Can Denman do it?

A severe lack of punting at this end, bits and pieces but nothing of any consequence but I've got to back Denman today at 6-1. The weight, his age, the quality of the opposition all count against him ofcourse but the way he has won his other two Hennessys suggest to me that he will once again go out and run the rest into submission.

I've also had a bit on Madison du Berlais each way at 16-1 which seems a cracking bet for a horse that won this race two years ago so let's hope for a decent return - I certainly need it.

Life at the B&B is very quiet now so I just hope we'll have some racing to sit down in front of next week, particularly on Tuesday when a horse I have a share in is due to run at Hereford. All the forecasts would indicate it is a 33-1 shot the meeting being on but we live in hope.

Another little punt I'm having today is on Canalturn in the 1.30 at Newbury. This one is running for the first time in more than two years but Charles Egerton is a bit of a master at getting horses ready after a long lay off and I hope he works his wonders with this one.

Happy Punting!

Paddy Power picks

The punting has been lack lustre to say the least for the past couple of weeks; I've watched a fair bit of racing on ATR & RUK but been hardly betting which is a most unusual state of affairs brought about by continued frustrations each time I've dipped my toe back into the water.

It's one of those runs where nothing goes right but the spirit is slowly returning and a superb weekend ahead will fire the enthusiasm. I'm off to see my son, daughter in law and lovely grand daughter today and then tomorrow we're going to Cheltenham for the Sunday of the Paddy Power meeting. What a superb way to spend a weekend, with the big fight to look forward to tonight as well. I once interviewed Audley Harrison when I was a hack so I would love to see him put his past as a big fearful lump behind him and win the title.

Few people give him a chance and realistically he really is up against it but I wish him the best. At the very least I hope he puts up a good performance so he can at least retire with pride but he has looked a far better proposition in the last year or so so I reckon he just might do it.

If only Plymouth Argyle could show some consistency then all would indeed be rosy but they play one great game and then two abysmal games, including being beaten by Exeter on Tuesday night in the Johnson Paint Trophy quarter final. A dire state of affairs.

Anyway on with the punting and the Paddy Power Gold Cup today seems to be all over bar the shouting if Long Run runs to form. But it is on days like this that brave men need to look beyond the obvious that is staring them right in the face and I am backing The Sawyer each way at 28-1. I wouldn't be surprised to see him go off at longer odds so the best odds guarantee could come into play here and I was amazed to see that even Ladbrokes are going 5 places each way along with some of the smaller bookies so well done to them.

I'm also going to have a bit on Mad Max at 9-1 to win. He has won first time out for the last three years and Barry Geraghty says he is flying at home. Common sense would be to have at least a saver on Long Run but damn it, I say. I will not be lily livered about it!

Happy punting one and all.

My punting needs some Brechin spirit..

Back in the punting game and struggling to get a grip of things, unlike my Scottish team, Brechin City, who are flying in Div II. I've been a Brechin fan since the age of eight when as a group of lads in a small village near Plymouth we decided it was time for us to choose our Scottish teams and I settled on the mighty City.

Forty-five years later I finally got to the hallowed Glebe Park during our Scottish trip. I had just wanted to get a picture of myself at the gates but a splendid chap, Alan, who was locking up said he'd show me round and to my delight I was inside, touring the pitch and into the players' lounge where among the mementos was a Plymouth Argyle pennant from a pre-season tour a few years ago! Things got even better when I discovered that the next day City were playing Rangers in a testimonial for Charlie King so the next night I was back and saw a game for the first time ever - what a thrill!

Back to earth now, with guests at the B&B and no winners but hoping to turn the corner today with that old warhorse Mister McGoldrick in the 3.20 at Wetherby. He's won thisrace the two times he's run in it and is at his lowest rating for three years so I'm taking a chance on him at 7-1 even though he hasn't won for two years.

Happy punting!

Return to the fray

Back from a fabulous trip to Scotland which exceeded all our expectations. Stayed in a little town called Dunkeld for six nights, then three nights at the New Lanark Mill Hotel and had a great time throughout.

We drove from Cornwall to Scotland in a day on the way up but took our time on the return, having a couple of nights in Lancaster then a night in Ludlow and then Chepstow where we were entertained by our lovely 16-month-old grand daughter. Had a good day at the races at Ludlow backing a couple of winners to secure a profit and then back home on Saturday in time to see Argyle beat Huddersfield 2-1 to round off a great two weeks.

In the mood to get punting again now and kicking off at Musselburgh with 4-1 shot Graceful Descent in the two mile race at 3.50. This is a very competitive handicap but the way this horse won over 1m5f at Ayr suggests this trip will be right up his street. Also Franny Norton has ridden him twice and won on both occasions so Ladbrokes' 4-1 looks good enough for me.

Here's to a successful autumn's punting for all of us!

Next stop Scotland!

Our very busy season at the B&B is drawing to a close and we are off tomorrow to Scotland for a couple of weeks, with stop offs at Lancaster, Ludlow and Chepstow on the return leg.

Looking forward to it very much but its going to mean an enforced break from punting which is no bad thing as I can't back a winner for love nor money while staying at home. At least I had a good day at Exeter on Thursday with two decent winners to ensure a healthy profit - next racing for me is likely to be Ludlow unless by some miracle I manage to wangle a day at Kelso which is looking highly unlikely.

Been to Argyle today to see them draw 2-2 with Charlton which I suppose was a fair result and a vast improvement on the last two home games. Didn't have a proper bet today, just a small patent on Hugh Taylor's 3 losers and a losing Trixie on three Twiston-Davies horses at Bangor so looking forward to getting back into the fray in two weeks time!

Till then, happy punting!

Off to Exeter

Bright and breezy in the westcountry today and conditions are just right for a damn good day's punting at Exeter races.

My chum John the newsagent will be here soon for the 60 mile trip along the A38 to get to the races, stopping on the way to pick up another punter pal, Mitchell, who is still sitting on a massive profit having won over £18 grand recently.

No such success from myself with very limited punting going on due to being so busy at the B&B and generally out of form but in the mood for a good day out. On other racing fronts my plans for Kelso while we're in Scotland now look hopeless but I've managed to secure a trip to Ludlow on the way home with a stopover in that lovely Shropshire town.

