Antr-post jottings

Hiya all

Allo, c'est moi, Catty Gerald

I disappeared for almost two years.

First of all, I got engrossed in an onliner server wargame, which took up all my time, and then I killed both a very, very good PC and a cheapo laptop by spilling lager into them, and I've also been ill since before the Olympics.  Was finally realised to be heart failure.  I'll probably be getting a heart by-pass later this year.

Anyways, I came into a bit of money on Saturday, and I'll buy a new PC at the beginning of May.  In the meantime, I'll use the public library.

I'm a small-scale, ie unsuccessful,  punter.  I don't get any pleasure from backing short-priced horses - just a feeling of relief if they actually win.  Consequently, I mainly back big-priced horses, and sometimes get besotted with the betfair ante-post markets.

First port of call is the Scottish National.  A bit surprised that there ain't a market for the Whitbread, but its also a relief, as I think Strombolus and Church Island are the only two winners I've backed in 40 years.

In the Scotish National, not too keen to back ante-post anything that ran in the Grand National.

I'm also not keen to back Henderson.  He seems to have a habit of entering horses in these back two races, the Scottish and Whitbread, and then not running them.  Came across a comment on a website a couple of years ago when he responded to a journalsit asking if Barbers Shop would be running, as if the journalist was a raving lunatic for raising the query.  Well, ffs, it was Henderson who entered the horse in the first place, unless Her Majesty does her own entries.  Anyways, Henderson is useless at training staying 'chasers.   

Anyways, I've alighted upon one of Nicholl's, a twister, and a couple that may be vaguely Scottish.  Not much thought or any information gone into them, and prices might not be too good, but I'm suffering from an itchy trigger finger.

A fiver on each.  Same Difference 32, Poungach 70, Beneficial Reform 75, Cool Operator 80.

Dunno anything about the Guineas.  I like betting French horses, so I'll check if there is a likely candidate.  I'll also check Jamesp's writings, as i know that he is the expert on the Guineas's.  I rather shamefully had a tenner at 80 on Makfi a couple of years ago, placed about 90 seconds before the off.  As I say, I'm not proud of that bet.  I'd been concentrating on other things, knew Ben10 liked it, I hadn't seen the video, but I had the nous to realise that 80 about a Prix Imprudence winner was a bit ridiculous.

Chester Cup I'll ignore all the 4yos, even though I know there was a recent year when 4yos filled the first few places.  I do the same thing in the Gold Cup.  I think Blakeney was beaten in the Gold Cup as a 4yo.  Ffs, if a Derby winner didn't win the Gold Cup as a 4yo, what chance do other 4yos have?  I'll look for a horse that has good form at Chester, but the majority will have.  I'll also look for a horse that has Racing Post stamina indices for its Sire and Damsire that are similar to what one would expect for a Derby horse.  Finally, I'd be keen on one of Dr Marwen's horses, because one is at least guranteed a run at Chester.

Apologies for any typos, as I don't have time to proof read this.