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

Newcastle TV Trophy Sky Card (selections thread)

19:40 - The Williamhillarcade.com Puppy Stakes (div.1) 480m

Eye Onthe Storm  M A Wallis (Harlow) 
Hesley Dingo  E K Wright (Unattached)
Droopys Joaquin  M Walsh 
Ballymac Well  P J Rosney (Nottingham)
Centurion Enry (m) P W Young (Romford)
Droopys Jervis (m) C Allsopp (Monmore) 

20:00 - The Williamhill On 0800 44 40 40 Stakes 290m

Goldcrest Lord  M A Wallis (Harlow)   
Jethart Jackie  J Bateson (Unattached)
Amazing Value  M Daniels (Sheffield)
Bellpac Moonbeam (m) J Wright (Unattached)
Solway View (w) D R Pruhs (Peterborough)
Officer Donagh (w) C Allsopp (Monmore)

20:15 - The William Hill Radio On 08712 444 666 Stake (div.2) s 480m

Magna Trigger (m) K A Macari (Sunderland   
County Busty (m) H F Williams 
Mustang Garcia (m) J Wright (Unattached)   
Droopys Trevor (w) E T Parker (Sheffield)
Pennys Stinger (w) F Smith (Unattached)
Kilkenny Lonjack (w) A M P Collett (Sittingbourne)

20:35 - William Hill Angel of the North Oaks Final 480m

Frisby Foxwatch  H Crapper (Sheffield)
Plan  D R Pruhs (Peterborough)
Was Not Me  C R Lister (Unattached)
Undoubtable  K A Macari (Sunderland)
Unshakable (m) K A Macari (Sunderland)
Wordsandatune (m) P Rutherford 

20:50 - The William Hill Radio On 08712 444 666 Stake (div.1) 480m

Goldcrest King  M A Wallis (Harlow)
Aughacasla Adam  K A Macari (Sunderland)
Greenwell River (m) P J Flaherty (snr) (Shawfield)
Barnfield Mike (m) J Wright (Unattached)
Bubbly Totti (w) E Soppitt (Unattached)
Iconic Blue (w) J D Davy (Sheffield)

21:10 - The Williamhillbingo.com Stayers Stakes 706m

England Expects  K A Macari (Sunderland)
Bubbly Rambo  P W Young (Romford)
Droopys Eugene  E T Parker (Sheffield)
Ruby Red (m) D Calvert 
Kenpo Star (w) C T Lynch (Unattached)
Brimardon Star (w) A M P Collett (Sittingbourne)

21:25 - William Hill Tyneside Derby Final 480m

Farloe Reason  C R Lister (Unattached)
Mill Pinpoint  K A Macari (Sunderland)
Affleck Elite  C R Lister (Unattached)
Coolavanny Smoke (m) P B Philpott (Yarmouth)
Ardkill Tunoco (m) J Bateson (Unattached)
Coolavanny Dart (m) E T Parker (Sheffield)

21:45 - The Williamhill.com Tv Trophy Final 895m

Barnfield Brooke  P B Philpott (Yarmouth)
Bubbly Eagle  E Soppitt (Unattached)
Midway Skipper  H Chalkley (Henlow)
Brimardon Helen (m) A M P Collett (Sittingbourne)
Ardagh Charm (m) D M Curtin (Portsmouth)
Vatican Iona (w) P J Rosney (Nottingham)

Racing is live on Sky Sports 3 on 24/06/2009 @ 19.30pm from Brough Park, Newcastle.

Wimbledon 2009

I have done a lot of head scratching and there is not too much for me to get excited about betting wise.

The men's event looks fairly cut and dried, but the women's tournament is wide open.

Thomas Berdych (22/1 with Ladbrokes) to win the 1st Quarter will entice me into a small bet.  He is taking on Roddick, Del Potro, Hewitt and Ferrer in this section but I feel he is too big at that price.

Fernando Verdasco was tempting at 18/1 (also with Ladbrokes) to win the 4th Quarter but Federer and Tsonga are probably a bit much for him.

RECOMMENDATION:  Berdych to win 1st Quarter. 1pt win 22/1 Ladbrokes

The ladies is intriguing this year.  Sharapova and Ivanovic are both on the comeback trail, and the Williams sisters top the betting - but I think they are there to be got this year.  Then there is the No 1 seed Dinara Safina who crumbles under pressure, and Kuznetzova, who doesn't.  Throw in Jelena Jankovic, screamer Victora Azarenka and rising star Caroline Wozniacki and it is a real tough year to back a winner.

