Happy Birthday Andrew,may you have many more.

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Happy Birthday Andrew
Hope you and your daughter have a good Xmas and a prosperous New Year

Good morning Guys and Girls,

An early post (up with the larks) although i did type some if it last night.

Many thanks for the supportive comments (some very flattering) and birthday greetings since my last post, very much appreciated. I had a nice day at the Nymphenburg Palace and in the city (even though i had to go to the office for a couple of hours) and a birthday treat from my daughter at Peter Pane (burgergrill/bar). I mentioned the latter just to wind up my nemesis, as it surely will.

As stated yesterday morning, i did have a lay in mind, but by the time i contacted the poster Bitbybit on WhatsApp later, it had drifted outside my odds limit so i decided to give it a miss. Unfortunately it was backed to favourtism close to race time, but by then it was too late to type a reasoning and i was out anyway. A pity as it was unplaced (Manjaan 19.00).

Never mind, i'm going to make a real effort to post one today as it's the last day of UK/Irish racing before next Thursday, although there is a meeting at Nakayama tomorrow morning (with Oisin Murphy riding) for the die hards.

I will type my Saturday thoughts later as i didn't review the cards in detail last night, but looking further ahead to the KG on Boxing day, i guess many of us are eagerly waiting for this race in what racing media appears to be promoting as a duel between Lostintranslation and Cyrname.

They could be correct (although i don't see it that way) and although Harry will almost certainly be riding the latter, i keep going back to review form of his stablemate Clan Des Obeaux, winner of the race last year and it could be argued maybe against a better field (at least at the time). Native River (rated 176) was well beaten in 3rd, and there were 2 others in the 170 and up range.

I think 7/2 is a little on the short side and with only 7 runners, EW is restrictive, but if i do bet on the race, he will be my win selection, albeit small for an interest.

If i had to lay one of the two main protaganists, it would be Lostintranslation, simply as i think Cyrname is the better of the two (2/2 at Kempton). Colins runner is without doubt a classy type, and i do like him, but i'm not totally convinced the form of his last 2 wins makes him as short as 13/8 in a KG field, even though the runner up LTO, Bristol De Mai is rated 170. Both are good jumpers, although the fences here are fairly easy, but if the going is heavy, the latters stamina will certainly be tested (never raced beyond 21f) however i don't envisage this will be an issue.

With Cyrname in mind, it was not a surprise to many on here that Altior (who was beaten fair and square by him LTO) will not run in the KG. I was at Ascot (and backed him) but he finished very tired that day and i think it was only his class that kept the losing distance to a respectable couple of lengths. The going wasn't a positive, albeit not very soft, pace was good and the winning time only 11 seconds outside standard that compared favourably with the rest of the card. In one respect, it was good Cyrname ran, otherwise Altior would have been a +60L winner and a short price for the KG.

In my opinon Altior is unlikely to race over 20f (or further) again, even though Nicky is not discounting it. If he does i think it will be in the spring when the going is better, but in the meantime will revert to the 16f /17f division where he has been so dominant in recent years, even though it has lacked a little quality at times.

Nicky is stuck between a rock and a hardplace with 'where to go' with him as there isn't a Grade 1 or 2 chase for him in the UK NH calendar between 17f and 20f anyway (not to my knowledge) so i suspect he will go for the Clarence House back at Ascot in January, followed by the Game Spirit at Newbury in February, both races he has won before. He could go on to win another Champion, and only then maybe have a go at 20f in the Melling chase at Aintree in April (better ground). I can't see him reverting to hurdles as has been suggested.

More later, but moving on and to catch up on a few posters recent comments.

G Hall 14 Dec 19 11:46 

As regards the new thread why not wait until January 1st to start it,just a thought.

Thank you G Hall, a good idea that i hadn't considered at all, it's not that far away anyway, certainly in terms of racedays. January 1st it is.

terry mccann 14 Dec 19 11:49 

Andrew forget Bayern its Barnet you should be watching this afternoon.

Terry, i think my daughter wouldn't have a clue where Barnet is.

A lifetime ago (well pre 1984 when i left UK to work my way around the world) i lived in Chesham (Bucks) and often watched the local team play in the Isthmian league. I'm not even sure it exists there days, but didn't Barnet play in it ? Chesham also got to the Amateur FA Cup final once, but lost to Laytonstone in the final.

leif 14 Dec 19 18:32 

Coutinho hat-trick.

Xmas come early for the lad.

Come back to Liverpool lad

Leif,

Along with Lewandowski, the two best players on the pitch by far. It was a good game (6– 1) the first professional one my daughter has seen, apart from England v France (ladies) in Sweden once. Having a Brasilian mother, it was a nice result for both of them. Coutinhos 2nd goal, a lob over the keeper was quality, and his 3rd, sublime and unstoppable. 

