Belmont Betting: Theyskens' Theory returns to the US

Trainer Talk / Brian Meehan / 17 September 2011 / Leave a Comment

Theyskens' Theory returns to the US on Saturday night

Brian Meehan's Theyskens' Theory, sixth in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, returns to the US on Saturday night for the Garden City Stakes at Belmont Park (due off 22:18 BST). Here's what he had to say about her...

22.18 1m1f Group 1

Theyskens' Theory: She deserves to win a Group 1 and she should relish the fast ground that has been forecast. She did well to win her listed race at Sandown last month and this has been the plan ever since. It is such a shame the ground went against her at Royal Ascot as she would have gone very close on a quicker surface. She looked magnificent before she left for America, she is a genuine Group 1 filly, and although this is obviously a hot race (she faces the 1-2-3 from last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf), I would be very hopeful she would be involved in the finish.
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Brian Meehan provides the lowdown on his weekend runners, including one in the opener at Newbury that he's very excited about......

Michael Bell is tentative about his runners' chances on Saturday but could they surprise him?...

Michael Bell's globetrotting gelding Wigmore Hall goes in search of his first Grade 1 success in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday night (due off 21:34). Here's what Michael had to say about his chance.....

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Timeform Irish 1-2-3 Tips: Darwin's Theory the natural selection at Navan

Tipping / Billy Nash / 10 June 2011 / Leave a Comment

Jim Bolger will be hoping to keep his good run going at Navan

"[Darwin's Theory's] initial mark of 74 looks quite lenient (Timeform rating 82p) and he is refitted with a tongue tie here."

We've got three bets on a busy evening in Ireland, two on the Flat at Navan and one in a handicap chase at Wexford....

Cloudgazer, a well-bred son of Dalakhani, was noted making very good late headway in the maiden won by Irish Review at the Curragh on debut last month and can improve enough to win what looks an ordinary contest at 19:55. Colm O'Donoghue's mount was still in rear turning for home that day, then got squeezed for room as he attempted to make ground along the inside but finished with rattle once switched to the outside. That experience is sure to stand to him, this stiff track will suit and he is taken to get the better of the equally unexposed Casimir Road.

Casimir Road's trainer, Jim Bolger, has his team in great shape at present and his Darwin's Theory is a most interesting contender in the one-and-a-quarter mile handicap at 20:25. A good-looking son of Montjeu, Darwin's Theory finished sixth to Recital on debut at this track last year and chased home a pair of next-time-out winners (Nantucket Bay & Brown Butterfly) when filling the same spot behind Admiral of The Red at Leopardstown on reappearance. An initial mark of 74 looks quite lenient (Timeform rating 82p) and he is refitted with a tongue tie here.

The handicap chase on Wexford's card looks a very winnable race and, especially given that the pair currently heading the market both have questions to answer about their finishing effort, the value looks to be with Turtle Gale. A two-time winner over fences, Turtle Gale made a most encouraging return when fourth to Benalma at Killarney, travelling strongly until the lack of a recent outing told. He's faced stiff tasks either side of that run, but with the drop in trip a clear positive for his return to handicaps, the [8.4] currently available looks too big.

Back Turtle Gale @ [8.4] Wexford 19:45
Back Cloudgazer @ [5.3] Navan 19:55
Back Darwin's Theory @ [4.9] Navan 20:25

Weight-for-age performed gallopers in the form of Love Conquers All, Beaded and Black Piranha stand out as the obvious winning hopes in Saturday's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm. The race is due off at 06:40 BST on Saturday. Timeform's Gary Crispe runs the rule over the field...

Two backs and a lay for Friday from Timeform's US team......

Massive fields and competitive racing at York today. Last year this meeting's placepot paid a shade over a grand. Here's hoping for a similar scenario......

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Winner Stays On: Conspiracy theories and chaos theory

Winner Stays On / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 25 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

"David Cameron, himself a keen cyclist, sees If Only as his natural successor when he decides to call it a day and support of his recommendation is unanimous. If Only becomes Prime Minister."