Safina and Kuznetzova are drawn to meet in the quarter finals, but I think Danish star Caroline Wozniacki can upstage them both.  Wozniacki is 4/1 with SkyBet to win her quarter and I will have a bit of that.

Also, as I mentioned already, I think the Williams sisters are there to be beaten, and whilst Jelena Jankovic would be most people's idea of a challenger in the 2nd Quarter, I was encouraged by Ana Ivanovic's showing last month and at 15/2 she is certainly a value bet, if not a cert.

RECOMMENDATION:  Wozniacki to win 1st Quarter. 1pt win 4/1 SkyBet
RECOMMENDATION:  Ivanovic to win 2nd Quarter. 1pt win 15/2 BetFred

Tomorrow afternoon Nicholas Kiefer faces world no 37 Fabrice Santoro in his first round match.  Santoro was a semi finalist in Eastbourne recently but his form is not great and is sliding down the rankings.  His 2009 record reads 8 wins from 17 matches, although he did win a low ranking event in South Africa in April.

Kiefer is ranked 35 in the world, and his year has been poor enough (6/14) - but he was unlucky at Roland Garros losing in 5 sets to Ferrer.  But this bet is based on Kiefer's form against Santoro - he has beaten him in his last 3 matches, including here at Wimbledon in 2007 (straight sets) and Kiefer pushed Djokovic in his next match too (he didnt play last year).

The only fly in the ointment is that Kiefer retired injured a fortnight ago in Germany, but I am sure that was precautionary.

RECOMMENDATION:  Kiefer to beat Santoro 8/13 Paddy Power

Keys Pride

Will be trying

Recommendation: Keys Pride 4.45 Down Royal 0.5pts EW 6/1 Bet365

Limerick to beat Waterford

After losing on the game last week, I have to go with Limerick this evening.

11/8 with Paddy Power, I fancy Limerick to dismiss the ageing Waterford side who were hapless in the 2nd half last week, getting just 2 points, both from frees.

RECOMMENDATION: Limerick to beat Waterford 11/8 Paddy Power

Saturday 6 (20.6.09)

Like a bloodied mercenary trudging from one battlefield to the next, manaboutdogblog Saturday 6 has sustained some casualties in the last few skurmishes with the enemy, but we still have enough ammunition to take them on.

This week I will continue, relentless, with the Shelbourne Park assault - I am in profit for the year there with 29 winners there this year from 49 settled bets (that's 59% folks) adding 12.83pts to my Profit & Loss balance.  Whilst the troops in other divisions are taking a right olf hammering, the man in HQ is keeping the flag flying

Race 3: I really want to get Cash Dream in the 3rd race. I don't think he will ping again this week.  Chieftain missed it completely last week and is one of the purest railers in the country.  Throw in Cabra Cool, another railing early pacer and I think Cash Dream, likely to go off at odds-on or thereabouts, is there to be taken on.  I won't play but for you layers out there, get him. 

RECOMMENDATION: Shelbourne Park Race 3 NO BET

Race 7: Advantage Johnny is one of the best, most genuine greyhounds in training. He has made several big race finals - Irish Derby, Easter Cup twice, Champion Stakes  - this son of Larkhill Jo must have a huge stud career ahead of him.  But the wide running black is not finished and will be hitting this year's Champion Stakes and Irish Derby trail, starting this Saturday night at his favourite track.Skip One looks interesting in red, and fellow big race bridesmaid Slip The Lark is in trap 4, but I haven't seen Slip The Lark at his best for a while and will wait until I see him return to previous form before I worry unnecessarily.  The biggest danger to Johnny is Reggie Roberts' Urban Tiger.  A winner here last month in 28.62, he would appear to be the dog to beat - and he will give Owen McKenna and Joe Gregg's dog an inflated price.

NB RECOMMENDATION: Shelbourne Park Race 7 Advantage Johnny

Race 8 looks a penalty kick for Mesedo Blue.  Drawn with not a yard of early pace in any trap remotely near him, a good start will see him 3 lengths clear coming out of the 2nd bend.  The danger could come in the form of Farloe Newborn, who ran a blinder in defeat last week, leaving it too late. But I can see him taking a similar path to Dundrum Minor and as they battle (with Mardocs O'Shea possibly for good measure) to catch Mesedo Blue, that will be their undoing.

Only problem with this bet is Mesedo Blue is a July 07 pup.  I do not back pups odds-on, no matter how good they look and although the make up of this race is for a solo for the son of Climate Control, if he is odds-on I will not play.

