Sky Dogs

I've been struggling lately on the horses front laying three consecutive winners and backing six losers in a row (four of which were second and another one third). Tonight, to top things off, Shaneboy Luke who I'd backed antepost for the Champion Stakes got involved in trouble, went lame and did not finish his heat. My apologies to connections for backing their dog, I hope he's OK ... thank goodness I'm going on holiday for a week!

Two for this evenings card at Salisbury -

16:45 - Rock Anthem - lay to lose 21 points at 2/1 or less.
20:00 - Colonel Flay - 17 points to win at 3/1 or better.

Rock Anthem; 1st
Profit / Loss; -21.00 points

Colonel Flay; 3rd
Profit / Loss; -17.00 points

The Champion Stakes over six bends at Romford starts this evening and I'm going to have a little antepost on Shaneboy Luke. Liz McNair's son of Droopys Vieri has been running as though the step up in trip will suit and I'll have 1.5 points to win at 14/1 with the sponsors.

Struggling to see how the bookies make Tony The Tap the favourite for the 19:40 at Chepstow this evening. I'll take him on and lay to lose 24 points at 11/4 or less.

Result; 1st
Profit / Loss; -23.98 points

The Gold Collar is the big race live on Sky this evening but it looks a very tough card to bet on and I'm going with just one selection -

20:35 T1 Highview Rocket - 3 points to win at 11/2 (Bet365 / Totesport)

I'll also be cheering on Crown Rover in the main event having backed him antepost.

Sirenuse is expected to go well in the fillies sprint at Carlisle this afternoon. Runner up in a similar race on her reappearance I'll have 15 points to win at 3/1 on her going one better today.

Result; 2nd
Profit / Loss; -15.00 points

Directors Wit needs to get more consistent at the boxes but he does have bags of pace and if gets it right at the start the 11/2 about him winning the Ladbrokes August Festival 416 would look big. I'll have 3 points to win at that price with Hills.

Swift Ribena exited the Brighton Belle after finding trouble in the first round but Podges Dilemma is safely through to the semi-finals and is now as low as 3/1 (8/1 rec.).

I'm going to add another couple of other bitches who look overpriced to my antepost portfolio as below -

Britania Flyer - 1.25 points win at 16/1 (VC Bet)
Tintreach Tiger - 1 point win at 20/1 (Coral)

A little late catching up on these but I'm happy to report that July was a profitable month ... just!

The strategy is still being tweaked but I'm in profit since taking the horses more seriously again in April. Profit on turnover is running at around 5% which is OK but I'm still hoping to improve things before the end of the year when I'll undertake a more thorough review of whats been happening.

Clive Cox's Fancy Footsteps is the jolly of the 17:00 at Kempton this afternoon but she's up in grade after being beaten over course and distance last time out and for that reason I'll oppose her and lay to lose 19 points at 3/1 or less.

Result; 1st
Profit / Loss; -18.99 points

The Brighton Belle begins on Sunday afternoon at Hove and I'm going to have a little antepost wager on these -

Swift Ribena - 2 points to win at 12/1 (Blue Square)
Podges Dilemma - 2.5 points to win at 8/1 (VC Bet)

Barry Hills' Glen Molly shoulders top weight in the seven furlong handicap at Newmarket (20:05) this evening but she is good value to defy that burden and I'll have 16 points to win at the rapidly disappearing 11/4.

Result; Lost
Profit / Loss; -16.00 points

Barry Hills' colt Shabib looks on the upgrade but he'll need to be to take what looks a competitive handicap at 15:25 at Sandown Park this afternoon. Offered at around 3/1 with the bookies I'd be prepared to take him on at that price and will lay to lose 18 points.

Result; Lost
Profit / Loss; +0.00 points (lay unmatched)

Betting against a Willie Musson improver may not be my best move ever but I'm going to take on his filly Broughtons Silk in the 16:30 at Yarmouth this afternoon. I'll lay her to lose 19 points at 11/4 or less.

Result; Lost
Profit / Loss; +6.56 points

With my first antepost selection Crown Rover safely through to the semi-finals of the Totesport Gold Collar I'm going to top up my portfolio with Wordsandatune.

Paul Rutherford's bitch recorded the best sectional and final times of the first round and I'll have three points to win with Skybet at 7/1.

The Gold Collar starts at Belle Vue on Thursday night and I fancy Crown Rover to go well.

Jimmy Wright's dog had a good four bend record making the finals of both the Northern Puppy Derby and the Manchester Puppy Cup. Recently stepped up to six bends he has won four from six over the extended trip including the Grand Prix at Sunderland. If he is in that sort of from he'll go well with luck in running and I'll have 5 points to win at 4/1.

The Steel City Cup from Sheffield is the main event on Sky Sports 2 this evening. It looks a tricky card to me but I'll put my faith in these -

20:15 T1 Droopys Arshavin 0.5 pts EW (11/2 Skybet)
20:35 T2 Dazzle Special (6/4 various)
20:50 T2 The Other Outlaw (10/3 SportingBet), T6 Woodys Express (8/1 Skybet) 0.5 pts win on each.

I'll also be cheering on Magna Flintoff in the big race having backed him at 8/1 antepost ... hopefully he'll move better than his namesake!

Ante-post selection Farloe Solar went out in the first round of the Stan James Puppy Derby but I'm going back in with Give Mesome Luck who looks overpriced at 10/1 with the sponsors. I'll have two points to win.

Had 15 points to win on Amazing King.

Result; 2nd
Profit / Loss; -15.00 points