Sunday 9th. What a disaster yesterday was, I think with all my selections I only beat about 4 horses all day, so I don’t think we will dwell and quickly move on.
I thought I had seen and moved enough crap this morning when I finished cleaning our chicken shed out, but far from it there was way more in the Grumblings column this morning.
We are taking the Hunter Chase route today and backing ROB CONTI and GOLAN WAY both singularly and in a win double.
I haven’t got much planned today, no going out for Sunday lunch and wine as this coming week my digestive system is going to be abused with a poor diet and a great intake of alcohol.
Monday 10th. All today’s roads lead to Cheltenham or rather tracks as I am catching 10.24 train and arriving at 3-01. I have arranged to meet “The Rock Holden” in the coffee shop opposite the station and then on to our flat, where we are staying for the week. Manchester Pete is arriving at tea time and the weeks crew is then complete.
As I have only a few finishing touches to complete tomorrows cards, we decide to pop into town for a swifty. We have our first festival drink in the Montpelier wine bar, which for a Monday night is packed, so we move onto O Neill’s just across the road and this is heaving. After two pints of the Black Nectar we wander down the street to more tranquil surroundings and relax with a nice bottle of white wine and a red in the Queens Hotel.
Tuesday 11th. The form is done all my selections are sent and the moment of the first race roar we have all been waiting for is very nearly upon us. As I receive confirmation of the competitions selections, I am quietly confident of kicking The Dons arse today, as I can’t see where he is coming from on three of his.
GAMBLING DON SELECTIONS
1.30 – Valseur Lido – 2.5pts Each Way – 20/1 Skybet (4 places 1/4 odds)
2.05 – Dodging Bullets – 5pt Win – 6/1 BetVictor
2.40 – The Package – 2.5pts Each Way – 25/1 StanJames (5 places 1/4 odds)
3.20 – My Tent Or Yours – 5pt Win – 7/2 BetVictor
4.00 – Cockney Sparrow – 2.5pts Each Way – 10/1 BetVictor (3 places 1/4 odds)
4.40 – Foxrock – 5pt Win – 5/1 BetVictor
5.15 – King Vuvuzela – 2.5pts Each Way – 22/1 SkyBet (4 places 1/4 odds)
ANDY BELL SELECTIONS
1-30 – Gilgamboa – 2.5pts Each Way – 9/1 WHill (5 places 1/4 odds)
2-05 – Trifolium – 2.5pts Each Way – 4/1 Bet365 (3 places 1/4 odds)
2-40 – Wrong Turn – 2.5pts Each Way – 14/1 Bet365 (5 places 1/4 odds)
3-20 – Jezki – 2.5pts Each Way – 9/1 BetVictor (3 places 1/4 odds)
4-00 – Quevega – 5pt Win – 10/11 Coral
4-40 – Shotgun Paddy – 2.5pts Each Way – 11/2 StanJames (3 places 1/4 odds)
5-15 – Close House – 2.5pts Each Way – 16/1 StanJames (4 places 1/4 odds)
We are in front of the rails bookmakers as the first race begins and the roar is tremendous and the tingle goes through your body and all of a sudden the talking is over.
Tony McCoy is cruising through the field when he smashes the third last on GILGAMBOA and that’s his and our race over with. Not the dream start, but 27 races left so no concerns yet. We pitch up in the Miller bar and have a stomach settling Guinness. TRIFOLIUM looks terrific in the paddock and I am sure we will get a place and very hopeful of nicking it. I manage to get 9/2 on the rails and turning for home I am thinking we can win this, very gallant in defeat and not quite good enough on the day, but a very small profit gained personally and a wash through on the competition. The big Irish contingent are bemused, as I am, by how poorly WRONG TURN runs, I can only put it down to the ground being to quick for him. The Don gets his day going with a 25/1 place and has his nose in front. My nap of the day JETZI is next, I have piled into this big time ew at 10/1 as I have huge negatives for the front three, HURRICANE FLY is a huge negative as no horse over 10 years old has won since 1927. At the other end of the scale OUR CONOR is only 5 years old and in 90 running’s only one has prevailed and no horse has won without a prep run for 19 years so that puts a line through THE NEW ONE.
Barry Geraghty travels like a dream and turning for home it looks as if the first time visor has had the desired effect, jumping the last JETZI and myself are both flying and the last thing you want is McCoy on your tail, trust me the last 100 yards were the longest I can remember for a long time. Oi Oi a monster punt personally landed a 9/1 winner poked into the Don and ANDY BELLS punters have also backed him ew, so all round a blinder. QUEVAGA she is just an amazing horse and at 10/11 I reinvest courtesy of Corals. Three out I do just wonder if Mr Mullins has been to the well once to often, but wow, brilliant, words are not enough to sum up a fantastic win and what an achievement and in the style she did it who’s to say there won’t be a number seven next year. How unlucky are we not to make it three wins on the trot as SHOTGUN PADDY fluffs the last and is agonisingly beaten a nose into second. We don’t trouble the scorers in the last and day 1s punting is very successful and we can all sleep well knowing we are taking a nice little lead into day 2.
