Forget the wheelbarrow, anyone got an 8 ton skip?

Unmitigated disaster for me today.



Well done to all those who did rather better than I did.

Awful day might give up.

Go on Forlan

80/1 ticket I have on him to be top scorer

66s for me

Where you get yours on?

I did it to give you all a winner. I did it with Catalans +12 last night.

No, seriously, i never fancy Queally in any big race. But if i do back him, he never wins!

Will Hill put it on middle of May.

Also got Gerrard 100/1 Ronaldo 16/1 and Torres 14/1

Tomorrows picks;

Dinkum Diamond - beat a smart Hannon sort last time out and looks to be worth following.
Middle Club - smart form in the book and at around 7/1 looks a good EW bet.
Ask - the class horse in the race no doubt. Think this longer trip will suit him well and can see Stoute and Moore taking another big race.
Business As Usual - lot to like about the way he's been going and at 11/1 looks another good EW bet.
Afsare - has progressed excellently so far and looks the type to side with, unknown how good he truly is.
Dandino - won strikingly well at Epsom last time and could be in the mix up in another competitive looking handicap. Worth siding EW at around 7/1.

Bannaby in the Gold Cup @ 33/1 E/W (25/1 top price now)

CP's tip and after seeing its races I can see why.

Bannaby is the only horse in the race to have won on the flat at 2m4f.

Hampton Court stakes

Fencing Master 6/1

Its runs of 114 and 117 are well clear of this lot O'Brien said something wasn't right last time so have given it a break, Afsare has to give 3lbs to it and either match Fencing Master's past rating or hope its off form again.

183/1 E/W double to pair

Another close call in the football. I'm guessing plenty of accies were buggered by Spain's final third wobbles.

Please give me break!

Argentina 2-0 or 2-1 - 3.20
Nigeria 1-0 or 2-1 - 3.20
France vs Mexico 1-1 or 2-2 - 4.33

Ask is a bit short for me now at 9/2. EW bet to nothing yes, but 60p profit off a tenner for him getting a place doesn't interest me in a hot looking race - in which Manifest could hack up, who knows? Ask goes well fresh and I believe he will take all the beating but I've managed to stop myself lumping on Goldikova and Byword so ain't gonna start with a horse I fancy less than I did those two.

Jumped on the Bannaby bandwagon, got two quid on EW. Missed the 33s though and had to take the 20s.


Could still have got 25 if I'd had a look around though.

I fancy Uruguay to make the quarters so I had a speculative quid on Forlan to be top scorer in the WC at 66/1 - he's now between 8/1 and 12/1 according to oddschecker - though I guess it's a very dynamic market.

Bit poorer tomorrow, so will keep hold of most of what I won today to save for one in particular on Friday... Only ones I can pick out are...

4.25 - High Twelve (e/w)

5.00 - Afsare (nap)

5.35 - Contract Caterer (e/w)

Might do an e/w patent...

I'm trying to keep my discipline. Done well so far, haven't had a bet since last Thursday's winner Recharge. Didn't fancy nothing over the weekend and wanted to find myself one gamble for the Ascot meeting. Somehow stopped myself lumping on Goldikova and Byword. Wish I had now with them both winning, but proving to myself I can just watch a good thing is important, as too many times previously I have gambled with poor discipline and simply had to be on the 'good thing' as much as possible, chucking away far too much money. Won't miss two quid if Bannaby does nowt and at least at 20/1 I'll get a run for my small stake.

Said to myself on Monday before the meeting started that Harbinger was my nap of the week. Backed it both times out this year and been very impressed both times. Hopefully he won't be a stingy price and can take this on the way to running in G1 company.

2:30 ZEBEDEE (e/w)

3.05 ELDALIL (e/w)

3.50 BANNABY (e/w)

4.25 HIGH TWELVE (e/w)

5.00 WIGMORE HALL (e/w)

5.30 BAY WILLOW (e/w)

I'm on Forlan @ 66's too.
As well as Uruguay to win the group @ 10/3, so tonight might have gone some way to saving me after the dissapointments so far of Spain and Serbia in particular and none of my other scorers hitting the back of the net.

Had a little go on Bo Van Pelt e/w for the US Open Golf @ 66's. Man in form.

