Value!
I imagine that more than a few bookmakers are really peeved at Australia winning...
As well as the official Bill Ponsford Stand, there are the unofficial Elvis Costello and Doug Walters stands.
Geoff
I imagine that more than a few bookmakers are really peeved at Australia winning...
As well as the official Bill Ponsford Stand, there are the unofficial Elvis Costello and Doug Walters stands.
Geoff
Some of the commentators sounded like they were at a funeral as it became clear Australia were going to win very comfortably. Strange.
I think there was already a bad smell from the public bragging a lot about India's previous victories (10/10). India may have been overconfident but Australia certainly were focused on the 'job' and therefore also deserve the cup.
Top Class Jumps Racing from Ascot today.
One of my favourite Horses is going.
Shishkin in the 13.30:
Looks like a 2 horse race to me.
So even on the betting, I will duck this one. But watch with interest. 🙂
One of my favourite Horses is going.
Shishkin in the 13.30:
Looks like a 2 horse race to me.
So even on the betting, I will duck this one. But watch with interest. 🙂
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There is little to dislike in my current favourite Horse, Shiskin:
A sure fire Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in 2024.
https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/1888963/shishkin/form
Despite recent mental health troubles. You heard it here first. I am also on the Baltimore Ravens for Superbowl 2024. 🙂
A sure fire Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in 2024.
https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/1888963/shishkin/form
Despite recent mental health troubles. You heard it here first. I am also on the Baltimore Ravens for Superbowl 2024. 🙂
Netball Nations Cup being played in the UK at the moment: Australian Diamonds narrowly won its match with The Roses, 61-59:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01...ngland-roses-at-netball-nations-cup/103374168
An excellent, hard fought game which got a bit physical from both teams at times. Two Roses players - El Cardwell and Helen Housby - play in the Super Netball series in Australia, so they know the Oz players very well.
A question: is it more disappointing to lose (in any sport) by a lot, or a little? Knowing you could have won, if only....or know that you did your best but had no hope anyway?
Geoff
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01...ngland-roses-at-netball-nations-cup/103374168
An excellent, hard fought game which got a bit physical from both teams at times. Two Roses players - El Cardwell and Helen Housby - play in the Super Netball series in Australia, so they know the Oz players very well.
A question: is it more disappointing to lose (in any sport) by a lot, or a little? Knowing you could have won, if only....or know that you did your best but had no hope anyway?
Geoff
A fine result by everybody's favourite horse, Shiskin!
This English horse has suffered mental troubles lately.
Admttedly, EVERYBODY was on it in the Denman Chase.
But the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the one I want to win. We could be looking at 10-1 here. 😀
You heard it here first! 😎
And, No, I have no idea who will win Superbowl. But am on the 'Niners, I find the Chief's red strip a bit loud.
This English horse has suffered mental troubles lately.
Admttedly, EVERYBODY was on it in the Denman Chase.
But the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the one I want to win. We could be looking at 10-1 here. 😀
You heard it here first! 😎
And, No, I have no idea who will win Superbowl. But am on the 'Niners, I find the Chief's red strip a bit loud.
Stick to what you know:
Will Shiskin turn up for the Race?
I think so:
But reallly. Who knows? I don't. 🙂
Will Shiskin turn up for the Race?
I think so:
But reallly. Who knows? I don't. 🙂
Galopin Des Champs won the Gold Cup for ace jumps trainer Willie Mullins. He won this one too!
Splendid Day watching the Grand National at Aintree, Liverpool from our watering hole, The Lord Palmy in Portsmouth.
None of the Famous 4 lost money, and yours truly did OK. The smart better only does £1 EW... it's for fun.
Favourite, I Am Maximus on the right won by 7 lengths, but my fancies, Delta Work in the middle with the blue cap, and Minella Indo, with the striped yellow and red hat in the middle came 2nd and 3rd respectively.
No horses fell this year with a reduced field of 32 and some lowering of fences, which is a credit to the organizers.
Sadly Martin had failed to bet on I Am Maximus and Minella Indo due to a medical incident. But seemed happy he had got it right.
