The Cheque's In The Post...

Another week. I keep telling myself the new Flat season is getting closer, which it is (superslowmo). Those seconds, minute & hours tick by so slowly when you want them to pass. Shouldn't wish my time away though. The day will come when I need to put a small rock in the hour glass and save that valuable sand. As the song goes: ''If I only had time, only time...''


I can  sense someone is happy today. HCE has made someones day. Miracles do happen. You just have to take part and Abracadabra. WINNER!


I'm talking about Betmanmike. A little bird tells me he's smiling like a Cheshire cat. Well, perhaps that is a little extreme. You may be wondering who is this man Michael and pondering the fortunes of his flutter on the gee gees. Well, he's the winner of  The Saturday Tipping Competition. See, who says you don't get something for nothing? A cheque for £25 is galloping towards Cleveland like something from a Dick Francis novel. No doubt there will be a few twists and turns in this plot, as the intrepid post person cycles - traumatised by the wealth of this ''substantial'' prize - to ensure a first-class delivery. Mike, you will know it's from me because the handwriting starts with big,bold text but decreases in size very much like one of those eye test cards. I'm not sure why this happens but it must be something to do with small print and protecting my interests. Or, my hopes of selling advertising space to Specsavers. Also, pleased don't be alarmed by the Christmas stamp. In addition, I have a thing about placing the Queen's head squarely in the top right hand corner. It doesn't seem correct for it to be crooked. Not HRH. 


I fear each and every winner of this year's Saturday Tipping Competition will have a festive stamp adorning their little envelope, which conceals an even smaller cheque. 


This Saturday sees the start of a new competition. Why not join the regulars? Here is a link if you wish to learn more. Please note, if for some strange reason 1,000 people want to join then I will have a nervous breakdown.


One or two more will be just fine. This isn't OLBG although our prize money is similar!

Funny Pictures

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LUCK: STARRING DUSTIN HOFFMAN

Hi, My Name Is John...

We Cordially Invite You To... (Our Cocktail Party Celebration)

Welcome, welcome...erm, not you

Wait a minute, can you please ignore the cocktail party suffix. I've told them before...those girls. This is a blog, not a red carpet leading to the bloody Oscars Award. Sorry...  


Nothing too exciting to talk about. Those Daily Beach Babes have been giving me the eye (again) & Hi, My Name is John, has just finished the night shift. We've had mixed reviews about John, so we will keep him to the Sunday slot. More pipe and slippers than Cheltenham Gold Cup. I find Johnny 5 quite amusing. We can learn a lot from our elders (Neil). I bet John has taught you a trick or two from reading his introduction. Next week he has something very funny to share with you. Well, with us all... 


I've been talking to my youngest brother, Gareth.He is a web master. Has a cloak and everything. I think I'm getting mixed up between a web master and a wizard, hey. Well, he runs a couple of successful websites and even sold one, a few years back, to a company in San Francisco. It was down Silicone Valley. Nothing to do with PIP. He met someone from Google, a mix of geeks, taken to a Goo Goo Dolls concerts and heard a funny story about Robin William's wife hiding in the bathroom for two days. I keep telling him to go back.


Well, he is always trying to point me in the right direction, like younger siblings do (in a nice way, of course).


However, as my mind works in furlongs it takes a slap on the arse and someone holding a tuft if grass in front of my face for me to be propelled forward.I kept wondering why I wore metal shoes. I'm sure many of you out there, would suggest I need to remove the blinkers or grow substantial sideburns in an attempt to replicate cheek pieces. You may be wondering - like most of my posts - where this one is leading? I'm talking search engines. (I doubt you saw that coming...)


The Wizard says to gain a higher page ranking we need to write a few guest posts on other blogs/websites. At present we are sitting just at the bottom of page one for ''Racing Tips'' on Google. Think we are just about top of the tree for ''2yo Horse Racing Tips'' or some combo of those words. It's all GobbledyGoogle to me. In this fickle world of search engine words, even a carefully positioned apostrophe can add ten readers a day!