The consequences of If Only's incredibly fortunate win last week could end up being disastrous. Read on to find out why.

Here at Betfair Towers we don't really believe in conspiracy theories. As far as we're concerned they're just wacky ideas of a conspiratorial nature envisaged by paranoid people with far too much time on their hands.

But when the CEO of Winner Stays On (that would be me) received a phonecall during his roast goose dinner last Saturday from a very anxious stammering minion, he wasn't amused. Firstly, because tepid goose isn't as tasty as warm goose and secondly because of the nature of the phonecall.

There had been a 90th minute goal in Iraklios v Panionios that had resulted in a draw, which in turn resulted in persona non grata If Only winning Winner Stays On (WSO) for a seventh successive week as a result of that scoreline. Was it just a stroke of luck that had saved him? We weren't so sure so carried out a full-on investigation into the matter and asked our crack team made up of analysts, researchers, psychologists, Uri Geller, soothsayers and an advisor to the Slovakian Minister of Finance to try to predict what the consequences of that goal would be. This is what they came up with.

If Only wins WSO for a tenth time and is rewarded with another £100. Here at Betfair a vacancy pops up for a consultant on European football and someone remembers that If Only was pretty knowledgeable on that after becoming the first 10-time winner and he's told he's the right candidate- he accepts the role.

A few months into his Betfair career a position becomes available at the Gambling Commission for an expert on football betting who has experience of working for a major bookmaker. A member of the Board at the Gambling Commission (who happens to be the uncle of Paul Robinson) recalls his nephew telling him about If Only and how he was the sole contestant to have enjoyed more success than him at WSO. With If Only's recent experience of working for Betfair allied to his reputation as a master of football tipping competitions, he's offered the job.

A couple of months later the Minister For Sport resigns in protest at Niklas Bendtner being awarded three bonus points in Fantasy Football after Arsenal's 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Premier League in which the Dane poked in the winner from three yards. David Cameron decides that the new Minister Of Sport must have a strong background in the organisation of sporting competitions because the Olympics are coming up as well as experience of working for a governmental body, or something similar. A senior member of the Cabinet who is a huge betting.betfair fan recalls someone who was a great winner of sporting competitions after following If Only's WSO success and asks if that is a transferable skill. David Cameron says it's fine and If Only is appointed Minister For Sport.

The Olympics are a huge success and If Only is recognised as the brains behind the whole operation. He's given credit for having won the bid to start with and for Team GB picking up every gold medal going in the cycling events; apparently If Only once mentioned he used to cycle to work.

David Cameron, himself a keen cyclist, sees If Only as his natural successor when he decides to call it a day and after a vote on whether If Only is the best candidate, the decison is unanimous. If Only becomes Prime Minister. If Only needs a worthy number two to become Deputy Prime Minister and decides that as the second most successful contestant of WSO, Paul Robinson is the right guy for the job. Paul Robinson is appointed.

Please don't let this happen. Please knock out If Only. For a shot at playing WSO send an e-mail to winnerstayson@betfair.com stating which name you'd like to play under.

This week's matches

Slovenia v Italy
Norway v Denmark
Bulgaria v Switzerland

If Only's selections:

Slovenia v Italy - Back Italy to score 2 goals or more at 2.66
Norway v Denmark - Back Under 2.5 goals at 1.72
Bulgaria v Swizerland - Back Bulgaria/Bulgaria at 4.9

FFormigal's selections

Slovenia v Italy - Back Italy to win at 2.36
Norway v Denmark - Back Norway to win 2-1 at 11.0
Bulgaria v Switzerland - Half time/Full time Bulgaria/Bulgaria at 4.9

If Only keeps on winning and quite frankly, we're pretty sick of him......

Reigning champ If Only tries to make it six in a row with Arenal's trip to Old Trafford amongst this week's matches....

If Only did the business and is now £100 richer. Read on for your chance to knock'em out and win the money yourself....

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