No winners on the First, though Amtrakker threatened to blow the bloody doors open around noon when his 80/1 win selection ran on well and finished 3rd. Hard luck.
Looking back at 2022, I find that Alan was the annual champ, winning the competition three times - brilliant stuff, Alan. All other 2022 winners won it twice, except Pebbles, though I'm certain had there been a 13th month, Pebbles would have joined them.
There was a wee bit left over after this year's costs were paid, and I have used it to order a small trophy for Alan. More details when it arrives.
All the best.
Joe
Adeb wins at 8/1
NAP 4.40 Newcastle - Adeb
I see that a horse called Large Action won at Musselburgh yesterday at odds of 25/1. I doubt the one trained by Oliver Sherwood ever started at those sorts of prices. I hadn’t long been in the UK when one of the lads at work dragged me off to Cheltenham for the first time way back in 1993. I’d been to meetings at Punchestown and Naas as a child, but I’d never really taken much of an interest outside of the Festivals and the Classics. That cold December changed everything as a passing interest became an obsession. Large Action ran away with the novice hurdle on the card and went on to finish a very game third in that season’s champion hurdle. The antepost money was down for 1995 renewal and I couldn’t see anything giving him a race. Imagine my absolute horror when just weeks before the Champion Alderbrook turns up at Wincanton for his first spin over obstacles and looks as though he’d give Pegasus sleepless nights. Bets were hedged in an almighty panic as wages were thrown at Kim Bailey’s star hurdler. None the less, fair play to Large Action. Tough as old boots and a bit of class too.
Abbey's Dream won 5/4
to muffled applause
Escapeandevade wins at 11 to 10 to kick of 2023 .
Newc 1538 Abbey's Dream
It's not a great card .I'll try escapeandevade in the ayr 3.45.
Jake’s advice is sound but I’m not: the selection is Pemberley in the 15.00 at Plumpton.
Marown 1.45A nap
13.45 Ayr - Your Own Story
Poor fayre today.
I think Musicka is overpriced at 33s in the 4.40 at Newcastle. I'll make him my ew nap.
Halcyon Dreams 13:15 Ayr EW Nap
It is a slippery slope trying to banish the background noise of the Nuremberg Rallies.
Footballers wear Headphones listening to their supposedly motivational minutes before a match in isolation from the context in which they will be performing. As if they can shut themselves off.
A Jockey like Ryan Moore who you might think wants no interaction on big Race Days clearly wants it.
I am thinking of how his confidence levels never dropped on his visits to N. America. Interacting with different Race Day management styles, different dressing room banter, different surfaces, climate, etc is something he embraces. He cannot be so successful over there unless he accepts the whole deal.
He doesn't walk around Santa Anita in ear muffs.
Lord of the Lodge 4.10 Newc
Pilsdon pen 3.30P.
Paw Paw 2.00 Plumpton is the nap.That reminds me of the old joke .Never back a horse at the 4 F's,Folkstone Fontwell Fakenham and F****** Plumpton.
Well done Alan a deserved winner.
GForce was questioning last week whether he was going off Piste by raising the mighty Darts Competition that generates an atmosphere that puts the start of the Supreme Novices Hurdle in to perspective.
A Sportsman went in to meltdown yesterday with the Number One Seed in the PDC wearing Ear Muffs to negate the positive energy of the raucous crowd.
I have considered this rebellion to the established belief that Sporst People respond better to crowd participation.
Are we not more focused with external background noise than the noise we can internally generate?
I am not saying Jockeys can be influenced by a crowd atmosphere in the way a Left Full Back in a Football Match can but I wonder about the performance of a Jockey who tries to distance themselves from the wider spectacle.
My nap is at Ayr. 12.45. Salaam.