I wonder if anyone actually types ''2yo Racing Tips''. Some. A few. A few die hards with green teeth and weld marks on their hind quarters. I'm feeling sorry for ever creating a blog after writing that last sentence. What have I descended to? However, times must...and to attract even more readers than the Daily Beach Babes could imagine, you (me) well, we need to be at the top of the search engines. I'm wearing shoulder pads just in case we are vying for space because the top of this tree seems as sharp as the point of a diamond. I've got a plan. If you cling to me and I cling to you, and Joe Bloggs hangs on my left metal shoe we could be okay. Well, The Wizard calculated that people who head the list for ''Racing Tips'' will probably gain 100 sign-ups to their ''Free Tips Offer'' a day. Makes interesting reading, hey. I'm not sure what you have to do to reach that summit? That diamond at the top of the tree seems a pretty stiff task. In fact, my climbing crampons have cramped. So we have to look toward more level avenues, rather than ascend those clouds in the sky, chasing rainbows, or pots of gold. It's either pay lots of money, bride, cheat, send the Daily Beach Babes and John to do their stuff or steal a magician's wand. And there's me thinking it was all about picking a winner or two.


Once the new Flat season begins, if any successful blog (i.e.you have a respectable readership) would be interested in a HCE writing a guest post on the subject of two-year-old horse racing then drop me a line. In addition, we would welcome guest posts from other blogs/websites.

Hello, my name is John (Boringly Entertaining)

Saturday Tipping Competition: Betmanmike Wins

What's Your Selection?

Tipster selections:

12:50 Lingfield    - Aviso 2pt w (Neil) Unp  
1:30  Cheltenham   - Lexicon Lad 2pt w (Inittowinit)2nd
1:30  Cheltenham   - Saint Are 2pt w (Long Bow)UR
2:05  Cheltenham   - Billie Magern 2pt w (Seanos1)3rd
2:05  Cheltenham   - Chance Du Roy 2pt w (Danny)5th
2:05  Cheltenham   - Tamarinbleu 2pt w (Uncle Keith)Unp
2:35  Cheltenham   - Knockara Beau 2pt w (Gareth)Unp
2:50  Doncaster    - Imsingingtheblues 2pt w (Blackbooks)NR
2:50  Doncaster    - Galaxy Rock 2pt w (James)4th
2:50  Doncaster    - Galaxy Rock 2pt w (Betmanmike)4th
3:00  Lingfield    - Custom House 2pt w (Me Old Mum)Unp

3:00  Lingfield    - Loyal Royal 2pt w (Capt Heathcliffe)Unp

3:20  Leopardstown - Head Waiter 2pt w (Jodonovan)Unp
3:35  Lingfield    - Licence To Till 2pt w (Tecbet)3rd

4:05  Lingfield    - Eurhythmic 2pt w (HCE)Unp

4:15  Cheltenham   - All The Winds 2pt w (Bobby Talk)Unp
4:15  Cheltenham   - High Storm 2pt w (Patient Speculation)Unp
4:25  Doncaster    - Forever Present 2pt w (Mad Gambler)Unp


Good luck to all :-)

Betmanmike Wins

The speculative bets were flying today but try as they may none could catch Betmanmike (28pts). Best effort of the day came from Inittowinit with Lexicon lad (2nd 16/1).  

Congratulations to Mike.


Thanks for all those who took part. Let's get ready for the new month.


Are you going to be our next winner? 


January's Tipster Table Result 

Wildcard Racing: Holding The Aces

Wildcard Racing

As you know, HCE is at the cutting-edge of two-year-old horse racing. In fact, we have our finger on the pulse which brings opportunities to meet some great people involved within this wonderful sport. We have some exciting news. What could be better than following a juvenile from the start of its racing career? Well, that is exactly what we will be doing with a filly called Somethingboutmary. To learn more, here is an update from Andrew Bonarius.   

At wildcard racing we aim to find affordable racehorses and match them to top trainers…. We know not everyone has the budget to afford a Galileo colt but buying into a race horse does not have to cost the earth, nor is it just for the rich and the famous.

Somethingboutmary

I have an amazing bloodstock agent who has supplied me with some nice horses at great value; our latest purchase is Somethingboutmary a stunning 2yr old filly out of Sleeping Indian. There was only 1 trainer she was going to…. Kevin Ryan. I had spoken to Kevin and told him I was interested in expanding my syndicate and having a horse with him, as it happened he was on his way to Cliff Stud in Helmsley North Yorkshire. I told Kevin about a group of horses up there and just asked for his opinion on whether any would suit him. I did not tell Kevin I had already decided on the sleeping Indian but I required his opinion.