Here's a link to his goals if you still remember him with fondness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCTH2yxiJL0

xam 17 Dec 19 17:22

I comment infrequently but always follow your thread.You listed recent lay bets on 15th. Dec. including Ballyoisin, did I miss this or was it on a different thread?

Thank you xam.

Apologies, i simply copied/pasted the bets from the Betfair statement. Ballyoisin was not a lay on the thread, simply a bet i made without posting it. A fully detailed spreadsheet created by bitbybit shows all lay selections (up to December 13th and posted that day) for this latest round (the 3rd such thread).

Happysandwich,

Sorry to hear you didn't back a winner, but a good day out i'm sure, i love the course and have fond memories of seeing Frankel run there. Well done to your friend winning Christmas expenses (and more) a nice one, he obviously didn't give you a tip.

Thankfully i didn't have to eat my socks (ref my comment to Minnie).
Angels Breath won easily (albeit at crazy odds) and my email the previous evening stated confidence, but unfortunately my bet at 1.37 was only matched by just over 60 quid, just about enough for a couple of Irish lunches in Kennedys Sports Bar. I thought he was a good thing (and one to follow) but wouldn't have backed him at the SP.

According to the RP he cut a tendon in his off fore leg and wasn't led into the winners enclosure, hopefully he will be able to race again soon. He was entered up at Kempton on Boxing day, but took the easier route yesterday, 

As for your command of speeling, you're forgiven, i'm an expert at typos on this thread.

Good luck and have a nice Saturday all.

You have a nice time andrew..say hello to your daughter my friend..you missed out the weather forecast,,,yr slipping,,,

Good morning (again) Guys and Girls from a rain soaked West München.

It's Saturday and that can only mean one thing, yes my thoughts of the day, second only to those written by Chairman Mao and eagerly awaited by the racing fraternity per se. OK a slight exaggeration, but at least Kemo (x3) will read them and no doubt will post a critique (post race of course, pre race is something alien to him).

At the time of writing, Ascot is still on (inspection at 11.30) although i have my doubts racing will occur to be honest, but by 12.30 (my time) i will be out last minute shopping. I'm ashamed to say i haven't bought a single gift yet, but i'm a guy after all, and guys don't do shopping.

Earlier this morning i had considered putting up the Paul Nicholls trained Easy De Vassy in the opener (regular readers will recognise this one as i posted it 4 selections ago). Unfortunately the odds have drifted outside my thread limit, but i would still be a layer around the 3/1 mark.

I can't put Paisley Park up as a shortie even though he will probably win, but fearless odds on backers should be aware his best runs have been on good and good to soft, will heavy suit ? For fun backers and those not interested at the odds, maybe the s/fc is an alternative and i think The Worlds End could be the answer for a reasonable return.

My shortie pin has fallen on my daily nap selection, Rider On The Storm (1.15) so this is already a negative. Note the figures relate to the race time, not the odds, although they could be just that approaching the last.
On a 13 lb higher mark than LTO, but there are valid reasons for that and the ground will not be an issue. Mistakenly taken out of a decent race at Cheltenham last week, but compensation awakes.

Apart from this race i'm not really enamoured with the card and as it may be abandoned anyway, my EW selection is Glorious Lady (Haydock 1.00) who could be over priced at 20/1 with a couple of books. A likeable, genuine type, very consistant, never run a bad race and will handle the conditions. Has to improve and this is a big step up in class. Is she good enough ? 20/1 is a nice price to find out.

Hopefully a lay post up later.

Good luck and have a nice Saturday all.

kemo,,slept in today,,late night,,

more name checks more waffle yet again no bets , when was the last one  DEcember

Nice  NapANDREW

I wish betfair would invent something .so that those you have blocked ,ie the losers that are Mymumsfine, Cardenden and Kemoo Sabe cannot
post on your thread.Most people don't mind reasoned debate but the utter drivel these three used to put up we could do without .I only say used to because they are all blocked by me .Keep up the good work Andrew ,a thoroughly  interesting and decent poster,Happy Xmas buddy.

this threads getting like the archers  tum ti tum ti tum ti tum

But she would like Hadley-very posh Andrew

happysandwich 21 Dec 19 13:58 

Perhaps the poster Knight Commander can give the forum some advice on how to get rid of them.

AFAIK all anyone can do is block them. Then, if nobody replies to them or takes any notice of them, they won't matter.

Seasons greetings to you and your family Andrew. Imitation would be a form of flattery if it was anywhere replicated but they are making a dog's dinner of it wherein it's just an incoherent plate of tripe. Take my hat off to you, if I was donning one, with your ability to resist the bating of said morons.