And Ian just got his stake back on Non Runner Run Wild Fred.
Brent had 3 and 4, and his No.13, Galvin, on the middle left in white with a red cap, proved a great long shot in fourth at 40-1. He fancied it because the race was run on the 13 April! 🙄
As I explained to my cronies, the Grand National is a form race with all the action in the last two fences.
Ah, it is indeed the Sport of Kings! A good time was had by all. We always do good at this race.
Splendid Day watching the Grand National at Aintree, Liverpool from our watering hole, The Lord Palmy in Portsmouth.
None of the Famous 4 lost money, and yours truly did OK. The smart better only does £1 EW... it's for fun.
Favourite, I Am Maximus on the right won by 7 lengths, but my fancies, Delta Work in the middle with the blue cap, and Minella Indo, with the striped yellow and red hat in the middle came 2nd and 3rd respectively.
No horses fell this year with a reduced field of 32 and some lowering of fences, which is a credit to the organizers.
Sadly Martin had failed to bet on I Am Maximus and Minella Indo due to a medical incident. But seemed happy he had got it right.
And Ian just got his stake back on Non Runner Run Wild Fred.
Brent had 3 and 4, and his No.13, Galvin, on the middle left in white with a red cap, proved a great long shot in fourth at 40-1. He fancied it because the race was run on the 13 April! 🙄
As I explained to my cronies, the Grand National is a form race with all the action in the last two fences.
Ah, it is indeed the Sport of Kings! A good time was had by all. We always do good at this race.
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Just saw that the great Derek Underwood had passed away:
Derek could be unplayable, even for players of the calibre of the Chappell brothers and Doug Walters, who were great players of spin.
Geoff
Derek could be unplayable, even for players of the calibre of the Chappell brothers and Doug Walters, who were great players of spin.
Geoff
I am hoping for great things from England in the T20 Cricket World championships. Why? Because this is the year for underdogs!
Who'd have thought Man U would beat City in 2-1 the FA Cup? I enjoyed the game anyway.
An informed staff football tipster at Betfred Bookies told me Borussia Dortmund are a shoo-in for the Champions League Final tomorrow against Real Madrid. I forgot to ask what score... which would help.
Tomorrow is the famous Epsom Derby. Notorious in 1913, when Emily Davison was sadly killed trying to tie a suffragette scarf to the King's racehorse, Anmer:
This modern evaluation makes sense. The Green, Purple and Grey scarf was recovered by a racecourse steward:
Goodish day at Epsom for Yours Truly. A saving winner at 5-1, Bolster in the 15.45 Handicap.
The King's racehorse, Treasure at 22-1 EW let me down in the 3-y-o fillies race The Oaks though, as did 7-1 Dance Sequence in second.
I should have listened to The Sun's Templegate who napped Ezilya at 13-2 in The Oaks along with Bolster as another pick.
Though he was way off beam with Emily Upjohn (4th) in the 15.10 Coronation Cup, where my own 8-y-old plodder Hamish came an exciting second.
Maybe tomorrow. The Derby (Top 3-y-o Colts) and doubtless some other big races! Only £2 down on the classic flat season so far. I had a disappointing Guineas weekend.
Be lucky!
Best, Steve.
Who'd have thought Man U would beat City in 2-1 the FA Cup? I enjoyed the game anyway.
An informed staff football tipster at Betfred Bookies told me Borussia Dortmund are a shoo-in for the Champions League Final tomorrow against Real Madrid. I forgot to ask what score... which would help.
Tomorrow is the famous Epsom Derby. Notorious in 1913, when Emily Davison was sadly killed trying to tie a suffragette scarf to the King's racehorse, Anmer:
This modern evaluation makes sense. The Green, Purple and Grey scarf was recovered by a racecourse steward:
Goodish day at Epsom for Yours Truly. A saving winner at 5-1, Bolster in the 15.45 Handicap.
The King's racehorse, Treasure at 22-1 EW let me down in the 3-y-o fillies race The Oaks though, as did 7-1 Dance Sequence in second.