I received a call from Kevin telling me he had spotted a Sleeping Indian filly, Strong as an ox and a great walker… the deal was done. The filly was bought for me it was the most expensive horse I had laid out on at 16K but she is great value for money, she was meant to be the main breeze up horse of my bloodstock agents and in the past her sleeping Indians have gone for up to 40K….. Her mum LochLeven never raced but don’t let that put you off she is the sister to Super Sleuth a top sprinter…. Our filly has all the looks, the body and strength to match No wonder Kevin picked her out and was keen to get her to his yard. I am not the type of person who would big up his horses but I do like this filly and so does Kevin.

I have my ideas what I want to achieve with this filly and I see no reason why she can’t be a little star.

She is doing all the right things at home and Kevin phoned me the other day after having x-rays done on her joints that she was ready to step up her work and time to press her buttons.  She is a very forward filly and Kevin gets on well with Sleeping Indian horses so I know she is great hands. This is the first horse I have had with Kevin, My other horses are with Richard Fahey and we have just sold Deerslayer who was with Amy Weaver in Newmarket. We bought him and went out to America to land a big prize but never got to run as Deerslayer broke loose on route to the start and injured himself in the process….. But we did not lose out and ended up selling him to American owners but still retaining 25% of the future winning…. Just shows you don’t have to spend a fortune to experience high level racing.

I have also just bought a mare called Sceilion who is going off to be covered by equiano in Feb, so will dipping my toe into breeding…. Watch this space so to speak

I plan to keep you all updated on how she is getting on and hopefully a few of you want to sign up and experience 1^st hand this exciting year ahead with SBM… Shares are from just £100 a month for 5% and £200 for 10% lease or purchase option available.

I also have a racing club where for just £50 you can lease 2.5% of this filly and join the wildcard racing team.

Please check out www.wildcardracing.co.uk for more info on our horse or email me andrew.bonarius@btinternet.com

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YANKEEYOU

I'm glad you're reading this. I need your help. As the two-year-old season has come and gone, the long wait for the new Flat Turf season has begun, but for the moment I need something to fill my ten-gallon hat & cowboy boots. Well, what are we going to do? I have decided to leave that question with you. In fact, you can be part of the Yankeeyou experience. Wait a cattle-rustling minute. This could be revolutionary. It's certainly got my betting account in a spin. This is truly a social betting experience because this Yankee has gone global. I want you to make the selections for my Yankee. Have you got a winner up your sleeve? Do you want to be part of the populous? You, Yankeeyou, you.

Selections from Mr Random, Tony Coote, Patient Speculation &  Phoenix Racing

Summary:

''Mr Random has been sacked! Casa Bex would have gone close if not for finding trouble in running. Ajdaad ran a fair race, while star of the show was Atticus Finch. Disappointed for Clint, when it looked a winner until the line.''


Quote of the day: 
''Blind Luck retired''


(did it ever work?) 

Welcome to the exhibition...

The Exhibition: Equine Art

Cheltenham Festival 2012

It's in the blood

Cheltenham Festival - The Runners and Riders

The Cheltenham 2012 Festival is the most eagerly awaited event in the National Hunt calendar. There are four days of racing and each day has a great race card that includes a variety of different races ranging from novice races through to Grade 1 featured races. Every year there are spectacular line-ups of runners and riders, and the 2012 festival promises to be no different.

The featured race on Day 1 is the Champion Hurdle which is run over 2 miles and half a furlong. It is anticipated that Hurricane Fly will make a good showing and the horse is a clear ante-post favourite over Grandouet, the winner of the International Hurdle last year. Another horse to look out for is Binocular, the winner of this race in 2010. 

On Day 2 the featured race is the Queen Mother Champion Chase.  Last year the race was won by Sizing Europe who this year is back defending his title. He is the clear ante-post favourite ahead of Big Zeb and the Nicky Henderson horse Finians Rainbow. 

Day 3 features the World Hurdle, which is run over 3 miles and includes 12 hurdles to be jumped. Big Bucks is the clear odds-on ante-post favourite. It is not surprising as over the last three years the horse has made this race his own, having won them all. Such a winning streak can’t last for ever, but there is no reason to suppose that he won’t make 2012 his fourth consecutive win. 