Annoyingly a horse I have a share in may run at Worcester the before then but we'll be too far north to get there. Still, a lovely NH season ahead and hopefully plenty more opportunities to see the horse run.

I've had the chance for a quick look at the Exeter card and have backed one with Stan James at 11-1, which I think is a cracking price. It's Swiss Art in the 4.45, trained by the lovely Alison Thorpe and ridden by Ollie Dayman, the 7lb claimer who has a great record for her and I'm pleased to see he's now 9s with Stan James - obviously word has got out that westcoastpunter has put down the readies!

Another big handicap

It's big handicap time again and I've gone for two in the Cambridgeshire. Now that Nationalism has drifted slightly I think he's good value at 13-2 and at a bigger price I'm with Proponent, ridden by Ryan Moore.

This one is pretty consistent and won over 1m at this meeting last year and has also won at Newmarket over 9F. He has winning form on good to soft and from a favourable draw he looks worth an each way go at 25-1.

Nationalism is in blinding form and is being knocked because of his low draw but I hope that will not prevent a decent run. This 1m1f trip is ideal as is the ground and I can see him running really well. My only other bet today is Sahpresa in the Sun Chariot at 4-1, hoping she can win the race for the second year in succession.

I won't see either race as I'm off to watch Argyle-Hartlepool but am already in a grumpy mood as one of our guests at the B&B is a QPR fan who was raving about Jamie Mackie who we sold to QPR for the paltry sum of £500,000. He's now been picked to play for Scotland and West Ham are reported to have offered £6M for him after seeing him score eight times already this season.

How we ever let him go for that I'll never know, particularly considering the rubbish we've bought for the same amount - it's a complete shambles. Our guest, Ken, and his wife Mo are coming back next year - "the only consolation is we don't have any more decent players for QPR to pinch before then," I told him.

What a coincidence!

Having gone on yesterday about trusting in coincidence in backing last year's winner Advanced to go in again in the Totesport Challenge Cup the only coincidence was that I didn't back the winner last year and didn't back the winner this year. So it goes....

On to today and Kingsgate Native is bet of the day. The drop in class could be just what he needs and it is interesting to me that he has been kept on the go into September this year for the first time since his 2yo days when he ran at Longchamp in the Arc meeting. He finished second that day on soft ground and today is the first time since he has raced on softer than good so I hope he handles it as well as he did three years ago.

Happy punting!

Trust in coincidence

I'm putting my faith in coincidence today as I tackle the big handicap at Ascot at 3.40 and hoping that Advanced can win the race for the second year in succession.

His preparation has been the same as last year except that 12 months ago he finished 8th in the Ayr Gold Cup and this year he was 4th in the Ayr Silver Cup but the real beauty lies in the other factors: he carries exactly the same weight (9.3) off exactly the same rating (99), is the same price as last year (33-1) and most tantalising of all, he is drawn in exactly the same stall (20). Having toiled away to work out the race I threw everything else out of the window and decided to leave it to fate that he will finish in the same position (1st). The only trouble is, the once difference this year is that I have backed Advanced this year and didn't last year - damn, I hadn't thought of that before having my punt....

Elsewhere I've had a bit on Santera in the 1.45 at Market Rasen. I used to have a share in this horse until she was claimed after winning a race last year and after another couple of moves she's now with the best trainer in her career - John Flint - and I think she will go on to good things. She won for me last week at 7-1 on her first ride for Flint and his son Rhys and I think she'll go in again today, although only at 7-4.

Away from the horses Plymouth need a win at Rochdale after Tuesday night's caving in at home to Brighton which came just three days after the best game in years when we beat Wednesday 3-2.

Also I'm still working on getting to Kelso during our trip to Scotland but Plan C - suggesting I buy the missus an afternoon in the pampering salon at the hotel while I disappear - has failed after she said she just needed her nails being done which will take an hour. "You can have a coffee and read the paper while you wait for me," she said. This is proving very tricky but I've not given up hope yet...

Happy punting!

Golden Day ahead

A lovely morning here in Cornwall and just about to go and cook breakfast for our guests so took some time last night trying to work out the Ayr Gold Cup and have decided to back two, but neither is drawn high which on the evidence of the Bronze Cup looks the place to be.

However, the draw at Ayr is all over the place each year and if a low or middle drawn horse wins the Silver Cup then everyone will be raving about that being the place to be. In the end I prefer to pick my horses on merit rather than place too much emphasis on the draw in this race as it varies from year to year.

My main fancy is Hawkeythenoo who has a middle draw in 16 and always pulls out all the stops on big days like this. At 9-1 he is good value I reckon. The other is an old rogue, Kaldoun Kingdom, who I backed in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood where he ran a stinker but he won the Silver Cup last year and with a useful 5lb claimber on board I reckon he's worth another go at 40-1 from a low draw.

Still working on getting to Kelso during our trip to Scotland next month but have been foiled in Plan B. This involved playing the guilt card when my wife said she and her daughter, Antonia, were going on a shopping trip next week.

"Oh, great. What time are we setting off," I asked.

"You don't want to come shopping with us," she replied and then I hit her with the guilt tactic.

"Why not. I haven't had a day out with Antonia for years. I don't want to just stay here on my own." (I didn't add, "watching ATR and R UK...")

She then called my bluff replying, "well if you want to come you'll have to let us have as much time in the shops as we want."

This called for the big move. "Well, I tell you what. You can have a day's shopping and I'll just stay here but then we'll make up for it with me having a day at the races in Scotland."

Sadly she was two steps ahead, predictably. "I knew that was coming. You went off to Newton Abbot last week without even telling me...etc etc" and it turned into a moan so a complete backfire unfortunately.

Plan C is now being devised, which involves bribery but success is by no means guaranteed and I can see a step up in cunning is called for, particularly now that I've had to twice expose my hand and been hopelessly out manoeuvred.

Back to today and off to Plymouth Argyle this afternoon against Sheffield Wednesday. Absolutely desperate for a result before we start to sink without a trace but still confident that That Man Reid can get us winning.

Hard work all round

Grim times on the punting front and can't do a thing right, missing winners I should have backed and backing losers I should have left alone.

