You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July 2009.
Statue of Bobby Robson, by Portman Road, Ipswich
Bobby Robson died today. It is worth noting what a remarkable career he had. With Ipswich he brought success to an unfashionable and ’small’ club, and arguably escaped the shadow of Alf Ramsey there, indeed following the same path to become England boss. A mixed time with England (I remember him being incredibly unpopular after a dire Euro 88 and right up to the start of Italia 90), but one that ended with a semi-final appearance for England that arguably kick-started a Renaissance for English football in terms of popularity and mainstream acceptability. One of the few English managers to not only venture abroad, but to also thrive, with PSV, Porto, Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona. And Newcastle’s relegation this season put into perspective just what he had achieved there.
So, professionally remarkable, but from the various articles doing the rounds he was clearly a remarkable person too. I’ll let those more qualified discuss that.
Photo by Chelmsfordblue
OK, despite my tiny meltdown over Sevenna yesterday I’m not giving up just yet. At 20p a point (as exclusively revealed yesterday) I’m not exactly meddling with high stakes gambling. However, by my calculations, I’m down to 56.7 points from the original 100 point start, after today’s bets. So I need to start making a little bit back soon, or otherwise you might just see a strange man in the street posting 20p pieces down the drain, as an alternative to this.
So, here goes…
Goodwood:
2.10 Drumfire (4.50) 2pts
3.25 Tartan Gigha (17.00) 1pt ew
4.00 Dick Turpin (2.00) 2pts
5.10 Red Dune (13.00) 1pt ew
5.45 Strictly (6.50) 2pts
Bangor:
4.50 Cooksgrove Lady (1.80) 2pts
Plus, as it’s Friday and I’m feeling dangerous I’ve gone for an each-way Heinz on the above too, a massive 1p a line, so £1.14 in total. If every horse comes in, I’m in the money. Of course, this isn’t going to happen.
Rather angry with myself – decided against backing Sevenna in the 4.00, after seeing it drift in the market. Of course, it’s now gone and won. I could have cleared a fair bit of losses right there. Now, in future I’ll be even more inclined to bet on hunches ‘just in case’ to avoid this very situation (as I did on the first two days), only to lose even more in the long run. I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion that I just can’t win. Betting is a mug’s game etc etc.
But without these tips, I’ll have to actually generate some content…
The horror continues…just one winner this week would be lovely. I would genuinely suggest laying these, with my current (lack of) tipping skills. Luckily for me (and I’m letting you in on a little secret here), for this particular run of bets I’ve been staking the princely sum of 20p per point. So, I’ll not be filing for bankruptcy just yet.
Today I’ve veered away from studying form, trainer form, draw bias, the going or anything else. I’ve basically gone with what I’ve seen tipped elsewhere, and with Dazed and Amazed, a horse that actually won for me once. So, even if these come in I can’t really take any credit. “Today’s tips” as a blog post title is probably over-egging this particular pudding.
All Goodwood:
2.10 Hyades 2pts
2.45 Sugar Free 2pts
3.25 Schiaparelli 2pts
5.45 Dazed and Amazed 1pt ew
5.45 Piscean 1pt ew
So, Mark Buehrle pitched another five perfect innings after his perfect game, but eventually the run was broken, giving up five runs as the White Sox lost 5-3 to the Twins. Nobody’s perfect forever, eh? Any ideas what is the longest run of perfect innings?
Buehrle crashing back to reality was a shame (unless you’re a Twins fan), but was inevitable, eventually. But it could be worse…at least he can say he’s pitched a perfect game, unlike poor Felix Cespedes, who yesterday pitched nine perfect innings for the DSL Phillies, but then had to make way for a reliever with the score still 0-0. He’s not the first potentially-perfect-pitcher let down by his team’s batting. Poor Harvey Haddix pitched twelve perfect innings before losing in the thirteenth back in 1959. Life is cruel. But at least he has since been immortalised by The Baseball Project…
A shocking day yesterday, and now the project is down about 10 points overall. While probably focusing on a couple of races would be more sensible, the scattergun approach has won out again today. Another day like yesterday (one place finish) and maybe I’ll rethink. I really need two or three of these to come in.
Anyway, today’s losers…
2.10 Swingkeel (7.50) 2pts
2.45 Chapeno (7.00) 2pts
3.25 Paco Boy (4.33) 1pt and Forgotten Voice (29.00) 0.5pts ew
4.00 Highland Glen (7.50) 1pt and Akmal (11.00) 1pt
4.35 Damietta (7.00) 2pts
5.45 Something (13.00) 1pt and Purissima (5.50) 1pt
12 points staked.
First day of Goodwood and a big push here to get back into profit.
2.10 Lang Shining (11.00) 1pt ew
2.45 Tactic (13.00) 1 pt ew
3.25 Ouqba (6.00) 2pts to win
4.00 Mister Manannan (10.00) 1pt ew
4.35 Sugar Ray (12.00) 1pt ew
5.45 George Benjamin (5.50) 2pts to win
12 points staked. I’ve gone with some in-form trainers (both at the track and generally) and tried to avoid the low draw. Hopefully the each-way bets are a safer means to a return – shame they are only for the first three places…
No joy yesterday, hopefully some better choices today.
1.25 Ascot – King’s Point (21.00) 0.5pt ew
4.25 Golden Sword (5.00) 1pt to win
Mark Buehrle pitching a perfect game
So, yesterday Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect game. It’s pretty amazing that this has only happened 16 times since 1900 – particularly when you think about just how many thousands of games there have been over that period, and that as something of a sporting ‘holy grail’, this is something most (all?) pitchers are aiming for every single day. I’m struggling to think of a similar achievement in another sport – one that is the ultimate a sportsman can achieve, but happens incredibly rarely. Any thoughts anyone?
Credit also to Dewayne Wise’s catch in the ninth inning. It would be an incredible catch at any time, but with the pressure of a potential perfect game in the offing, this was magnificent. It just goes to show how important teamwork and supporting each other’s teammates still is. The game was already won, essentially. That catch was for Buehrle.
Three for today. After these I’m pretty much back to my original 100pt start – so tomorrow I may well be heading into a world of losses. These are a little longer odds than usual, so might buy me a little time…or are the sign of a desperate man.
Southwell 3.25 – Joshua (6.00)
York 6.30 – Bonnie Prince Blue (9.00)
Newmarket 7.40 – Burnwynd Boy (13.00)
All 1pt to win.
RSS - Posts
