Horse Racing

News comes today that the breathtaking Champion Chase winner, SPRINTER SACRE, is now very likely to run in the 2m 4f Melling Chase at the Grand National meeting. So brilliant at two miles has he been that trainer Nicky Henderson was quick to state after Cheltenham that the horse would never be asked to go beyond two miles. However, quotes from the breeder Christopher Masle indicate that stamina is very much to the fore in Sprinter Sacre's bloodlines.... more

Last Comment: 07 April 21:02

Cheltenham

My first attempt at doing a racecourse blog - from Doncaster raceourse on St Leger day - failed due to the lack of a decent internet signal, but I'm going to try again, from the Cheltenham Festival on Champion Hurdle day. This time I'm taking my mobile internet with me to try to ensure a good connection.... more

Cheltenham

At the very best race meetings of the year - Cheltenham, Aintree, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood - I have had quite good success with following certain trainers. Trainers are often creatures of habit, and treat these meetings to virtually the same approach year after year. It's therefore no surprise that certain trends can appear, and that some trainers do better with certain races or distances.... more

Last Comment: 03 March 21:37

Horse Racing

Kempton stages the next OLBG sponsored Mares Hurdle. This is another Listed race, this time over three miles, with nine declared runners, and is a fairly open race with another selection of promising mares on view. Alasi Ran a very good race in the OLBG Mares Hurdle at Wetherby over shorter, finishing best of all at the end of the race, and this trip will be more up her street.... more

Last Comment: 25 November 22:44

Strategy

Following on from Betting Tips 1-20, here are further hints and tips to help you get the best out of your punting, and hopefully increase the potential for you to make some profit. Profit is never a guarantee for any punter, so it is all the more reason why we should take betting very seriously indeed. The first 20 hints and tips can be seen on the original blog ... more

Last Comment: 26 November 12:12

Horse Racing

Horse racing at Wetherby sees the next OLBG sponsored race, and the first in a series leading up to the Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The 2. 15 Listed OLBG. com Mares Hurdle is at Wetherby on Sat 3rd Nov. A large number of enthusiastic OLBG. com members will be there to cheer on during the race, thanks to the generosity of OLBG. com. There are 6 runners declared runners. A small field but a very good race nonetheless.... more

Last Comment: 04 November 22:54

Other

Are you 'lucky'? Are you 'unlucky'? If you make a profit from your betting does that make you 'lucky', or if you can't seem to win does that mean you're 'unlucky'? 'Luck' and betting have always been bedfellows in the minds of punters and gamblers for as long as betting has existed, and we all use the term from time to time - not just for betting but in everyday life: you just reach the bus stop in time, so 'that ..... more

Last Comment: 04 November 22:53

Strategy

Sometimes it's the obvious, other times it's the not so obvious, but we all could do with little bits of help from time to time in improving our betting habits and our chances at winning. These are simple snippets of advice with a short explanation and, where appropriate, links to other blogs on the subject that give fuller explanations or examples.... more

Last Comment: 11 December 15:10

Miscellaneous

This is a rant, so bear that in mind if you want to read any further. News has started coming in that Coral big-wig Andy Hornby is to get rid of hundreds of cleaners in Coral shops and have the staff clean the toilets as part of their 'duties'. Brings new, nauseating meaning to the term 'Bookies Clean Up' I've worked in shops in the past for 30 years. It's a great job, but not one that suits everyone.... more

Last Comment: 05 February 14:22

Horse Racing

A recent OLBG forum post about Frankel got me thinking about all the great performers and performances I've had the pleasure of witnessing and knowing over the years. Inevitably, whenever a Frankel, or Sea the Stars, or Kauto Star comes along the comparisons are made to past champions. Although essentially a futile exercise, it's one that can inspire excellent debate, but nonetheless each champion is a champion of his own time.... more

Golf

The 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah has carved a place in golfing history as the biggest comeback by a team to win. Down 10-4 at one stage, the Europeans - spurred on by the memory of the never-say-die approach that golfing giant Seve Ballesteros employed, and with the great man emblazoned on all the European players bags, started to claw back the ground.... more

Last Comment: 01 October 17:19

Golf

The Americans were on fire yesterday afternoon, and if they stay in that frame of mind Europe won't win this, but the score is only 5-3 despite how well they played so there really isn't anything in this. On home soil a 5-3 lead after day one is only an adequate scoreline. I think the Europeans will fight back over both sessions today, although I sense the Americans will prevail in the singles comne Sunday.... more

American Football

The new NFL season has so far been without one of it's main components - the top-line referees and officials - due to a dispute. While some of the decisions these last weeks have been a little strange, one decision from the Monday Night Green Bay/Seattle match is causing a major storm across America and the world.... more

Football

I'm going to start looking at football teams which play midweek in Champions League and Europa Cup competitions, and seeing which ones seem to find it hard to raise their games again for the following weekend's league fodder.... more

Golf

The golf season-ending, big-money, Tour Championship must be a real test of nerves in its own right, but with the pressure-cooker of the Ryder Cup just a week away, it's going to be interesting to see how some of these players cope this week. There's big money to be had in Atlanta, and on Sunday missed putts will be costing thousands and thousands of dollars.... more

Horse Racing

Also read 'The Opposition to Camelot' articles I've spent this week looking at the opponents to CAMELOT's bid to make Triple Crown history in the St. Leger. It's time now to look at the O'Brien superstar and to summarise what should, regardless of the outcome, be a great race.... more

Horse Racing

Also read Part One Part Two Part Three And so to the final two opponents who could spoil the Triple Crown celebrations for Camelot, MICHELANGELO and MAIN SEQUENCE. Today the punting world will find out who William Buick chooses between the Gosden duo of Thought Worthy and Michelangelo. The recent Betfair drifting of the former might indicate a preference for Michelangelo, but Buick himself remains tight-lipped.... more

Horse Racing

Also read Part One Part Two Part Four Lester Piggot was aboard the last horse to win the triple Crown, Nijinsky, and on Saturday his son-in-law, William Haggas will bid to prevent Camelot from repeating the feat with GUARANTEE 12/1. If that's to happen, the horse is going to have to show a marked improvement.... more

Horse Racing

Also read Part One Part Three Part Four Part Two opens with the news coming from Ireland that Camelot will probably be the sole representative from the O'Brien stable. Reports are that Imperial Monarch will now wait for the Canadian International, and while Chamonix hasn't officially been ruled out, he's set to stay at home after his win yesterday.... more

Strategy

Tom Segal and Pricewise. Punters either love him or hate him. Bookies just hate him. Well, they probably don't hate him, just his knack of picking big-priced winners. Over the years, and the various tipsters who have worn the 'Pricewise' hat, the latest incarnation - Tom Segal - is by far and away the best.... more

Last Comment: 11 September 19:54