How I could do with a day like my pal Mitchell. He came over on Tuesday night for the quiz and as we sat in his car to set off to the pub he groped around in the dark before telling me he had something to show me. "I had a good day on Sunday," he confided. "Here's my latest William Hill statement."

With that he passed over a much handled piece of paper which indeed did come from Messrs W Hill and showed his latest bet, a 10p EW Heinz costing £11.40 and which paid just over £18,000! For the first time I was literally speechless as I gazed at the total, which came courtesy of five out of six winners including one which had drifted from 5-1 to 16-1 on the day and was a massive beneficiary of Best Odds Guaranteed. They all came within an hour or so of each other on Sunday afternoon, he said. "I couldn't believe as they went in one after the other."

He was bloody useless in the quiz but to his credit the good old boy stood me a steak and chips out of his winnings and I was chuffed for him.

For me the attention is on Ayr today where I've backed Daring Dream at 7-1 in the 5.20 and he's since drifted to 8s with Hills so I hope the SP ends up better than I've taken. I've actually just booked a few days away in Scotland in October for me and the missus and my main work now is seeing that I can sneak off to Kelso on the Saturday. Unfortunately she's on the alert and as soon as I suggested she had one of the afternoons up there on a shopping trip she replied "I suppose that means there's racing on. Well, I'm going shopping next week so won't need to and we can spend the time together."

Why is it that women always want to spend time together when a chap is very happy to go off on his own, whether it's to the races or the football or just to the pub? Mind you, having said that a bloke I know in our local town whose wife has a horse moans about the amount of time she spends at the stables - what a wuss! A perfect chance to get the feet up, put on ATR and enjoy the peace and quiet I'd have thought.

Still a few weeks to work on my wife about the Kelso excursion but I can see I'll have to think up some other tactics now that Plan A has been blown out of the water so quickly.

Away from the racing the biggest thrill of the week was seeing my little grand-daughter Florence running around the sitting room at my son's house 250 miles away by the wonders of the interweb and Skype. She started walking a week or so ago and they can't keep her still now - what a star!

Casting about

Desperate times up at Donny on the punting front and very busy at the B&B so not much time for studying; just enough in fact to come up with Electric Waves as the bet of the day at 8-1. The price seems very generous to me as he's won his last three races with great authority and is clearly an improving two-year-old.

But then again, the form I'm in at the moment everything is far from certain!

Donny day two

Not much to write home about on the punting front yesterday but victory in the pub quiz for our team on the tie breaker after a hard fought draw in the main quiz. The tie-breaker was "How heavy was the biggest shark ever caught?" and there were varying suggestions until one of our number threw in that great white sharks can grow to over 2 tons!

Led by him we put down 3,000lb as the answer, to which there were titters around the pub and plenty of comments like "give over" and "you've got to be kidding." The other side guessed 160lb which again met with "that's more like it" and such like. Well, he who laughs last laughs longest and when the answer came out at 2,300lb we were able to bask is smugness! I would never have believed it I must admit but Big Paul was convinced and that was good enough for us!

Back to the punting however and things are not going well but I am brimming with confidence today over Meeznah in the Park Hill Stakes. She was runner-up in the Oaks, will almost certainly stay this distance and her trainer David Lanigan, in only his third year, is in superb form. She's not raced on ground like this so that's obviously a concern but she is my bet of the week, for what it's worth!

Happy punting!

Donny good show

Bit of a sickener yesterday to see Handsome Jack go clear of the field apart from the damn Indigo Bay who kept on to win by a neck. He was backed into 7-2 favourite, probably because he was later a Hugh Taylor pick, and I really thought we had a winner but so it goes.

In fact I had a poor afternoon's punting apart from an even money favourite and I then lost those winnings on a 6-4 shot in a nursery ridden by Richard Hills which should and could have won but was given an extremely tender ride. Obviously these young horses don't want to be given too hard a race but it is galling when you back one and it is treated more as a training exercise than an attempt to win a race.

Onwards and upwards today with the start of the St Leger meeting and I am looking forward to the race with all the ex jockeys. I think I'll probably back Pat Eddery's mount, Master of Dance, but only to have an interest in what should be a fun contest with the likes of Francome and Smith-Eccles getting the silks on.

My main bet of the day will be Captain Dunne in the Scarborough Stakes at 3.10. This race is often won by a horse ridden prominently and this one will not mind the ground so he looks worth a try at 8-1.

Getting wet

Had a good day at Newton Abbot yesterday; if anyone was watching ATR they will have seen how wet it was but that didn't dampen spirits and there was a big crowd for the last meeting of the year (most people taking advantage of NA's two-for-one ticket offer on a Monday...)

One person who wasn't happy was Tony McCoy. He got off In The Zone, trained by Jonjo and owned by JP McManus, to ride the favourite, January, in the penultimate race with Jonjo's decent apprentice Richie McLernon taking over in the green and gold. AP was at the front at the last but the young lad swept past on the run-in to win by just over a length.

I'd backed In the Zone at 4-1 and then again on the Tote, returning at 7.3, so was chuffed to bits but AP's face as he stalked past McLernon and Jonjo celebrating in the winner's enclosure showed what he thought of things. His hatred of losing is what makes him so brilliant and this really was a choker for him - if there's any justice he will win BBC Sports Personality of the Year at last this year but the British public being what it is, there is no guarantee of that.

My pal John the newsagent had backed January and it was not a good day for him - he picked out Chestnut Ben in the paddock but wouldn't back him at 50-1 because he was two stone out of the handicap. The horse was then backed into 20s and romped home in the second race.

We then met up with a lad called Tim who I had met at Ffos Las last year and who has turned his back on gainful employment to become a professional punter and he said he'd backed Chestnut Ben at 33s having seen him steadily get fitter through the year. He then tipped us Cashel Blue EW in the next, which John had again picked out in the paddock but by then we were both very keen on the favourite, Caheerloch, and stuck with him. Needless to say in which order they finished first and second.

Thankfully I came away even thanks to In The Zone and despite getting soaked it was a good day and even John the newsagent enjoyed it despite only getting back a bit of his losses on the odds-on winner of the last.