Discipline has always been my problem.

If I was more disciplined I'd probably be able to make a few quid out of it all!

My banker for the week went down today with Twice Over and it let me down big time for a huge payout, still well in profit for the day though..

If I was to put my disciplined head on I wouldn't be having many more bets, but I know now I'll probably end up having an interest in every race til the end of the festival just for the heck of it...

The ones I'm waiting for to see what price I can get is the Chappel-Hyam 2 year old in the Albany on Friday... the form of it's only race could be red hot as it beat the same horse of Clive Brittain's that Maqaasid beat. When Maqaasid beat it they were both making their debut's, when Chappel-Hyam's beat it that was making it's debut against the other which had that benefit of the run against Maqaasid, so that could be a very good horse and is currently trading at 16 on betfair!

The other of big interest is in one of the handicaps on Saturday...Hanoverian Baron won a decent handicap at York last time very cosily and is miles ahead of the handicapper IMO. If it takes it's chance on Saturday it could be one of those cases where you get a cracking price with it coming from a smaller, lesser known stable despite it bringing solid looking form to the table.

Fleeting Spirit is another I could be taking a serious interest in...

2:30 Zebedee
3:05 Gallic Star
3:50 Ask (Nap)
4:25 Kona Coast
5:00 Fencing Master
5:35 Agent Archie

Heading to Beverley Thurs night if anyone knows owt...

Not a big fan of Godolphin but the 8's EW about Kite Wood looks quite appealing.
Had a hundred ew on both Marine Commando and Timepiece this week, both at 8's, so it's been my lucky price, same again today.

I would tell you to back Mirror Lad as according to the Mirror Newspaper every time it runs its flying the gallops faster than Shergar did. Then it gets hammered in the betting and always runs midfield and they say it will come on for the run. Maybe today will be the day they can plan their front page article.. MIRROR LAD LANDS MULTI MILLION POUND GAMBLE.

Although I do doubt it will happen....

Anyway.. I'll give you one to follow at Beverley.

Boy Blue 7:00 Beverley @ 8/1 Generally Available.

Ran well last time out but has dropped to a winnable mark and has an each way chance today in a wide open race.

They could do with putting Mirror Lad with a racehorse trainer - it will help him improve



Small each-way Yankee's today:

15:35 Ask - Great FTO record and trainer in good form, should appreciate the step up in trip

16:25 Layline - Won FTO as a 2yo though a bit concerned he's not been seen out sooner, good draw in 32 provided the dreaded selective watering hasn't taken place again and he was staying on well over 9f at Epsom last year so should appreciate the likely strong early pace on here and has a great jockey booked



17:00 The Rectifier - Massive speed figure first time out (on that he'd be a group performer) and was only nailed on the line by the unbeaten at the time Fallen Idol (beaten in France since), decent enouKiegh pilot on top and the yard wouldn't run him in this if they didn't think he could win.

17:35 Top Spin/Contract Caterer - Gone for two in the finale with Top Spin staying on well last time out under a good apprentice (Joseph O'Brien) at The Curragh on his first try at todays trip, the trainer has had a few places recently and with Jamie Spencer booked it looks like he'll be given another hold-up ride and hopefully can stay on past the front runners in the straight. Contract Caterer is from a yard in great form with plenty of big priced winners in the past week or so, Kieren Fallon is a decent enough jockey for the big occasion and he'd love another Royal Ascot winner.

Good Luck to those punting today - I've been woeful the past two days but hopefully those above and Bannaby will come in.

Martin

Bannaby is slowly starting to shorten still should be around 9/1 and 10/1 not 25/1 and 20/1 just backed it again in the W/O fav market @ 18/1

Kasbah Bliss will be not far off with the distance being perfect for it, if Bannaby wasn't in it I would be on that.

Done Hibaayeb in the 3.05 5/1

Had a big bet London Stripe e/w in the 5:35 at 9/2

In the 4:25 King Of Reason e/w small bet after heard been laid out for the race 33's

I also like Dinkum Diamond, Piincipal Role

The only thing I know of horse racing is that it's usually worth listening to Carney's Pint!

So, is Bannaby at 20/1 with William Hill worth going on?

Or Will Hill look to be paying out for 1-3 at e/w, would it be wiser to go for that?