m a n a b o u t d o g b l o g

Joe Dunne Memorial Puppy Stake: Round 1

Heats 1 and 2, I cannot back Soviet Bugatti or Deanridge Zeus at them prices - Bugatti is likely to meet Borna Gael in the run up (although Bugatti is very slow away and might miss him) and I reckon the inside traps could pull a surprise or two in the early heats.

Anyone backing Soviet Makdini at odds on in the 3rd heat is off their head - Faypoint Lad, Oran Legend and Barefoot Bolt are all open to improvement. Another heat to watch.

Skywalker Queen does look a winner in the fourth heat - but once again at odds on - no thanks. Remember my mantra - DO NOT BACK ODDS ON PUPPIES!

OK time to get involved. People are going on about Barefoot Bryan (late Compass Terry). He is likely to go off at 1/2 or shorter. YES he showed massive pace the last night, but his card is nothing over impressive - 3 wins out of 11 starts and hit and miss at the traps.  Crossfield Ace looks an improving type and is a likely leader. 28.80 will win this heat at and at likely odds of 9/2 I think this dog is well worth a bet.

RECOMMENDATION: Crossfield Ace

Heat 6 is a nightmare for punters - leave it alone.

Heat 7 I think Coldwater Joe has a fantastic draw out in stripes. Get on.

RECOMMENDATION: Coldwater Joe

Heat 8 Faypoint Man looks like going off as a favourite and I wont oppose it - the Droopys dog in red could be a danger.

Thurles International Pop Gun Meeting

Here are my selections for tomorrow night.

Race 3 which sees Gingko and his enthusiastic band of followers take on the English again. This time last year Gingko beat Liketheclappers and the roar was as big as anything heard at a Tipperary Cup Final.  There is something special about a top notch sprinter.

Recommendation: Gingko

Race 5 sees one of my favourites in action. Shelbourne Holly was an amazing bitch in her first year, but hasnt sparkled since moving to the UK. She may benefit from a return to the track that she was schooled on. But this is a very tight race over 840yds.   Favourite is likely to be the wide running Ferdia Bound, but I have a sneaking suspicion for another favourite of mine, Shelbourne Jazz (pictured).  Brian King tells me this race might be a bit soon for him. Jazz has suffered minor injury after minor injury in the last 8 months. If he returns to the form that saw him win over the marathon trip here last year and at the St Leger meeting in the summer, he will go close.

Recommendation: Shelbourne Jazz 

Race 6 has trouble written all over it, with 6 railers in competition. To me it boils down to what dog leads between Rapid Express in trap 4 and Attykitt Admiral in trap 5. My good friends Shaun Gresham and Alf Ashe own the Admiral and I reckon these boys, in company with trainer Graham Holland, will not be here simply for Daniel Monk's Chas'n'Dave singalong after racing in the downstairs bar.

Recommendation: Attykitt Admiral

But the best wine is always saved til last and the 10th race, an Open 600 sponsored by my good friends at Shelbourne Stud, is a mouth watering race, sure to get the layers scratching their niknaks.  In red is the likely hotpot, the Graham Holland trained Full Bloom.  But those of you who know Thurles will know that is not a great trap.  In white is that super dog Last Bid. This Perry Alward trained son of Top Savings has won the prestigious Macroom Motors Stake at Cork and the Shelbourne Becky Champion Stakes at Youghal. A pretty decent CV. Out in stripes, we have the fabulously talented Cashen Legend(pictured below courtesy of Gavin Tucker). Legend won the Irish Laurels Classic at Cork at the end of last year and will start as favourite. It's a great boon for the track to have such a great dog running there in January.  But my money will be on the trap 5 runner Seventh Jet.  Out of retirement, I saw this game dog win very well at Thurles a few weeks ago and I fancy him to spring a surprise at decent odds.

Recommendation: Seventh Jet

Nice profits so far in January

OK a very near miss last night with Accordello but January is good so far.

20 selections with 8 winners and 1 still pending (Andy Murray to win a Grand Slam this year at 6/5) gives me a profit to a level €1 stake of +€8.41 (a margin of 44.26%)

JJ crashes out in Melbourne

A complete collapse by Jelena Jankovic last night in the Australian Open as she was soundly knocked out by Bartoli 6-1, 6-4. 

I tipped her to win and to make the final separately. I can't win them all!

Accordello - so close but I get paid anyway......

I tipped up this dog in the John J Casey Open 575 Stake at 28/1 Each Way.

He was beaten by a SHORT HEAD in the final last night by Jemmy Doodlebeag.

I get paid for 7/1 for the place (1/4 odds 1,2,3,4) so I am a happy punter, but a short head away from the 28/1 win portion paying off! OUCH!

Soviet Samurai Wins

Hope you all availed of this nice winner last night. Returned at 2/1. Lovely jubbly.

Good performances all round in Brum

None of the pundits had mares last night, and Jonathon Hobbs in particular was well on form. Hobbsy got 4 out of 8, as he did last week, and his Nap came in as well. He actually got the first 3 tips up including 7/1 shot Tipp The Breeze.  Tony Bullen got 5 out of 8 up.

