7 FEB

Mick Fitz - I thought you retired! - yes he got Menchikov home as was my niggle. The only strong bet yesterday, Electrolyser, came in albeit at restrictive odds . Given a choice won at a tasty 4/7 (when compared to the betting forecast) and everything else was pretty much hit and miss and lacked any real confidence from myself.

I couldn't find the results for the York match so am going by the BEtfair forum where someone mentioned "2-2 amazing scenes" - which, if correct, got us the over 2.5 goals. Well done England, although it was heart in mouth time counting down those 3 minutes of extra time for my return to come in. The Germans won 3-0 which was unexpected for a friendly and left me, in hindsight, wishing I'd done the Saudi (2-0), England(2-1), Germany (3-0) mug punter bet for a nice return CLONMEL
Heavy ground at Clonmel today means races should be looked at from a layer rather than a backer's perspective (if at all!)
235
BETTING FORECAST: 11/10 Cooldine, 2/1 Your Sum Man, 3/1 Merchent Paddy, 16/1 The Flying Dustman, 33/1 Bandearg, 66/1 Golden Blossom.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: COOLDINE is tipped to make it three in a row. The six-year-old, who finished seventh to Cork All Star in last season's Cheltenham bumper, followed up a comfortable Thurles maiden win with a wide-margin success over this trip at the same venue three weeks ago, though it should be stressed that his fellow joint-favourite Scavenger seemed to be travelling at least when falling at the second-last.

Another "probability" race where it's largely down to 3 - the favourite being a multiple winner ( and we know about multiple winners, don't we children!)
As with yesterday's race, if you don't want to guess, just leave the race alone - all 3 are closely matched. For me, Cooldine and Merchant Paddy will be my selections on the strangth of Spotlight's comments regarding Your Sum Man.
I must reiterate that chosing 2 from 3 is largely down to luck here so if you want to wait for Electrolyser type bets then sit this out.

HUNTINGDON
Soft and Good to soft ground
310
BETTING FORECAST: 15/8 Norman The Great, 5/2 The Grey Berry, 11/2 Light Yield, 9/1 Chord, 10/1 Songe, 12/1 Immense, 20/1 Quilver Tatou, 25/1 Morning Farewell, 50/1 Heroes.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: No doubting The Grey Berry's potential but he has something to prove at this stage and there could be value in taking him on with NORMAN THE GREAT, who shaped with considerable promise in a good race on his hurdling debut.[FC]
The market leaders are currently 2/1 allowing level stakes backing of both for an equivalent evens return.
With Richard Johnson and Choc Thornton ( who got a horse in yesterday who traded at 30 in running!) on our side we have a fair shout.
Each way backers can look at the race too as a good race to "get an angle" into from an each way perspective.

NAD AL SHEBA

the 445 is interesting - either backing the first 2 to level stakes or chancing Mick Channon's Sweet lily each way

SOUTHWELL
230
BETTING FORECAST: 5/2 Mujamead, 3/1 Chiff Chaff, 5/1 Salut Saint Cloud, 6/1 Squiffy, 7/1 El Dee, 20/1 Pochard, Salawat, Sovietta, 25/1 Aston, Good Cause.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Mujamead rates an obvious contender in current excellent form, but he might struggle to give weight to CHIFF CHAFF, who bounced back to form last week and remains unexposed over a proven staying trip like this.[BDO]

Mujamead is a ,what children? - a multiple winner in handicap company , Miss?
Well done,Jonny!
Yes another with a hint of a chink in his armour and a race that,therefore, opens up from an each way perpective given 5 horses at 20/1 or bigger in a field of 10.
Why is Salut Sant Cloud 13/5 - compare that with the betting forecast price. This signals a place only bet for me with a little on the win.

TAUNTON

150
BETTING FORECAST: 6/4 White On Black, 2/1 Celtic Son, 9/2 Share My Dream, 8/1 Misbehaviour, 12/1 Monsieur Villez, 33/1 King´s Spear, Proud Peer, 50/1 Timynomates, 66/1 Gotontheluckyone, Sparkbridge, 100/1 Count The Trees, Neat ´n Tidy.
SPOTLIGHT VERDICT: Celtic Son would have laughed at these in his heyday but his recent defeat over fences was a furhter indication of his slide down the ladder. This trip is also short of his best so preference is for WHITE ON BLACK, representing a team that excels in these events

With Misbehaving out , Share the dream is backable at 5/1 each way incase either of the first 2 don't give their running
Some short prices today at TAunton but it is soft ground there today which tempers my entusiasm - remember the ideal is to leave heavy and soft ground cards alone

FOOTY

The Argies managed to scrape through 5-0 against Guatemala to get another mug punter acca home.

Only the African Nations games today and they are unpredictable to say the least. The Ghana game is priced to reflect the tightness. As is normal in semi finals of significance ,under 2.5 goals is usually the call, but, hey, this is Africa!
The Ivory coast are a shade of odds on against Egypt and I would favour the Ivorians with their superb attacking forwards and right winger who scored a cracker and played like a man possessed last time out. I think tey should have too much for Egypt, and may be worth entertaining at 8/13 with a view on trading if they take the lead.

Ideally a no bet day for me today in the football,

I have noticed that the SPuds are about 8/13 away to hapless Derby - this is a steal surely, or are the Spuds playing with blindfolds and hands tied behind their backs in a new type of handicap football? At this early stage, this is standout for the weekend.