Today I have a strong fancy for Handsome Jack in the 3.10 at Goodwood. This is a very open looking nursery but he looks a real improver from his two runs on the all weather and at around 5-1 he'll do for me. Off to cook breakfast for our guests now and hopefully the wife will be out this afternoon so I can have a couple of hours in front of ATR and Racing UK!

Not a proper Saturday

Excellent to see England back in form last night but we all know it is likely to be another successful qualifying campaign followed by a dire Euro championship. Let's hope something is different in 2012 and that by then we have a team with more guts and determination than we saw in South Africa.

The problem ofcourse with these international matches is that Saturday loses its lustre and even Argyle are not playing due to some international call ups. Just as well mind, the way we've been playing, but it still leaves a massive hole. We however have a lunch invitation which normally I would be using every excuse in the book to get out of but am not having to bother, even though I've already been accused once of "just because you don't want to go" when quite properly suggesting I might need to stay behind for new guests who could arrive early...

So it looks like that is how Saturday is shaping up and once again little time for form study so keeping to just one bet today, Braveheart Move in the Old Borough Cup at Haydock. This one will love the ground and having been given a couple of runs over hurdles, Jonjo O'Neill is persisting with an autumn flat campaign and he looks set for a good run at 16-1.

Happy punting!

Transfer breadline

I suppose the way Plymouth Argyle are playing at the moment, it was too much to expect any excitement on transfer deadline day and indeed the only activity was full back Chris Barker going to Southend. So we now wait for the loan window to re-open but at least there's no game for us this Saturday after last week's lamentable 3-0 defeat home to Peterborough, who I can see winning League One.

The horses did little better for me on Saturday but yesterday I was at Newton Abbot and backed a couple of winners, at 7-2 and 8-1 so came home well in profit.

Today there is a horse at Lingfield that interests me at 9-2, Bombadero in the 2.50 maiden race. This one has had seven runs with a couple of seconds and has been a disappointing favourite more than once but John Dunlop may have found the race to get his head in front, dropping him to 11 furlongs. He has twice been ahead entering the last furlong over 12F only to be overhauled on the run to the line so this unusual distance of 1m 3f might do the trick and he is at a decent price.

Happy punting one and all!

Postscript: This damn horse should have run away with this race but having got blocked on the rail he then proceeded to throw his head about once in the clear. He then decided to run on before again messing about before finally getting going again and losing by half a length. Some horses just don't want to win and this is clearly one of them!

Sunny Saturday

It's going to be a nice Bank Holiday weekend here in Cornwall. The sun is shining and no proper rain expected so all we need now is a winner and for Plymouth Argyle to beat Peterborough at Home Park this afternoon.

Peterborough were the last match of the season last year and by then both teams were relegated. Argyle put in a pitiful display to lose 1-0 and today isn't going to be easy with the Posh one of the top scorers in Div 1 at this early stage. Hopefully That Man Reid will have instilled a bit of backbone since last week's pathetic second half display at Walsall so once again we go with hope in our hearts.

The punting on the horses is a disaster at the moment and I've virtually shut up shop till things turn round. In fact the only bet I've had since Wednesday was Rapid Vienna to beat Villa at 13-2, which I thought was a terrific price given the way Villa are so unpredictable and that the tie was at 1-1 from the game in Austria. I just wish I'd backed them again when Villa went one up but at that point it didn't look like they could get their act together so in the end I was pleased to back a winner, with apologies to any Villa fans for taking pleasure at their European demise.

I'm off to have my first proper go at fly fishing tomorrow at a reservoir near Camelford and going with a chum of mine, Fatty Gyles, whose father was a keen fly fisherman and he's bringing some of his old kit. This fish kettle is ready for poaching a couple of trout so just like at Argyle we are filled with hope but prepared for disappointment...

I am having just one punt today, on Dafeef in the 3.20 at Newmarket. Bated Breath is widely expected to turn the tables with a 3lb pull after being "unlucky" when they met at Newmarket last time. Roger Charlton has warned that B.B. may not run if Richard Hughes isn't happy with him at the start and as soft ground will again be the conditions I much prefer Bafeef at 7-2, twice the odds of Bated Breath. I will also have a little bit each way on Caledonia Princess at 50-1.

Back to the drawing board

Very little in the way of punting these last few days, just dribs and drabs but been too busy at the B&B to give it serious thought and haven't had a day in front of ATR/RUK since Saturday's disastrous afternoon both on the racing and football fronts.

But today I've been able to have a bit of a study and have picked out Extreme Conviction to win the 6.50 at Ffos Las and get up his hat trick of wins. Both wins were with great ease and I can see him going in again at 7-2 with Blue Square. I don't bet a lot with them as they don't do best odds but they are half a point better than anyone else so now I just hope the beast doesn't drift.

The punt has already paid off in a way - there's a horse I was tipped a few days ago and I thought I'd not got round to backing him when I checked later as he didn't show up in any of my usual accounts. What a surprise then when I saw I'd done him with Blue Square and won £50 - a real bonus!

Sadly can't see any racing today as have to go to Truro but will hopefully be back to see Extreme Conviction go in!

All change....

A change to the miserable weather for Cornwall this week is finally due tomorrow and with it I hope a change in punting fortunes. I am stuck in a rut at the moment but determined to dig myself out of it and Richard Johnson will hopefully give me a helping hand in the big handicap at Newton Abbot this afternoon at 3.15.

His Dead Or Alive will not find any softness in the ground and the distance is ideal; he seems to get beaten when stepping up to three miles and this should be spot on in what is an extremely competitive race. Stan James at going 22-1 and that seems like a cracking each way price.

A peaceful day at the B&B with no guests in tonight for the first time in ages but full up again from tomorrow; as a bonus my wife has gone shopping so it's on with the football on Sky in a minute and then a mix of racing and radio commentary from Walsall as Plymouth look to remain unbeaten. What a rotten way to spend a Saturday!!!!

In the doldrums

The punting is not going well it must be said. Not at critical point yet, the dreaded Virus is not to blame at the moment, when every effort at finding a winner is thwarted, but things are just not going right.