I should have listened to The Sun's Templegate who napped Ezilya at 13-2 in The Oaks along with Bolster as another pick.
Though he was way off beam with Emily Upjohn (4th) in the 15.10 Coronation Cup, where my own 8-y-old plodder Hamish came an exciting second.
Maybe tomorrow. The Derby (Top 3-y-o Colts) and doubtless some other big races! Only £2 down on the classic flat season so far. I had a disappointing Guineas weekend.
Be lucky!
Best, Steve.
People malign The Sun newspaper as a bit downmarket, but I assure you it is absolute tops on the horseracin'.
What's top tipster Templegate reckon today for teh Derby and other big prizes?
I have been pondering this myself. The top horseflesh is as follows:
Aidan O'Brien (Ballydoyle) and Charlie Appleby (Godolphin) usually carve this race up between them with winning horse pedigrees as long as your arm.
City of Troy is massive favourite, but this bores me. I have fancied Ancient Wisdom all along.
My card is decided:
13.25 Portsmouth £1 win. (Like the name! Not a bad nag either, by all accounts...)
14.00 Running Lion £1 Win. (Progeny of Roaring Lion, a famous horse.)
14.35 Regal Reality £1 Win.
15.10 Grandlad £1 Win.
16.30 Ancient Wisdom £1 Win. (Godolphin don't spend big bucks on donkeys!)
Time will tell if I still have my shirt by teatime! Fancy a trip to O'Neill's sportsbar for this. We have a nice little corner table and TV for the well-informed racing fans.
Best Regards from Steve in Portsmouth, UK. Da man da bookies hate!
What's top tipster Templegate reckon today for teh Derby and other big prizes?
I have been pondering this myself. The top horseflesh is as follows:
Aidan O'Brien (Ballydoyle) and Charlie Appleby (Godolphin) usually carve this race up between them with winning horse pedigrees as long as your arm.
City of Troy is massive favourite, but this bores me. I have fancied Ancient Wisdom all along.
My card is decided:
13.25 Portsmouth £1 win. (Like the name! Not a bad nag either, by all accounts...)
14.00 Running Lion £1 Win. (Progeny of Roaring Lion, a famous horse.)
14.35 Regal Reality £1 Win.
15.10 Grandlad £1 Win.
16.30 Ancient Wisdom £1 Win. (Godolphin don't spend big bucks on donkeys!)
Time will tell if I still have my shirt by teatime! Fancy a trip to O'Neill's sportsbar for this. We have a nice little corner table and TV for the well-informed racing fans.
Best Regards from Steve in Portsmouth, UK. Da man da bookies hate!
Well, the Derby meeting was a complete bust! But my mate, Bernie made £70 on his bet including City of Troy, which he only took out because I was on the meet in our local watering hole.
You can imagine how I really felt, though I nobly congratulated him... 😡
Royal Ascot this Wednesday would have been better, when Running Lion chose that day to romp home. I missed it! 😕
But we all scored with Aidan O'Brien's 2023 Derby winner Auguste Rodin in The Prince of Wales Stakes. Aidan was visibly moved by getting a saddle blanket for 400 Group One or Class 1 winners from His Highness.
However, "Ladies Day" Thursday was a scorcher. I made a huge £25 on 50p E/W stakes! Puts me ahead in the Flat Season! Going The Distance 11-1 and Aidan's Kyprios 10-11 brought me two winners and the double. Native Warrior got me a tasty 22-1 E/W. To cap it all, Bernie lost his shirt! 🤣
I have already lined up me fancies for today at Royal Ascot:
15.05 Inisherin
15.45 Opera Singer
16.25 Bague D'Or
17.40 Chief Little Rock
Heavy Aidan O'Brien bias there. The man (in his trademark sunglasses and top hat, and unassuming quiet manner) is brilliant! 😎
Footnote: Wretched losing nag "Portsmouth" is going on Saturday again. Currently only fit for the glue factory, IMO. Surely the Law of the Sod says it will win this time? The King has a horse going too. I dunno... 😕
Best Regards from Steve in Portsmouth, UK.