The big final was won as expected by 4/5 shoot Fear Zafonic and the Charlie Lister trained son of Premier Fantasy is now the favourite for the English Derby.  His Birmingham Cup win was good, but I wouldn't be rushing to back him for the Derby just yet.

I got 2 of my 3 up on the night for a profit on the night of €1.23 at SP and €2.00 after taking the morning prices. My bet of the night was Butterbridge Ali and he didn't let me down, winning at 6/4.

Last night's performance table.

POS	TIPSTER	WINS	TIPS	%	MORNING LINE	SP PROFIT
1	Jonathon Hobbs	4	8	50.00	€5.78	€5.78
2	Tony Bullen	5	8	50.00	€4.30	€4.30
3	Jonathon Kay	4	7	57.14	€2.28	€2.28
4	Mick Livesey	3	6	50.00	€2.95	€1.48
5	manaboutdogblog	2	3	66.66	€2.00	€1.23
6	Jimbo	4	8	50.00	€0.16	€0.16
7	Paul Gebhard	0	2	0.00	-€2.00	-€2.00
8	Ken (skydogsblog)	0	4	0.00	-€4.00	-€4.00
9	Peter Meldrum	1	8	12.50	-€4.75	-€5.75

2009 SKY SPORTS BROADCASTS Year To Date After 2 Meetings

POS	TIPSTER	WINS	TIPS	%	MORNING LINE	SP PROFIT
1	Jonathon Hobbs	8	16	50.00	€8.23	€8.23
2	Ken (skydogsblog)	4	10	40.00	€10.75	€7.12
3	Jonathon Kay	7	15	46.67	€5.23	€5.23
4	manaboutdogblog	4	9	44.44	€3.75	€0.83
5	Tony Bullen	7	16	43.75	€0.60	€0.60
6	Paul Gebhard	0	2	0.00	-€2.00	-€2.00
7	Mick Livesey	4	12	33.33	-€0.30	-€2.15
8	Jimbo	6	16	37.50	-€3.37	-€3.27
9	Peter Meldrum	3	15	20.00	-€6.50	-€8.55

Hobbsy's Choice 2009: Naps 2/2(100%); NBs 1/2(50%); +€2.45

Soviet Samurai

A less vaunted member of a top top litter, this lad is worth a bet tonight - i imagine he will be about 2/1 and I would say Ian Reilly will have this son of Droopys Maldini and Soviet Georgia primed and ready.

Recommendation: Soviet Samurai 955 Shelbourne Park (SP)

Birmingham Cup Final Card Selections

These Sky cards seem to be getting harder and harder!

I am only playing in 3 of the 8 races and hope to break even if I can.

The first race at 740 is a punters nightmare - LEAVE WELL ALONE!

They say always back a bitch in form and Miss Lee certianly is that. She goes in the 800 and looks the one to beat.

Swift Ninja may have been jinxed by getting the UK Greyhound Of The Month Award for December, but he is better than his opposition in the 815 I think. But best price of 8/13 makes me watch this one.

Lochbo Meg is a gutsy bitch and ran well in the Oaks. She has a good-ish draw, but more importantly, is likely to avoid the trouble that I can see happening outside her in the 835.

The 850 is another race that looks very tricky and I can't even look at it.

The 910 looks made for the trap 6 runner Butterbridge Ali who won as he liked at Hall Green 9 days ago in front of the Sky cameras. He is my bet of the night.

Flying Winner takes on a very decent field in the marathon at 925 but I can't play here. I think she will go off as a hot favourite but Midway Skipper et al will put it up to her. Watching this one.

I can't see past the favourite here. Fear Zafonic is a very fast dog and is priced at 1/2 or thereabouts. I'd give Shaneboy Luke a squeak but will leave this race alone also.

Recommendation: Miss Lee Evens Paddy Power

Recommendation: Lochbo Meg 9/4 Paddy Power

Recommendation: Butterbridge Ali 2/1 VC Bet

Australian Open Tennis 2009

We're already into the third round and there have been no major shocks.  I can't see any value at all in the men's this year - the books have it about right.  I would be wary of Tsonga in Murray's quarter - a potential banana skin.

The women's event looks similarly tight although I fancy Jelena Jankovic to continue the form she held at the end of 2008.  5/1 win outright is skinny but when I look at what's behind her in the betting and I think it is actually not too bad.  Ana Ivanovic is terribly off form and can be discounted at best odds of 12/1.

Dinara Safina who is also at 12/1, and is the likely opponent for Jankovic in her semi final, will possibly meet Daniella Hantuchova in the 4th round and either Ivanovic or a resurgent Jelena Dokic  in the Quarter Final. 

For me, on paper, Jelena Jankovic's quarter is a lot easier and she will be very fresh in the semi final in comparison with her opponent who could well have spent a lot more time on court.

Jankovic is likely to meet one of the Williams sisters in the final. That could go either way.

Recommendation:  Jelena Jankovic to win the Australian Open 28/5 Betfair

Recommendation: Jelena Jankovic to reach the Australian Open Final 9/4 Betfair

2008 Tennis: 16 bets; 8 wins; Profit: €15.68 for a €1 stake