Paul Cole thinks Ollie Fliptrik will run ok but is an unlikely winner. Nick is positive about Ours – he’s fine in himself, he should get through the testing ground and we’re looking for a big run. Nick has two others today which will run ok and although either could win I don’t advise backing them. Mon Michel is in great form …
The GE plan diet
I weighed myself yesterday morning, and only two days into my diet I was down 7lb at 18st3. The gastroenteritis diet really works! Sadly this morning, my stomach having recovered, I was back up to 18st6 – still 4lb down but not the miracle I was looking for. On the subject of weight it was interesting to read the “Insight” piece …
HAPPY NEW YEAR
A new year dawns, and it’s going to be a very different one for me away from Betfair for the first time in over eight years. I’m struggling to find things to do at the moment, which is very different from having loads to do but not doing it. One thing I can do is concentrate on my new years resolution …
Follow the Bear
A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL It’s been a fairly low key Christmas for me this year in as far as Christmas with four small children can be. My side of the family come round tomorrow – 18 of them with 11 children, which may get a little noisy. I’ve been to church a couple of times this year, which is something …
Ladbroke
I was hoping to be at Ascot today cheering Mon Michel on in the Ladbroke, but it wasn’t to be. It’s a shame as I’d have given him a real chance – everything would have been in his favour. Gary has two other entries, including Altilhar which I’ve backed. I spoke to Gary about him yesterday – he loves the …
Lost and alone
Day 2 of life outside of Betfair, and already bored and depressed – after years of being institutionalised within Betfair I feel lost and alone, like Brooks in the Shawshank Redemption. I’m contemplating carving my name on a rafter in my office and hanging myself with my Betfair tie. Goodbye cruel world. But there’s no great rush as it’s another great days …
Maternity leave
It was a big day for me yesterday, with Betfair finally launching the SP mechanism. I kicked the product off over 2 years ago, but it was a year and a half before we started work on it (the Betfair roadmap is permanently backed up). It is a very big piece of work – in many respects the biggest single …
Michel Ma Belle
At last!! I’ve been saying for a long time that Mon Michel is a decent result waiting to happen, and it’s gratifying to finally have a decent win to prove the case. I thought he ran an excellent race, finding just a little extra at the end when asked, which is something he hasn’t really done before. He isn’t the …
Hennessy
A great day’s racing and a runner in the Hennessy meet in the shape of Mon Michel. MM’s flat form suggests he likes soft ground, but he’s changed as he’s grown up and he prefers it better now – it could be a little on the soft side for him, but it’s a nice day and he’s in the last …
Time for reflection
I had trouble accessing the blog over the weekend and wasn’t able to post. This was probably a good thing as I gave Mon Michel a squeak in his pipe opener – he ran vaigly ok, finishing in mid division having tired on the ground and through the odd mistake. We’ll be aiming him at the big handicap hurdles he can …