The after racing jovialities began in the wine bar, where I was convinced that we were on the QE2 as The Rock couldn’t stand up straight and was swaying around like Shakin Stevens and this is only 7pm. We decided to get some substance in him and the steaks were nearly as nice as the ginger concierge that has strutted her stuff there for many years. Unfortunately the steaks didn’t have the desired effect as the bouncer of Club 21 reminded us, you two are ok (pete and myself), but there’s no way that one with the red shirt (The Rock Holden) is coming in here. So begrudgingly we hail a cab and head back to our flat.
Wednesday 12th. On hindsight The Rock did us a major favour last night as we are up as fresh as daisy’s, well Pete and Myself. The Rock who is now prowling the fridge informs me that we have a meet with The Greyhound Master today, which should be fun to pull the piss out of him.
GAMBLING DON SELECTIONS
1.30 – Faugheen – 5pt Win – 7/4 Bet365
2.05 – Many Clouds – 2.5pts Each Way – 18/1 SkyBet (3 places 1/4 odds)
2.40 – Whisper – 2.5pts Each Way – 25/1 Stan James (5 places 1/4 odds)
3.20 – Sire De Grugy – 5pt Win – 10/3 BetVictor
4.00 – Balthazar King – 5pt Win – 6/1 Ladbrokes
4.40 – Azza – 2.5pts Each Way – 20/1 StanJames (5 places 1/4 odds)
5.15 – Modus – 2.5pts Each Way – 10/1 Bet365 (4 places 1/4 odds)
ANDY BELL SELECTIONS
1-30 – Red Sherlock – 2.5pts Each Way – 5/1 Bet365 (3 places 1/4 odds)
2-05 – Corrin Wood – 2.5pts Each Way – 12/1 Bet365 (3 places 1/4 odds)
2-40 – Kaylif Aramis – 2.5pts Each Way – 22/1 Bet365 (5 places 1/4 odds)
3-20 – Sire De Grugy – 5pt Win – 10/3 Bet365
4-00 – Balthazar King – 2.5pts Each Way – 6/1 Bet365 (4 places 1/4 odds)
4-40 – Orgilgo Bay – 2.5pts Each Way – 16/1 Bet365 (5 places 1/4 odds)
5-15 – Vigil – 2.5pts Each Way – 7/1 Bet365 (4 places 1/4 odds)
The Don is on the scoreboard when the favourite bolts up after another masterful ride from King Ruby and our RED SHERLOCK is hampered out of a place. So first honours to The Don. Our next selection CORRIN WOOD puts in a horror show of jumping for some unknown reason, as he jumped like a stag when winning last time and after hitting numerous fences fades away and is well beaten. Not a great start after such a good winning day 1. In the third KAYLIF ARAMIS is travelling so well and is booked for a certain place when falling three out, which guts me, but not as much as when I realise the winner is The Dons selection at 25/1, now that’s going to take some catching. SIRE DE GRUGY looks stunning in the paddock and for all the special signups it’s a maximum bet because both of us have made him our selection. Also in the next we both agree on BALTHAZAR KING and after a foot perfect round of jumping Dicky delivers and once again the sign ups have had a 6/1 maximum winner.
The greyhound Master bottles the meet and we all think that he was rather intimidated or just plain frightened of the piss being ripped out of him.
The Don has smashed me today and is back with vengeance.
Thursday 13th. Today is a very sad day in my life and writing is not part of the agenda unfortunately, as my very dear friend Ken passes away and goes to pastures anew.
Friday 14th. Today I can’t really get my head round things and the passing of Ken has left a huge void in my life as it has many others. ( I will sing like the belovered Canaries and tell all next week).
The card looks incredible difficult, but I have some very strong views which surround BOBS WORTH.
Saturday 15th. I have to catch the 9-01 train home this morning so after a really late night I will have to fill in the gaps next week and trust me its worth waiting for.
Well done The Don, a great competition and everybody are winners with an outright profit.
TODAYS TOP TIP:
3.15 Uttoxeter – Songsmith – 5/1 (Bet365) – Each Way Bet
Thanks to Betfan and everyone concerned for a fantastic week.
Back next Saturday.
Andy Bell
Andy Bell Racing
http://go.betfan.com/1000/258
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