RECOMMENDATION: Shelbourne Park R8 Mesedo Blue

OK. The Irish Oaks is at the Semi Final stage. Maireads Fantasy has missed the kick the last 2 weeks and still got up to win.  Will she miss it again? NO.  Those directly inside her have been missing the kick as well, and Blonde Fern has yet to ping out on her Irish holiday so far.  But I think Frasier Black is well capable of getting his bitch to trap on Saturday, and whilst once again she will be priced realistically at around the even money mark, I expect this to represent the bet of the night again.

My 3 NAP selections have all obliged to date, and this will make it connect 4.

NAP RECOMMENDATION: Shelbourne Park R9 Maireads Fantasy

Everyone is raving about Skywalker Queen this week, and fair enough Matt O'Donnell's bitch looked superb last week. I have a nagging doubt in my head (not on her genuineness or speed or anything like that - but maybe that she produced a massive run in the Quarter Final which may be too soon) , and for that reason, and the fact that she has Faypoint Lauren and Lady Glenard both cable of 28.70 runs inside her, I will not be playing in this race. Skywalker Queen could very well make it 11 wins in her 20th start here, but I will just sit this one out.

RECOMMENDATION: Shelbourne Park R10 NO BET

Down here in Thurles Magical Stan and Burgess Og both look better than their opposition, but after racing recently at HQ and Cork respectively, they both might come on for the run.  I will plump for Burgess Og in his Derby Trial Stake as I think even without a trial, he looks far superior to the rest.

RECOMMENDATION: Thurles R9 Burgess Og

So I find myself heading over the water for a raid on Sunderland, but after recent reconnaissance visit (courtesy of Sky TV) on some of these runners, I fell equipped.

Shale Dimitar got touched off by 'iffy' Jimmy The Singer in that controversial race last week. He should have enough early gears here to last at a forgiving track.

RECOMMENDATION: Sunderland R3 Shale Dimitar

Centaur Allstar broke the clock at Belle Vue last week but this trip and track will suit his opponent that night, Hes A Mystery, even better.  The local dog is likely to get first run from the blue box and that should be enough.

RECOMMENDATION: Sunderland R7 Hes A Mystery

YEAR TO DATE SATURDAY SIX RECORD: 41/101 (40%); -4.39pts

NAPS 3/3  (100%) +3.32pts
NBS 1/3 (33%) -1.43pts

YEAR TO DATE MANABOUTDOGBLOG SHELBOURNE PARK RECORD: 29/49 (59%) +12.83pts

TV Trophy 2009

Starts tonight at Newcastle and I think the bookies may be overestimating the chances of Bubbly Eagle and Vatican Iona.

Bubbly Eagle does not get going til the 6th bend and relys on momentum to get him home. I can see him getting blocked around the tight track.

Vatican Iona is sure to be away well but son drops off and could be 20 lengths adrift after a circuit.  This style of running is always worth opposing. I have done it twice recently with Flying Winner and I will do it whenever I see a short priced runner of this ilk.

I will be laying both of these on the exchanges should they touch odds-on.

RECOMMENDATION: 7.58 Newcastle LAY VATICAN IONA (to lose a point) if odds-on. No bet if Evens or bigger

RECOMMENDATION: 8.28 Newcastle LAY BUBBLY EAGLE (to lose a point) if odds-on. No bet if Evens or bigger

On the undercard are the heats of the Tyneside Derby. Mill Pinpoint can put local knowledge to good use in the 9.14.

RECOMMENDATION: 9.14 Newcastle MILL PINPOINT

My Hall Green Gymcrack picks

I really think tonight's card would not be out of place at a BAGS meeting. Every single race is very open and I am finding it hard to spot anything.

I do think that a few dogs are too short a price and will be taking them on and laying them.

RECOMMENDATION: Hall Green 8.00 LAY Coolvanny Pius

RECOMMENDATION: Hall Green 8.35 Officer Donagh 5/2 Blue Square (ran well in defeat in the Scurry)

RECOMMENDATION: Hall Green 8.50 LAY Tyrur Rodge

RECOMMENDATION: Hall Green 9.10 Shelbourne James 0.5pts EW 8/1 SkyBet (1/4 odds 1,2,3 - special offer)

RECOMMENDATION: Hall Green 9.25 LAY Bubbly Maestro - (ikely to go off a shirt priced favourite and for a dog that moved kennels very recently he must be opposed)

Slump continues

What a poxy time I am having at present on the punting front.

Bantiss Allblack got no run at all on Friday night - but blitzed home last night in style.

In the Corn Cuchaillan I backed 2 winners (5/4 and 4/6) and 3 losers making a loss 1.08pts. Droopys Moira was sensational.