I know the problem, too damn busy at the B&B to do some proper studying, but things have calmed down today and I've had a good look at the Strensall Stakes at York, 2.45, and believe Confront has a good each way chance at 12-1. This one ran very well in a pacemaking role for Harbinger last time out till the last furlong and while his form this year is not strong, he generally comes good in the late summer/autumn and he is a rarity in that he has won and been second at the rare distance of 9F.

All the experts agree that Michael Jarvis's Rainbow Peak is a potential group winner and he will be hard to beat but at 6-4 that one I'd rather have 12-1 EW about Confront.

I'm holding up the white flag on the other races and have just rowed in with Hugh Taylor, doing an EW patent on his three at York to return a four-figure sum should he have an earth shattering end to the York meeting.

Need a winner...

A desperate day again here in Cornwall, cloud mist and rain in turns. Thankfully it was better last night when I was one of the judges for the Fowey Carnival procession which was a bit of fun.

No time for a proper update just suffice to record that the bet of the day is Eleanor Duse in the Yorkshire Oaks which is off in a minute. Backed at 25-1 EW and going for a massive payout with a reverse forecast with Meeznah to upset the hotpots in the race.

Yorkie Bar is open

It's the first day of York and we've already had two races before I even get a chance to take a look at the card for the day. Very busy here at the B&B and far from going as planned today our Ab Fab guest and her husband want to stay a fourth night and have now had a blazing row so he is outside in the summer house and she has shut herself away in the bedroom saying she's too tired to go anywhere, let alone home.

Still, things seem to be calming down so I've had a look at the racecard and am having a go on Monterosso in the Great Voltiger at 2.50 at 8-1. A winner is urgently needed and I hope this is the one to get York off to a flyer for me.

New week new hope

Not an auspicious end to the week on the sporting front with two dismal betting failures on Saturday and Plym0uth Argyle just scraping a point at home to Carlisle with a goal in the dying seconds of injury time but hopes are high for a better week.

At least I didn't join a couple of chums of mine down here in Cornwall who went to Southampton on Saturday to watch the T20 finals at the Rose Bowl and cheer on our west country side, Somerset. They had to set off at 6am and after hours of cricket and occasional rain the clock reached 10.30pm it looked certain that Hampshire would ease to victory in the final so they decided to call it a day and got on the bus back to the park and ride. During the journey they heard on the radio the most thrilling conclusion to a T20 final ever as the game ended in a tie, with Hampshire winning the title purely by losing one less wicket. It was still nearly 3am by the time they got home, having missed one of the best 30 minutes of cricket seen for many a year!

So in the end I was better off going to Home Park and then watching the cricket on Sky before seeing some of the shooting stars while trying to get the damn cat back in at 11.30pm.

Very busy again at the B&B, including a guest who is the biggest pain we've had in our seven years doing the business. Imagine the Jennifer Saunders character from Absolutely Fabulous then make her even more scatty and stroppy and you've got our guest. Her husband is left over from the hippy period and spends his time writing poems about being a blade of grass which is cut down in its prime ( I can imagine how he feels with her as his wife) but at least he's learnt to just keep quiet when she's around. On the way down to Cornwall they stayed in Glastonbury for a couple of days (what a surprise...) but thankfully they go home tomorrow so we won't have to tell her once more that no, we don't have any vegetarian sausages.

Anyway, enough moaning from me and just time to say that the bet of the day is Jemima Nicholas in the 7.30 at Yarmouth at 6-1. William Haggas' horses are about to hit real form and this one will find conditions ideal so let's hope for the best!

Big home game

First home league game of the season for Plymouth this afternoon so that is where I shall be, hoping we can build on last week's superb 1-0 win at Southampton. That means no off the cuff punting for me but I have had my two bets of the day, one being touted everywhere as a good thing and the other a long price in the Great St Wilfred up at Ripon,

The hopefully good thing is Kite Wood which I've backed at 3-1 but I see there is now a non-runner who was around 5-1 so I suppose there will be a R4. A bigger return will come if Knot In Wood can win Ripon's big sprint of the year. This one was a touch disappointing in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood but he is on a very winnable mark and will like the softened ground so I'm hopeful of a big each way run at 22-1, although the favourite looks to have a real chance.

My Championship bet on Bristol City seems to be doomed already after they lost last week and now Steve Coppell has walked out on them, which was the main reason for backing them. Just hope for better from Liverpool in the premier league.

Fishing for success

Had a superb evening's fly fishing at Sibleyback Lake on Bodmin Moor last night; no fish were landed, needless to say, but a lovely evening of sunshine in the peace and quiet and it is definitely something I'll be doing again. The evening ended with six of us in a pal's camper van having a bit of tuck and all in all a great success.

Just a quick note now with my bet of the day which is Goldtrek in the 3.40 at Salisbury. This is another rapidly improving filly and great value at 8-1.

Brighter day

It's a much brighter day here in Cornwall; butterflies are flitting around the laburnum tree, birds are crowding around the bird table and there's even enough sun to power the solar pump in the fish pond.

All seems well with the world but the dark shadow is the difficulty in finding a winner after yesterday's abysmal performance by Alison Thorpe's runner at Newton Abbot, which weakened tamely out of affairs a long way out, and also the pathetic performance of Plymouth Argyle in getting knocked out of the League Cup in the first round for the 10th year in a row.

That Man Reid will hopefully put things right in time for Saturday's visit of Carlisle United, who still owe us a favour after we let their goalkeeper Jimmy Glass score with a header in the dying seconds of the last game of the season a few years ago to keep them in the Football League.

On the horses front it is down to me to get things in order and I am looking to Red Yarn in the 3.35 at Salisbury to do the business at 9-1 in an open looking handicap. This one has already drifted to 12s since I backed him this morning but as long as the SP stays out there I'll be all right under Best Odds. Just don't want the thing to be backed again at the last minute....

No time to go in to why I'm on him as my wife has just driven back in and most of the jobs I was left to do when she went off at 9.30 this morning are still not done so cheerio for now.

Back on track

(Warning: Smug git alert as he's backed a winner....)

A nice winner at Windsor last night, returning a terrific 13-2 under the superb Best Odds guarantee. It never ceases to amaze me that when a horse, particularly a filly, starts to run up a sequence that there is not more support in the market. It's as if the idea "he/she can't win again, surely" takes over rather than "he/she keeps winning, I'm going to stick with it." Yes ofcourse the handicap rating goes up but an improver can often overcome that when in great form and Caledonia Princess last night was a case in point.