The feature race in Day 4 is of course the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is the most important race in the festival. Long Run was the winner last year and he shows every chance of repeating the victory in 2012. He is a clear ante-post favourite, though it is far too soon to write off Kauto Star, despite his advancing years; he will be 12 years old. 

The leading rider in 2011 was Ruby Walsh, a feat he had previously achieved in 2010 and 2009. Will be repeat it yet again this year? In 2009 he won seven races, in 2010 three and in 2011 four. Currently he is the Irish National Hunt champion jockey and his total of wins is now over 1,400; betting on him to clean up this year at the Cheltenham Festival could be smart money well spent. 


With the upcoming Cheltenham festival 2012 getting closer by the minute, why not come and check out all of the latest betting odds and offers today with 2012cheltenhamfestival.com.

Mr Gadget: Meet Perch

Mr Gadget will pop up on the blog every now and then with products that may be of interest to our readers. We do not receive any payment for this advertisement but hope you will tell your friends about this post if you feel it is of interest to others. Perch is a novel product which comes on sale in the next few months and made me smile. A fun way to make sure you don't forget your portable device chargers.

  

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Perch Website

32Red Wins Trademark Dispute with William Hill

Not content on being the largest sports betting hub in the U.K., famed punter William Hill also plans to destroy all of its competition. Yet online gambling upstart 32Red is standing up the Hill this week, winning over the court in a recent trademark dispute with the gaming giant.

William Hill, the owner of the 32Vegas online casino, filed suit against 32Red, claiming that the online gambling hub’s name infringed on the company’s EC registered trademarks, which held names similar enough to create confusion among prospective gamers.

The suit, which has been running for more than two years, came to an end earlier in the week when the High Court of Justice ruled in favor 32Red, claiming that Hill’s “32Vegas” and “32V” properties were purposefully similar to 32Red’s own line of online gambling.

“We are naturally delighted that the High Court has upheld our claims,” 32Red CEO Ed Ware told the press. “This judgment firmly establishes our intellectual property rights and should deter other operators from infringing our trademarks.”

32Red will now pursue the court for repayment of “significant legal costs” and launch an inquiry into the extent of damages or profits that arose from the infringement.

Naturally they are also seeking an injunction against William Hill’s use of the 32Vegas name.








Update: One place gone today on HCE Free Tips Subscription, so just four left this month.

Brian Meehan's 2yo For 2012 Season

Brian Meehan

Brian set a benchmark for others in the profession to aspire to in years to come when bookending his first season at Manton by winning two of the world’s most valuable races, the Dubai Duty Free in the Middle East and Breeders’ Cup Turf in the USA, the double yielding staggering prizemoney of £2,777,688 It was an achievement recognised with the coveted ‘International Trainer of the Year’.

In between that magnificent twin triumph, he registered a fine season on the domestic front, highlighted by David Junior’s win in the Group 1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown in mid-summer.

Even before the move at the beginning of 2006 to the Sangster family’s legendary estate on the Wiltshire Downs near Marlborough, Brian was widely acknowledged as a trainer going places.

When he set up his own training business in Lambourn in 1992, the son of a Limerick orthopadic surgeon had eight horses, one of them owned by his ever supportive close friend Richard Hannon, to whom he had been assistant trainer for six years.

Brian’s progress since those fledgling days has been admirably consistent, and, apart from those already mentioned, his Group 1 wins include the Champion Stakes, Prix Morny, Prix de la Foret, Cheveley Park, Grosser Dallmayr Preis, The Gazelle and most recently the Man O’War stakes with Red Rocks.

It therefore came as no surprise that after John Gosden left Manton, the Sangster family headhunted Brian to take over at what few will argue is the outstanding training establishment in Britain.

With a new three year contract agreed in the spring of 2008, Brian will be aiming to add to the Group 1 winners sent out from there. When the deal was signed, he said:”This is the most wonderful place to train and I’m delighted we’ll be here for at least another three years, possibly longer. We’ve a great relationship with the Sangster family. I believe one of the key elements of our success over the years, both in Lambourn and now here at Manton, is the first class team of staff that we’ve put together; they all work very hard to make certain the job gets done as it should be done.”

