Gamble landed!

We're back in the groove! Yesterday's selection FIREBIRD FLYER tipped at 6/1 at mid-day on the blog, was the subject of a sustained gamble thru' the afternoon to an SP of 7/2, and duly won in convincing style. The odds were available for some time after posting the blog, and I managed to obtain 7.40 (approx 13/2) on Betfair after 1pm.

I was getting a bit frustrated with the number of 2nd's that I've posted on the blog since 1st January.  Watching Time To Think on Wednesday run 2nd at 8/1, when only the stablelads really knew how well prepared the eventual winner of that race was, was particularly galling. Add that to a couple of great runs in defeat from Midnight Appeal recently - and he really should have won for us at 16/1 at Kempton LTO - and you start to wonder if you've upset somebody on high.

The main thing is, we're back. There are a couple of meetings today at Doncaster and Newbury, and the most interesting is the meeting at Newbury. Barry Geraghty has come over to ride for Nicky Henderson there today, and when he comes over for a weekday meeting you have to sit up and take notice. Henderson has had 6 winners from 15 runners in the past 2-weeks, which isn't bad considering his gallops have been flooded. In February last year he had 70 runners  and 22 winners, this February he's had only 33 runners to date (and 5 entries today) with 11 winners, of which he's 4 wins from 8 runners in chase races. At the moment, 4 of his 5 entries are at odds-on with the bookies.

Unlike yesterday, I can't see any value at either of the meetings so I'm going to start taking a look at tomorrow's meetings instead. There is no point in trying to look for a wager if there isn't one, there is always another day tomorrow.

The donations for the blog are coming in regularly now and I'm confident of beating last years issue. I wont be able to meet my deadline of issuing the supplement for the novice championship races today as the "day-job" has had to come first this week and eaten into my time, but I'm hoping to get the supplement out to donators by Sunday evening. Then it's straight into the handicaps and maybe this year I'll nail one. We've been close these past couple of years with Fruity O'Rooney (2nd), The Cockney Mackem (2nd), Cantlow (3rd) and Double Ross (4th) and it would really put the icing on the cake to nail a handicap with a winner at 12/1 or longer.

If you want to come on board for the Cheltenham Festival and obtain the Bulletin (14,500 words and all my own work) plus all the supplements on the run-up to the Festival and email notices, then just hit the donate button and donate at least £10. My mind is my own, I don't have any stable insiders, I don't listen to gossip or people supposedly "in-the-know" - my opinion is based on what I see on the track and read in the form-book.

All the best for the weekend, from Wayward Lad.