My Saturday 6 was yet again frustrating. I called it fairly well but 2 winners out of 6 won't pay the bills the way I am backing short priced dogs at present. My NAP won again (3 from 3)- Maireads Fantasy coming in at 4/5, and Mesedo Blue was brilliant winning at 7/4. Sergeant Bill was 2nd by 1/2 a length and the other 3 all came 3rd (Dundrum Minor only beaten 1/2 length after a bump). So another loss of 1.45pts. I'm not getting tonked, and to be honest I had a nice cut on Maireads Fantasy. But that is 3 consecutive losing weeks on the Saturday 6.

I did well backing Cork to beat Kerry at 7/5 - it was a whooping. But Waterford put in the worst half of hurling I have seen after leading by 6 points at half time against Limerick and my bet was sunk.

I probably tempted fate by opposing Murray in the Aegeon at Queens, and my bet on Andy Roddick was sunk in his semi versus James Blake when Roddick retired injured. Murray looks good for Wimbledon now - his first serve in particular is awesome presently.

So over the weekend from 15 bets I made more losses for the blog totalling 2.13pts. If just one of those near misses had hit the target i'd be in a better mood this week.

Tomorrow night's card from Hall Green - post selections on this thread

19:40 - The Skybet 08000 724 221 480m

Kayleigh Jingles  A C Meek 
Bumble Lee  M A Wallis (Harlow)
Deanridge Ammo  P W Young (Romford)
Blitz (w) D R Stevenson (Unattached)
Blasket Eagle (w) P Wellon 
Driving Up Pal (w) P A Sallis 

20:00 - 10% Cashback On All Games At Skyvegas.com 645m

Open Window  P C White 
Droopys Comfort  K Billingham (Monmore)
Bubbly Rambo  P W Young (Romford)
Freffans Freddie (m) D Henry (Coventry)
Galileo Boy (w) P J Rosney (Nottingham)
Coolavanny Pius (w) E T Parker (Sheffield)

20:15 - Skybet Press Red To Bet Now 480m

Farloe Titan  P A Sallis 
Droopys Flo  J G Mullins (Yarmouth)
Ballymacart Joe  J Pearce 
Lethal Ace (m) S A Cahill (Hove)
Freedom Emma (m) R F Yeates (Oxford)
Goldies Destiny (w) M A Wallis (Harlow)

20:35 - Rainbow Riches New & Exclusive Skyvegas.com 258m

Farloe Flapjack  K Billingham (Monmore)
Hes A Mystery  J Bateson (Unattached)
Monterey Jack (m) C L Andrews (Coventry)
Robbie Rocks (m) J T Foster (Wimbledon)
Officer Donagh (w) C Allsopp (Monmore)
Minnies Tyrana (w) H J Dimmock (Peterborough)

20:50 - Bet By Mobile At Skybet.mobi 670m

Love Pearl  E Forster (Unattached)
Rhincrew Scholes  E T Parker (Sheffield)
Ard Beauty  D B Whitton (Henlow)
Dessies Blueboy (m) K Billingham (Monmore)
Vatican Fyne (w) P J Rosney (Nottingham)
Tyrur Rodge (w) C R Lister (Unattached)

21:10 - Skybet.com 645m

Directors Chair  M A Wallis (Harlow)
Plough Lane  J Bateson (Unattached)
Shelbourne James  P J Rosney (Nottingham)
Turar Abit (m) C Allsopp (Monmore)
Stop The Show (m) E Mcnair (Unattached)
Rough Bellamy (w) D B Whitton (Henlow)

21:25 - Skyvegas.com The Best Games All In One Place 480m

Romeo Del Piero  D P Firmager (Coventry)
Hillcross Pluto  P A Sallis 
Hidden Sky (m) E Mcnair (Unattached)
Bubbly Maestro (w) P M Donovan (Wimbledon)
Mountjoy Ruby (w) M A Wallis (Harlow)
Silverduf Jet (w) H J Dimmock (Peterborough)

21:45 - The Skybet Gymcrack Final 480m

Westmead Bolt  N Savva (Henlow)
Eye Onthe Storm  M A Wallis (Harlow)
Farloe Rocket  B Draper (Sheffield)
Centurion Enry (m) P W Young (Romford)
Droopys Bogart (w) E Mcnair (Unattached)
Farloe Lee (w) C R Lister (Unattached)

Racing is live on Sky Sports 3 on 16/06/2009 @ 19.30pm from Hall Green, Birmingham.

Roddick at Queens

Andy Murray and Andy Roddick are on course for a showdown at Queens Club tomorrow.
Murrat is 1/2 whilst 4 time winner Roddick is 9/4.

RECOMMENDATION: ANDY RODDICK TO WIN AEGEON CHAMPS 9/4 BETFRED