Newton Abbot is on today but I can't get there unfortunately but as compensation hope to back a 12-1 winner in Dishdasha in the 3.45. Alison Thorpe does really well at Newton and this is her only runner today, with apprentice Olly Dayman on board who has a high strike rate for the trainer. Dishdasha won't mind the rain that's falling in the wesctountry today and the distance is spot on so I'm having relying on the charming Mrs Thorpe to see me alright.

Busy morning at the B&B and now off to North Devon to see my mother so no chance for further study and with no access to ATR or Racing UK I won't be having any more wagers so It's all down to Dishdasha!

Win sir?

Monday nights at Windsor used to be a favourite of mine when I lived near Newbury but now down in Cornwall watching it on ATR is the closest I get but that has its compensations, particularly when the lovely Alex Quinn is reporting from the track as she often is.

Unfortunately we have Robert Cooper tonight but he's not such a bad old boy so I'm sure it will be an enjoyable evening and it will be all the better if Caledonia Princess wins the 6F handicap at 6.40. This one is on a hat trick on wins at the track and the way she won the previous two is good enough evidence for me that she can go in again and I can't believe she's now 11-2 due to a sustained punt on Ralph Beckett's Olynard, who won this race a year ago.

My other fancy of the day is Wulfrida in the 4.00 at Southwell. This one is shorter than I usually back at but to me is head and shoulders above the rest, including Cecil's Dolphina, so I've had a bit on at 15-8.

It's another grey and drizzly day here in Cornwall but it's due to brighten up by midweek, just in time for my two hour Fly fishing lesson booked in at the local reservoir. I just hope that is more successful than the punting has been on late!

What a win!

Can't back a winner on the horses for love nor money but what a victory for Plymouth Argyle yesterday over League One favourites Southampton. For the first time in years the team showed real guts and determination and even some flashes of skill. Let's hope it continues!

Far better than my miserable Championship bet of Bristol City, inspired by the Racing Post's preview and the succession of tipsters going for them. They were hammered 3-0 at home by Millwall so a less than auspicious start - if I hadn't backed them I'd be delighted at the result.

No racing for me today as was too busy at the B&B to get anything sorted and then been out this afternoon but hopefully back onto it tomorrow!

Kick off time

The world's eyes will be on St Mary's stadium as Plymouth Argyle open their League One season with a trip to league favourites Southampton and that undoubtedly is the sporting highlight of the weekend.

Last season was miserable for Plymouth and I can't think of a year when there was so much poor football played at Home Park. But there's a new manager in That Man Reid, a newly laid pitch to replace last season's bog and an air of optimism about the place (as there is every year before the season actually starts....) That Man has stated that nothing less than promotion will do and in these halcyon final hours of pre-season we can all concur and look forward to unremitting success.

The big match will be long over by the time my two horses run today, the first of them in the 17 runner heritage handicap at Haydock at 3.25. Tony Martin has stuck one in here which will either be punted off the boards and win or be ignored and lose but even with his menacing presence lurking in the background I am going for Sirvino at 9-1. He was a massive improver last season, shooting up the handicap with five wins before finishing well back in the Cambridgeshire. His comeback run in a listed race should have put him right to get back into winning ways today over his ideal distance.

At Ascot I am going for Strategic Mount in the 4.30 Shergar Cup Challenge at 7-1. He won this race in 07 and 08 but didn't run in it last year and goes into today's race in good form. Those two wins were his only victories in the past three years so I'm banking on him getting the hat-trick. Yesterday's betting was abysmal and we need a winner to get back on track so there us a lot riding on these two!

Happy Punting one and all!

Way up north

It's a miserable day here in Cornwall, thick cloud and constant drizzle and it seems that for the third summer in a row July and August have been great let downs. We can only hope for an improvement during the second two-thirds of the month.

In an attempt to cheer things up I've headed way up north in search of a winner, looking to the opener at Musselburgh where I hope Stonehaugh can beat the short priced favourite, Beckermet. I reckon it's between these two and a lot will depend on whether Tom Eaves can get Stonehaugh to the front as he needs to go from there to win and it is Beckermet who could challenge for the lead.

But although that one is the quality horse in the field he is very much out of form and the fact that he is dropped to a seller in an attempt to get a win shows how disappointing he has become. You are banking on him showing a willingness to win which has been lacking since moving to his present trainer and I think he represents very poor value at around 6-4 compared to 6-1 Stonehaugh.

I am also having a highly speculative punt on Team Allstar in the 4.50 at Worcester at 25-1. This is J P McManus's second string and hasn't run for nearly two years but he has twice won after lay offs - admittedly nothing like this - when trained in Ireland and I just wonder why JP has kept him in training unless he still has a shout at winning something like this. I've taken an early price and there's been no movement since then but perhaps the money will come for him in the last five minutes!

Up at Haydock

A nice 4-1 winner for me yesterday and I stay in that sort of price range for my bet of the day today, backing King Zeal at 9-2 in the last at Haydock. I have had a good look at this race and I'm hoping that the good to soft ground, with even some heavy patches reported in the longer races, will find out most of these.

King Zeal won't be troubled by it and is in a rich vein of form since pairing up with the 7lb claimer who is on board again today. His trainer is also in good form on the flat and over the jumps and I think the way King Zeal made all at Nottingham to win by a comfortable 5L in good to soft ground in June gives him a great chance today.

It's also football betting time. I've already had a speculative tenner at 18-1 on Liverpool to win the Premier League and after reading the Racing Post guide to the new season in yesterday's paper I am forcing myself to back Bristol City for the Championship at 20-1. Being a Plymouth fan I hate the idea of backing City but a bet's a bet and I'd hate it more to see them win the division without following the several tips in the RP to back them under Steve Coppell and with David James now in goal.

And on the subject of football, Plymouth are on the telly on Saturday for the opening match of the season at Southampton. Can't wait - Peter Reid is now manager and this will be one hell of a first test for the man known by me and my son simply as "That Man Reid" as that is how commentators kept referring to him in his playing days as he kept getting involved in the play. Come on That Man!