You can imagine how I really felt, though I nobly congratulated him... 😡
Royal Ascot this Wednesday would have been better, when Running Lion chose that day to romp home. I missed it! 😕
But we all scored with Aidan O'Brien's 2023 Derby winner Auguste Rodin in The Prince of Wales Stakes. Aidan was visibly moved by getting a saddle blanket for 400 Group One or Class 1 winners from His Highness.
However, "Ladies Day" Thursday was a scorcher. I made a huge £25 on 50p E/W stakes! Puts me ahead in the Flat Season! Going The Distance 11-1 and Aidan's Kyprios 10-11 brought me two winners and the double. Native Warrior got me a tasty 22-1 E/W. To cap it all, Bernie lost his shirt! 🤣
I have already lined up me fancies for today at Royal Ascot:
15.05 Inisherin
15.45 Opera Singer
16.25 Bague D'Or
17.40 Chief Little Rock
Heavy Aidan O'Brien bias there. The man (in his trademark sunglasses and top hat, and unassuming quiet manner) is brilliant! 😎
Footnote: Wretched losing nag "Portsmouth" is going on Saturday again. Currently only fit for the glue factory, IMO. Surely the Law of the Sod says it will win this time? The King has a horse going too. I dunno... 😕
Best Regards from Steve in Portsmouth, UK.
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An excellent week at Royal Ascot. I made £10! Saturday was difficult when my 3 descending fancies for the 2.5 mile 18 15 race were all pulled.
Legendary stayer Trueshan didn't fancy a 7Lb penalty, Taskhan and Queenstown didn't want the good going.
I had to think on my feet, and chose wretched nag Portsmouth as my third stake in the Patent E/W bet. It did NOTHING to multiply my previous winner.
We now have no decent races til the Coral Eclipse at Sandown, worth a cool £750,000 Saturday week. Eclipse was the greatest racehorse of the 1750's, and the first Arabian bloodline in England.
Can't wait! 😛
I therefore today thought I would continue my winning streak at Euro Football. My cronies were confident that mighty England would beat the minnows of Transylvenia 4-1... 🙄
They were dreaming. I nailed it!
Even Ruthie in the bookies thought it was a dull bet. I explained to her that England, much as I pretend to love them, always disappoint. 😎
Legendary stayer Trueshan didn't fancy a 7Lb penalty, Taskhan and Queenstown didn't want the good going.
I had to think on my feet, and chose wretched nag Portsmouth as my third stake in the Patent E/W bet. It did NOTHING to multiply my previous winner.
We now have no decent races til the Coral Eclipse at Sandown, worth a cool £750,000 Saturday week. Eclipse was the greatest racehorse of the 1750's, and the first Arabian bloodline in England.
Can't wait! 😛
I therefore today thought I would continue my winning streak at Euro Football. My cronies were confident that mighty England would beat the minnows of Transylvenia 4-1... 🙄
They were dreaming. I nailed it!
Even Ruthie in the bookies thought it was a dull bet. I explained to her that England, much as I pretend to love them, always disappoint. 😎
The Euros football continues to fascinate. Inexplicable favourites England are, of course, hopeless.
Our own late-miracle goalscorer Jude Bellingham is in trouble for a rude gesture after scoring. Turkey's 6'4" centre-half M.Demiral, who nodded in two goals against Austria, is also in hot water after a political gesture at the end of the game.
I always think if you score a goal, you should at least look as though you have scored one before. This is what professionals do.
You never saw Bobby Charlton get silly with kissing and hugging and crowd gestures:
This must be Manchester United scoring versus Leicester at Wembley in the FA Cup if I know my stuff. Bobby (11), Denis Law (10) and slumped Goalie Gordon Banks there.
Ahem, onto the Last Eight.
Top of the draw for Friday:
Spain v. Germany
Portugal v. France
England's half for Saturday:
England v. Switzerland
Netherlands v. Turkey
I've only been impressed by Spain and (surprisingly...) Turkey so far. Proper footballing teams who can pass the ball, play quickly and hold possession.
