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!