The last 4 days have seemed like a month to me as my computer has been in for repairs due to a rather bizarre accident. The missus has been over the moon as I haven’t been tapping away at a keyboard all day long but I feel like a part of me is missing and I’m so glad to have my lappie back. Not least because I haven’t been able to play any poker for 4 days, arrrgh!
And the accident? While playing a game of Scooby Doo Hide and Seek (don’t ask!) with my son I found the perfect hiding place for said cartoon mutt but feeling chuffed with his concealment I didn’t look where I was going and tripped over the laptop power cable. This ripped the power adaptor from the power slot, damaging it in the process, and left me with nothing but the charge in the battery (plus no way of re-charging it). So one trip to the local PC repair shop, 4 days wait and £80 later I’m back in business. Zoinks!
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There was an interesting piece in the Racing Post yesterday which you may or may not have seen and it relates to the apparent ‘Dubai Bounce’ factor. The idea being put forward is that those horses that ran at the Dubai Carnival are now struggling to retain their form when racing back on home soil.
Indeed, if you look at the winners from the Dubai World Cup meeting you can see that this is the case, as not a single horse that won on the card has won again since. Well Armed, Eastern Anthem, Gladiatorus, Regal Ransom, Two Step Salsa… all big names and all big winners on the night but every one stuffed out of sight on their next run (and in some cases the run after that as well).
I have absolutely no idea why it should be as horses run all around the world these days with no apparent side affects but it’s definitely worth remembering for next year ….
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The countdown has now begun in earnest with less than 2 weeks until we see the return of the King…. King Kieren that is.
Keiren Fallon resumes race riding on September 4th and I for one can’t wait to see the greatest (but unfortunately flawed) jockey of the modern era back on the track. His enforced absence has been a major loss for the sport and for all punters.
For me, his ride on Dylan Thomas in the Arc will live long in the memory……
There are plenty of betting specials on offer regarding Mr Fallon but most of the value has long since gone. 2/5 he rides a winner on his comeback day doesn’t look great nor does 4/7 he rides a Group winner in 2009 but if I had to have a bet on any of the markets (which obviously I don’t but hey, I can’t help myself) I might be tempted to have a few quid on him riding a Group 1 winner this year at 11/4. There are still plenty of Group 1 races still to be run this year and he’s bound to pick up a ride or two (or three) in them and I doubt many of them will be no-hopers.
I’ve convinced myself, it’s time for a bet. Get on at 11/4 at Blue Square.
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Trainer Track Stats.
To all of you who are eagerly awaiting the new version of the TTS manual, I can tell you that it will be available shortly as we now have most of the data assembled and it’s just a case of sorting the final bits of wheat from the chaff.
More news will follow very soon…..
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Festival Trends
The next two months will see a very busy time for Festival Trends with the Leger Meeting, Ascot QEII Festival, The Cambridgeshire and Cesarewitch cards, Goodwood, Ayr Gold Cup, Arc, Newbury and the Breeders Cup all coming up.
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For this one special price you will receive every Guide for the remainder of the Flat Season, which will be well over 50 races in total, starting with a mini-guide from Goodwood this weekend. There will also be a Special 5 race Ante-Post Guide available next week covering The Ayr Gold Cup, The Arc, The St Leger, The Cambridgeshire and The Cesarewitch.
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Good luck,
Gavin.