What do the bookies reckon?
I bet on Italy last time at a tasty 7-1. I even bought tickets for my close friends. So I have a track-record in success.
You may draw your own conclusions. But I think Spain, hedged with Turkey at those appealing odds. 🙂
It could be a blockbuster day on Saturday at with the £750,000 Coral Eclipse horse race going too. Disappointingly my clear fancy Auguste Rodin (Who won the 2023 Derby 3 seconds faster than 2024 winner City of Troy) has been pulled by Aidan O'Brien.
This causes me a headache at the moment. Ace horse White Birch is out too. It's like Aidan is just setting up the race (maybe with Luxembourg as a pacemaker) for odds-on City of Troy. 🙁
Our own late-miracle goalscorer Jude Bellingham is in trouble for a rude gesture after scoring. Turkey's 6'4" centre-half M.Demiral, who nodded in two goals against Austria, is also in hot water after a political gesture at the end of the game.
I always think if you score a goal, you should at least look as though you have scored one before. This is what professionals do.
You never saw Bobby Charlton get silly with kissing and hugging and crowd gestures:
This must be Manchester United scoring versus Leicester at Wembley in the FA Cup if I know my stuff. Bobby (11), Denis Law (10) and slumped Goalie Gordon Banks there.
Ahem, onto the Last Eight.
Top of the draw for Friday:
Spain v. Germany
Portugal v. France
England's half for Saturday:
England v. Switzerland
Netherlands v. Turkey
I've only been impressed by Spain and (surprisingly...) Turkey so far. Proper footballing teams who can pass the ball, play quickly and hold possession.
What do the bookies reckon?
I bet on Italy last time at a tasty 7-1. I even bought tickets for my close friends. So I have a track-record in success.
You may draw your own conclusions. But I think Spain, hedged with Turkey at those appealing odds. 🙂
It could be a blockbuster day on Saturday at with the £750,000 Coral Eclipse horse race going too. Disappointingly my clear fancy Auguste Rodin (Who won the 2023 Derby 3 seconds faster than 2024 winner City of Troy) has been pulled by Aidan O'Brien.
This causes me a headache at the moment. Ace horse White Birch is out too. It's like Aidan is just setting up the race (maybe with Luxembourg as a pacemaker) for odds-on City of Troy. 🙁
City of Troy and Trueshan both won. Some things are predictable. 😎
I hate watching England. They scraped it 2-1 against Holland last night to get to the Final. Very dubious penalty IMO.
Admittedly manager Gareth Southgate finally listened to pundit Alan Shearer and put Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer on with 10 minutes to go which transformed the pace of the England attack.
The general knowledge of football amongst the pub crowd was woeful. Chief noisy cheerleader for England thought he was watching England v. France!
Afterwards, much singing of "It's Coming Home" and "Sweet Caroline". Well, enjoy it while ye may...
Reality is about to bite on Sunday:
As I smirked to my friends, I'll be happy either way.
But, especially if I win a few sponduleys with the silky soccer skills of Spain... 🤣
I hate watching England. They scraped it 2-1 against Holland last night to get to the Final. Very dubious penalty IMO.
Admittedly manager Gareth Southgate finally listened to pundit Alan Shearer and put Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer on with 10 minutes to go which transformed the pace of the England attack.
The general knowledge of football amongst the pub crowd was woeful. Chief noisy cheerleader for England thought he was watching England v. France!
Afterwards, much singing of "It's Coming Home" and "Sweet Caroline". Well, enjoy it while ye may...
Reality is about to bite on Sunday:
As I smirked to my friends, I'll be happy either way.
But, especially if I win a few sponduleys with the silky soccer skills of Spain... 🤣
The Melbourne Vixens (our team) bounced back from a thrashing last week to get into the Grand Final. The Fever, who Vixens defeated 73-72, have probably the best shooter in the World as well as two other Jamaican Test players in their team.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07...al-melbourne-vixens-west-coast-feve/104151054
Geoff
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07...al-melbourne-vixens-west-coast-feve/104151054
Geoff
