You're Fired! - I Wish

Wohoo. For the next twelve weeks I am in heaven for Sir Alan returns to our tv screens. I love his sense of humour.

Its also the Aintree Festival next week & although I don't have any representatives there in person, I shall still be posting our three sets of tips for every race. I can't believe its nearly another National. Last years event feels like it only took place yesterday. Denman may also make his final start of the season & I hope he comes back safe & sound ready for a crack at next years Gold Cup. Yes, I STILL believe in him.

Anyhoo thats it, ciao for now

TJ

Cheltenham Festival Day 4 - Gold Cup Chase

Behold the great GOLDEN MILLER (above) owned by the eccentric Dorothy Paget the first real female racehorse owner. He is a five - yeah I said FIVE - time winner of the Gold Cup in 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 & 1936. He also won the Grand National in 1934 too. He had a total of 28 wins from 52 starts under NH rules.

Anyhoo it was a good day all round after a nice win & several places but it was Mini C who stole the show. Word has it he got lucky last night too so follow a man on fire!

His selections (& the rest of our useless donkeys) are as follows:-

TJ:- 1.30 Zaynar / Starluck 2.05 Sunnyhillboy 2.40 Den of Iniquity 3.20 Neptune Collonges / Denman (EW) 4.00 Kingscliff 4.40 Little Shilling 5.15 Poquelin / My Petra (EW)

Top Dog:- 1.30 Ebadiyan 2.05 Dave's Dream 2.40 Pride Of Dulcote 3.20 Madison de Berlais 4.00 Royal Auclair 4.40 Big Eared Fran 5.15 Pasco / Psychomondo (EW)

Mini Cooper:- 1.30 Walkon 2.05 Farringdon 2.40 The Midnight Club 3.20 Barbers Shop 4.00 Limerick Boy 4.40 Penn da Benn 5.15 French Opera

Good luck & as the curtain falls for another year I hope you all enjoyed the show. See you in 2010. Ciao for now

TJ

Cheltenham Festival Day 3 - World Hurdle

Day 3's Hero of yesteryear is a recent one, I know. Its INGLIS DREVER (nearside, black & tan silks) who won the World Hurdle (formerly the Stayers Hurdle) in 2005, 2007 & 2008. He is the ONLY horse to win this test of stamina three times which is why he is featured. He won a total of 13 from 23 starts under NH rules & Cheltenham won't be the same without him.

It looks like Top Dog was right. Follow the Irish trainer Willie Mullins whose chargers are in flying form this year. So its onto tomorrow's hero's of the minute:-

TJ:- 1.30 Willie Mullins 2.05 Willie Mullins 2.40 Willie Mullins 3.20 Willie Mullins 4.00 Willie Mullins 4.40 Willie Mullins

Top Dog:- 1.30 Isn't That Lucky 2.05 P'tit Fute 2.40 Gwanako 3.20 Shakervilz 4.00 Oceanos des Obeaux 4.40 Le Duc

Mini Cooper:- 1.30 Ring The Boss 2.05 Kayf Aramis 2.40 Tidal Bay 3.20 Big Bucks 4.00 Osaka D'airy 4.40 Shouldhavehadthat

Happy punting. Ciao for now

TJ

Cheltenham Festival Day 2 - Queen Mother Champion Chase

Ok so I couldn't find a pic of my day 2 hero the great BADSWORTH BOY but I decided it was no reason not to include him in my hero's of yesteryear theme. He is the winner of 8 starts from 18 runs under NH rules and is the ONLY horse to ever win todays feature event three times in 1983, 1984 & 1985. Enough said.

Anyway after a bad 1st day - a few scanky favourites are not my style :( - I'm calling in some outside help. I bumped into Top Dog in the supermarket last night and inevitably the subject of Cheltenham came up. He & Mini Cooper are lucky enough to be down there for the spectacle so I've had them txt me their tips so you have a choice. As Top Dog had Go Native at 12's in the opener & Mini C had Forpadydeplaster in the Arkle at 8's and also fancied Punjabi in the parade ring so had a sneaky last minute EW on him; I'd follow their tips instead of mine! So without further ado, bring on the selections:-

TJ:- 1.30 Kornati Kid 2.05 Diamond Harry 2.40 Carruthers 3.20 Twist Magic 4.00 Lough Derg 4.40 Ski Sunday / Indian Groom 5.15 Shinrock Paddy

Top Dog:- 1.30 Cant Buy Time 2.05 Mikael D'haguenet 2.40 Gone To Lunch 3.20 Well Chief 4.00 Serabad 4.40 Simarian 5.15 Meath All Star

Mini Cooper:- 1.30 Le Beau Bai 2.05 Mad Max 2.40 Massini's Maguire 3.20 Petit Robin 4.00 Great Endeavour 4.40 Helium 5.15 Gagewell Flyer

FYI Top Dog says the Champion Bumper winner WILL be a Willie Mullins trained horse as he & I quote "farms this race every bloody year". It's just a question of "which one". Ciao for now

TJ

Cheltenham Festival Day 1 - Champion Hurdle

Hello & welcome to Day One of the Greatest Show on Turf. Usually I have a pic of the horse I think is going to win the days feature event at the start of my entry but this year I thought I'd do something a little different.

This year I'm honouring Cheltenham hero's of yesteryear starting with the Champion Hurdle winner of 1980 & 1981, SEA PIGEON. Go on, look at him in the pic above in all his leaping glory winning the 1980 event. I'm not going into his life story (that's for another blog another time) but he was a grand little dual purpose horse that won 21 races from 40 starts & £130,395 under NH rules & is a personal fave of his ex jockey Jonjo O'Neill.

Ok ok, enough already I know why you're here. You want to see some winning tips. Well here goes nothing though I cannot be held accountable if my selections don't quite manage to pull it off or happen to be non runners on the day itself. I am NOT a clairvoyant!

1.30 Red Moloney 2.05 I'msingingtheblues 2.40 Wichita Lineman 3.20 Brave Inca / Whiteoak (EW) 4.00 Garde Champetre 4.40 Chomba Womba

And that is it for day one. I'm off to place my bets. Good luck & ciao for now

TJ