Back in business

Sorry to anyone who has taken the trouble to read the blog about nothing appearing yesterday; events overtook me and made it impossible to give even a quick update on the big Newton Abbot bet.

That one, Mark Aurele, unfortunately went down the pan but I had a reasonable day at Newton nonetheless, finishing slightly up thanks to Rock Me at 4-1. I should have had an excellent day but talked myself out of two winners, Indiana Gold at 5-1 and Nothing is Forever at 4s. I was determined to back both but then decided to delve just a bit deeper and changed my mind twice; what a damn idiot.

Still, a small profit on the day so just a bout satisfied. One thing I'm not satisfied about at Newton Abbot is the each way terms offered by some of the bookies. Since the rules changed to allow on course bookies to put up whatever place terms they choose some have set out to rip off unwary punters.

You see this particularly at courses like Newton, which is close to Torbay and attracts a lot of holidaymaker once-a-year racegoers. A lot of these don't have a clue about place terms so were quite happily backing with bookies who were going one sixth the odds in a handicap. What takes the biscuit though is the bookie at a recent Newton Abbot meeting who went ONE TWELFTH the odds! I told him I thought he was an absolute disgrace and he hit back at me saying "you obviously don't know anything about margins and how difficult it is to make an each way book." To that I replied that he should in that case go win only rather than ripping off punters who don't have the sense or the knowledge to check his terms.

Back to today's racing now and after having no bets yesterday I'm finding it hard to get enthused today. I am though having a bit on Midwestern in the 3.10 at Pontefract. He ran a decent race over 7F last time, staying on to finish 5th of 13 at Carlisle, and this extra furlong will do him the world of good. Also Richard Mullen has a decent strike rate for Brian Smart though he will do for me today at 4-1.

Happy punting!

Off to the races

A losing day for me yesterday with just one bet, on Becqu Adoree at 11-1. She had every chance despite taking a slight knock but didn't maintain her run and weakened in the final furlong. This is the fourth chance she's had since arriving from France and I reckon she's just like the stroppy French wife of a former colleague of mine who spent all her time berating everything about England and longing to return to Paris. She never settled into life here and perhaps this filly is also making a protest every time she runs.

I'm off to the races today at Newton Abbot, the closest track to us down here in Cornwall, and will hopefully have a successful day. The first job is to flog a spare ticket which was bought under Newton's 2-for-1 Mondays deal and as there are three of us we have one left over which we can let go at half price.

Half the blokes in my local town seem to be going to Newton today but they've all got their tickets already so will have to stand outside until it goes as the Cheltenham touts will not be about to buy it!

The proceeds can then go on my fancy in the 3.30, Marc Aurele, which I've already backed at 11-2 with best odds guaranteed. This is a tough race with half a dozen genuine contenders but I've got it down to M A and Rio Gael, trained by Peter Bowen. I just hope I've picked the right one.

Marc Aurele, trained by Paul Nicholls, is a front runner and Newton really suits those types and the very decent amateur R Mahon is on board so I think at the price he is good value.

Thankfully it is a quiet morning at the B&B so no pressure from Mrs Westcoast at the moment to get away from my studies but I'm sure that will come before long so I'd better get back to that before my time runs out.

Happy Punting!

Ending on a low note

After a good few days at Goodwood it was back to earth with a bump today when I got the Stewards' Cup completely wrong and paid the price for going against the received wisdom of backing middle to high numbers.

Having said that, even if I had concentrated on those runners I would not have backed the winner, particularly after David Nicholls did not even put him up as the best of his three runners. At least my choice, Kaldoum Kingdom, had the first and second favourites among the half dozen who finished behind him!

Goodwood has always had a special meaning for me and when I was just turned 17 I hitch-hiked from my home in Plymouth to the meeting with weeks of savings from my meagre wages, convinced I was going to return home triumphant.

The truth was somewhat different and I had not realised that there would nowhere to stay in or around Chichester and neighbouring villages and the Monday night before the meeting opened was spent on a park bench until a member of the local constabulary took pity and stuck me in a cell for the night for somewhere to sleep! I then found somewhere to stay on Selsey Bill for the rest of the week but by the end of Glorious Goodwood 1974 I was totally skint and hitch-hiked back home with literally just one penny left in my pocket. Still it didn't put me off although thankfully I don't have to hitch-hike everywhere nowadays.

With this year's meeting now behind us I have been looking at the 4.30 at Newbury tomorrow which is a very tricky Listed fillies race and I am going to take a chance on Luca Cumani's Becqu Adoree at around 10-1.

This one turned up at Cumani's yard this year and was made favourite for her opening listed race but finished tailed off and then was second favourite when running only a little better at Warwick in June. She then went to Newmarket and finished behind two of Sunday's rivals in another listed contest but was impeded when starting to make a run and was then blocked again when keeping on.

She won twice as a two-year-old and showed progressive form last year and the fact that the Cumani team was obviously very keen on her suggests she is a decent sort who could finally be settling into life in England and about to show her true form. She is sure to get this 12 furlong trip so I am willing to give her a go, having not backed her in any of her previous three runs so have not had my fingers burnt. We shall see!

Stewards' Cup punt

Goodwood continues to go well for me with my main bet of the day, Webbow, finishing a highly creditable third in the big handicap to give a nice each way return. I also backed Wildcat Wizard each way at 25-1 and he was third in the 27 runner "consolation" stewards' cup race, coming with a late run from a seemingly impossible position.

A nice quiet afternoon on the home front meant a good stint in front of the telly and I finished Friday's Goodwood session with a 15-2 winner in Perfect Blossom. Three losers filled the rest of the meeting but a good profit on the day, including Redunderthebed at 8-1 up at Bangor.

The most frustrating result of the day by far was Tabaret in the 4.45 at Thirsk, who was the winner everywhere apart from right on the line. A classic choker.

Looking to tomorrow and it is the big one we are after, the Stewards' Cup with its 28 runners and everyone expecting a middle to high number draw being essential. I am going against the crowd on that score and my each way punt of the day is Kaldoun Kingdom at 20-1, who is in stall 4.

