but a euro to the next man, or 100 hundred euro to another. It depends on what your betting bank is.


Here's my bets for today:


Sandown 2.05 - Stratigic Gale - 1 point win @ 10/1
Lightly raced sort from a top yard, who won it's final race of last season. He looks the sort to have improvement in him, and despite being off the track for quite a while, fitness should not be lacking. The ground is a slight concern for him but I feel he has the potential to take to it.


Sandown 3.10 - Triggerman - 1 point e/w @ 12/1
This lad won well at Cheltenham 9 days ago, and while his mark is due to go up 7 pounds, he gets to race today off the same mark he won at Cheltenham. Dickie Johnson gets off him to ride Balthazar King today which is a negative, but Rhys Flint is a more than capable replacement. The ground and trip won't be a problem, and with Bet 365 paying 5 places, the 12/1 looks a very nice e/w price.


Musselburgh 3.40 - Dazzling Light - 1 point win @ 12/1
Has an absense to overcome, but has run well fresh in the past, including in this race last year. Looks to have a good draw in stall 2, and seems to be fairly treated by the handicapper. Has won a class 3 handicap before, and with today being a class 4 it looks like she has it in her to win this. Only 1 pound higher than that previous win, has course and distance form, and should be around the 6/1 mark in my opinion. Looks overpriced.


Sandown 4.50 - Wannabee King - 1 point e/w @ 16/1
Definitely has enough in his locker to be taking a race of this quality. Had a good 2009 but failed to build on that in 2010. As a result, his mark has slipped down to what is an attractive mark today. Ted Durcan takes the ride, who wouldn't exactly be one of my favourite jockeys, but if the horse is in the mood today then he should be able to get a good tune out of him. Trip and ground will suit, and 16/1 looks very overpriced on it's previous form.


Football accumulator #1:
Palermo v Napoli - Both teams to score
Blackpool v Newcastle - Both teams to score
Hull v Middlesbrough - Both teams to score
Watford v Barnsley - Both teams to score
Millwall v Preston - Both teams to score


Around 13/1 or so.


Football accumulator #2:
Sunderland to beat Wigan
Aston Villa to beat Stoke
Notts County to beat Swindon
Gillingham to beat Barnet


Around 23/1 or so.


The second accumulator is a bit of a longshot and only small stakes have been played. Sunderland need a win badly and I feel today is the day they get it.


That's enough for one day! Have a good one.

"Parking the bus in front of the goal"

The above phrase was coined by the one and only Jose Mourinho while he was at the helm at Chelsea. Basically, he meant that opposition teams used to go to Stamford Bridge and park the bus in front of the goal, or have 10 men behind the ball in football terms. Co-incidentally, he decided to adopt such tactics himself tonight in the Copa Del Ray final, and in fairness to the Special One, he pulled off a masterstroke. Very rarely in the last 3 years have Barcelona been out thought from a tactical point of view, but that's the 2nd time Mourinho has done it in the last 12 months, having conquered Barcelona while managing Inter Milan last year.

With regards to my bet on Iniesta to score anytime - he only really had one surge forward in the whole game, and Iker Casillas pulled off a great save to deny him, unfortunately for myself. No great fortune was lost anyway, so I won't be losing sleep over that one!

Moving on to tomorrow, I've just had a quick skim through the race cards and the standard of racing tomorrow really is dire, so there'll be no gambling on the horses for me. I'm off now because I'm up early in the morning for work, the joys.

Talk soon.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Well that was a great start! After my first two bets failed to collect, I feared the worst. But Spanish Duke is a lovely horse in the making and won me a nice packet. Another good day at the office, and I will indeed be having a chicken dinner tonight!

I'm going to reinvest a small portion of the winnings into tonights big football match. Barcelona meet Real Madrid for the second time in four days, tonight being the final of the Copa Del Ray. I'm going to have a small bet on Andres Iniesta to score anytime in 90 minutes @ 100/30. He regularly gets himself into goalscoring positions and I've just got a sneaky feeling for him to grab a goal tonight.

My day in general was a lot more hectic than I thought it was going to be. I ended up getting an early wake up call to tell me there was work for me available if I wanted to do it, and in this day and age it'd be rude to turn down a days work. Spanish Duke certainly made the day at work a lot easier to get through!

Have a good evening.

Is There Anybody Out There?

Good evening folks, and welcome to my first blog post. I suppose I should start by telling you, the reader, a bit about myself.

I'm Ross, a 20 year old business student who likes the simple things in life. You could say I'm a stereotypical 20 year old "lad", who likes to play a game of FIFA on the XBox, likes a few (a few being the least amount consumed of course) pints with the lads, a good game of football and a winning bet or two in the local betting shop. Us students have a bad name for being lazy, useless tax dodgers, and yes, I feel I live up to that bad name pretty well.

Where does the title of the blog come from, I hear you ask. Yes you, the one person who might actually be reading this. Well, I suppose I should explain. Myself and a few mates are going to America for the summer months, and while I've paid for all my flights and visa and all that jazz, I've got next to nothing saved for spending purposes when I get there. This despite the fact I've been working since the middle of December, which should mean I've saved something. But no, being a stereotypical student and all, I always find a way to blow my money, no matter how big or small the sum of money may be. I'm about to quit work as I need to, eh, "concentrate on my exams". This will further reduce my income of course.

However, I've got a plan. I want to prove that quitters do in fact win. I'm quite a keen gambler, and like most keen gamblers, I go through hot streaks and very very cold streaks. I have around 6 weeks or so until I head off to America, and I plan to make those 6 weeks an extremely hot streak. If my plan works, and let's be honest, it probably won't, then I'll have a great time in America. If not, then I'm going to have a nice juicy loan to pay off come September. I'm willing to take that chance though.

I've had a good last 10 days or so of gambling, and today was another good one. I've picked out 3 horses for tomorrow that will hopefully add to my America fund. For anyone interested, they are:

Epsom 2.00 ARCHERS ROAD 11/2 - win bet
Epsom 2.35 TROVARE 12/1 - each way bet
Epsom 3.45 SPANISH DUKE 16/1 - each way bet

That's all for this evening, hopefully I'll be back tomorrow evening a richer man, and a step closer to a great summer in America. And also a step closer to proving that quitters can in fact win.

Good night.