To learn more about Brian Meehan's two-year-olds for the 2012 season, please click on the banner (below).

Brian Meehan Website

Charlie Hills Blog Update

We started 2012 in style when our first runner, Basseterre, won readily at Lingfield on Saturday. He could potentially be a nice horse and we will take our time with him now. He came out of the race well and has tightened up for it.

This we we'll have quite a few runners. On Monday Red Soles goes at Wolverhampton. She didn't run last year as she never really showed anything at home. A spell schooling seems to have perked her up, but she has been off an awfully long time and we are not that confident. She will almost certainly visit Dark Angel this year so this may be her only run. One Wednesday a nice filly, Piece Of Cake, runs at Lingfield. She had her fair share of problems which kept her off the track last year, so she will almost certainly need the run. On Thursday Red Trump, a Red Clubs half brother to Moss Vale, and Evelyn May are in Kempton. They are both going nicely at home. Never Satisfied and Hey Fiddle Fiddle are entered at Lingfield on Friday, and Margate is in at Wolverhampton. Never Satisfied, who has done well over the winter, and Margate, who is a nice big filly, are the most likely to run. Hey Fiddle Fiddle is also in at  Lingfield on Saturday.

Looking ahead we have purchased a horse privately to run at St Moritz on 19th February. He is the sprinter Desert Strike who ran at Lingfield on Saturday. He's a big bull of a horse who should hopefully handle the conditions out there.

Charlie Hills Blog

This Bet Is Shaping Up Nicely

Nothing much exciting to blog today so thought I'd let the Daily Beach Babes do the talking

Psychology Of Winning by Bud Maxwell

Of all the legendary sports figures, golf's Tiger Woods often is the first who comes to mind when you think of the psychology of winning. But the mindset of a winner goes far beyond the sporting fields of competition; rather, it extends to personal relationships, family and career. Much of winning is a mental game, a preparedness by design, a blueprint preplanned in your mind.

1. Be Prepared

   • The old adage that "nice guys finish last" is likely just that--an old adage. Most experts claim that being prepared is your best bet for success. Preparedness comes in many different forms. An athlete prepares his body for competition by training, a student prepares her mind for an examination by studying and a police officer by intense training. When one's body and mind are properly prepared, the psychological effect of becoming a winner is greatly enhanced.

   Losing is a Part of Winning

   • In order to learn how to become a winner, you also must learn how to lose. Valuable lessons can be learned by losing. It is important to remember that losing is not an indictment of your inability; rather, it should be viewed as a learning tool used to improve your skills. The act of losing can be made positive by managing future emotions and analyzing poor performance.

   Goal Setting

   • Most psychologists believe it is difficult, if not nearly impossible, to win without first establishing a distinct set of goals. Your goals, however, must be achievable and not beyond reasonable expectations. Developing goals, your blueprint for success, is the first step to winning.

   Creating a Vision

   • Just as important as establishing a realistic set of goals is envisioning success. If a person cannot envision being a winner, he never will. As a whole, most people find it less stressful to "not lose" than to win. To most people, losing is easier than winning. Winning is a complex process that involves preparation, training, dedication and goals, a formula that often is beyond the capacity of many. Those who have the ability to envision themselves as winners become just that with preparation and dedication.

   Fear of Winning

   • If you have never won, winning means redefining yourself. For most, it is simply easier to remain the same person you've always been rather than become someone whom others will hold in high regard, envy and even criticize.

     In order to become a winner, you must prepare, create goals, develop a vision and act. Simply put, believing that it is just as easy to win as to lose and following a blueprint for success will go a long way to achieving your winning goal, whether it be in sports, family or career.

     
     

Paul Cole Blog Update

The weather seems to have turned cold again this week but all the horses are continuing to do well, the two year olds look great and are still trotting. Swingland, Pearls From Sydney & Joy To The World are back in work here after having a winter holiday at Kirtlington & Stratford Place respectively. Circumvent and Strategic Mount are both cantering. We are planning for Circumvent to run in the Winter Derby at Lingfield at the end of March. 

I didn't catch up with Putin or Berlusconi (rumour) but I did catch up with Pete Towshend who is working over here at the moment. Willie Carson leaves on Thursday and Chris Wright & Martin Myers arrive at the weekend (Racing Update!)