The key to his chances lies with Parisian Pyramid in stall 1 who is an out and out front runner and will ensure plenty of pace among the low numbers. He towed Kaldoun Kingdom along at York last week and K K took over inside the last and was headed almost on the line by Hawkeyethenoo, giving that one 5lb. Hawkeye has not got into the Stewards' Cup but if he was he would be very close to being favourite and in his absence K K is a cracking each way bet. He is trained by Richard Fahey who is in brilliant form and has top apprentice Lee Topliss on board claiming 5lb to further boost his chance. I am very keen on his prospects.

This is a race which has been good to me in the past, particularly when Soba won in 1982 with David Nicholls on board. It is hard to believe he was ever light enough to be a jockey but he became a hero to me on that day. I just hope he doesn't have the winner tomorrow!

Happy punting one and all!

A nice winner

Goodwood is not normally one of my better meetings but it is going well this year, particularly today when Beachfire won the opener after I backed it last night at 10-1. The race hardly went to plan with the horse missing the break and losing the advantage of his high draw and he was being pushed along before a furlong had been raced.

But he got the hang of things as they turned in towards home and flew down the outside to win on the line. A great result!

I followed that up with a nice win on Kalahag in the 4.35 at 11-2 but had three losers on the day. All in all though a very satisfactory day.

For tomorrow I have had another go at one of Goodwood's big handicaps, the Totesport Mile at 3.25, and I hope I have found a cracker at 12-1. The horse is Webbow, the bottom weight and ideally drawn in stall 21. He was fourth last year after being impeded and then running on strongly once in the clear and he is now 3lb lower in the handicap. The fact that he has not won for two years will put many off but his last two runs have been very encouraging, particularly when 5th of 26 in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and second of those racing on the near side.

A very useful apprentice takes off a further 3lb tomorrow and he is my bet of the day for day four of Glorious Goodwood.

It is a busy time at the B&B with a full house of guests tonight so no time for further study tomorrow morning but the good news is that the wife has a hair appointment tomorrow afternoon so no interruptions!

Today's news

Day two of Glorious Goodwood and the first tip for this blog unfortunately was a total blow out, Sea of Heartbreak finishing plumb last after an abysmal run in which she was never travelling well and finished tailed off.

She had been pretty well backed into 13-2 but appeared completely unsuited by Goodwood's undulations and from an early stage that dreaded phrase "...and Sea of Heartbreak is having to be ridden along" rang out and we knew our fate. But we punters are a stoical lot and you don't back horses for the best part of 40 years without taking defeat on the chin and rising to the next challenge.

As it happens it was a busy afternoon here at the B&B which meant a couple of hours slouched in front of the TV was not an option with the Punter's wife threatening all out war at any moment unless he went and made some beds. Therefore the punting opportunities were somewhat curtailed, which is probably no bad thing.

There was still time to lose money on a rare Richard Hannon unplaced 2 year-old but the fightback got into full swing with the other two bets of the day, the first one coming in the 5.10 when Seradim was backed each way at 8-1 and was beaten a short head by the 7-4 favourite Dance East to give a small profit. Seradim was trained by Paul Cole, who is in brilliant form, and ridden by Tom Quealley who has an excellent Goodwood win ratio and was three lengths clear of the third after a protracted battle in the final furlong with the eventual winner.

The final bet of the day was another jockey inspired punt on Black N Brew in the opener at Sandown, which was ridden by Kieren Fox in an apprentice race. He is a cracking young jockey and with the horse having finished a close up second on his only other visit to Sandown it was a very appealing combination and he looked all over the winner from two out when beginning a relentless forward advance which swept him to victory. I backed him at 9-1 each way and as a bonus he eased to 10-1 and the superb Best Odds guarantee came into play to give a very nice return courtesy of Stan James.

Tomorrow's blog selection goes in the open looking 2.10 Turf TV Summer Vase Handicap where 17 runners go to post. Mark Johnston and John Gosden both have good records in this race and I have narrowed it down to two of their runners, Solicitor and Beachfire with preference for the latter.

Gosden's Beachfire has winning experience over this specialist distance of 1m2f and is well drawn in stall 13. The same could be said for Solicitor but he has disappointed too often whereas Beachfire is on a definite upward curve and hopefully can defy a 6lb hike in the weights. He is also ridden by one of my favourite jockeys, William Buick, and at 10-1 with VC Bet is my punt of the day, with a saver on Solicitor at 6-1.

Happy punting!

First day

Welcome to a new blog, setting out my life of punting and other things down in Cornwall, in the far south west of England. I run a small B&B which means that afternoons can often be spent following the racing on Racing UK or Attheraces. While no means a big player in financial terms I am a regular punter and currently am up in my accounts with VCBet, Paddy Power, Stan James, Betdaq, Blue Square and Coral but am showing a loss with Totesport and Bet365.

Today was the first day of Glorious Goodwood and I had just two bets at the meeting, the first was a small each way on Cat Junior at 33-1 in the Betfair Cup and the other was a win on Lord of the Stars at 9-1 in the Molecomb, with a straight forecast on Zebedee to beat that one.

Cat Junior ran a superb race, beaten only by the heavily backed Lord Shanakill to give a profit of 7.25pts. Lord of the Stars was one paced and finished well down the field behind the impressive Zebedee. If I liked to back favourites I would have gone in big on that one but I usually shy away from market leaders so missed out.

It was a superb day away from the punting, having spent the day with my son, daughter-in-law and grandaughter, who will be one on Friday. She is absolutely adorable and spent the day smiling and chuckling and has the most lovely nature and it was a real pleasure for my wife and I to spend time with her.

Back home in Cornwall now and have just tried to work out the very competitive Racing UK Handicap at Goodwood tomorrow (Wed). This is my kind of race and I fancy the very progressive Sea of Hearbreak at 9-1 generally.

This horse has defied the handicapper to win four on the trot and has been put up another 7lb for his last victory at Newbury. That was over 10F and I believe the extra two furlongs of tomorrow's race will bring about further improvement and she can defy the rise in weight; Timeform believe the opposite and feel that the 7lb rise will prove very tough to overcome but for me a very progressive three year old is always worth following and she won so easily at Newbury despite problems in running that I don't think the weight will stop her.

All the best to all punters having a go tomorrow and watch out for the next instalment from here in Cornwall!