Brian Meehan's 2yo For 2012 Season

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).

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

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!)

Memorable Big Wins

UnMotivated...

Page views are a little down today. Probably just one of those days with racing being pretty low grade. 


I am struggling to find the motivation to write posts at times. Not so much writing material but just trying to understand what people want. Need the two-year-old racing to start to give me some focus. The best writing comes from that burning passion which beats within your heart. See, always knew I was being pulled towards Mills & Boon. 


With so little feedback from readers it is difficult to appreciate whether new topics work or not. Hi, My Name Is John, is one new theme I feel has merit. He is a funny character and someone you will be hearing much more about in the near future. Well, if he ticks your box, that is. No point writing if it falls upon deaf ears or people flick past. I know John has little to do with racing in ways (apart from his eachway Trixie) but that may not be a bad thing as it can be good to have a distraction from gambling at times.


The Yankeeyou is okay but as I don't have any strong opinion on horse racing beyond the two-year-olds it has some limitation.


I must say I am disappointed with the numbers joining HCE Gold Tips. I know it's not the best time to for people to join - being out of season etc - so we will have to see how things pan out. I would like to thank Mark of Patient Speculation for his recommendation on his blog. It is much appreciated. All subscribers will be given the most professional service and I will be pulling out all the stops to make this season profitable. If HCE Gold isn't in profit by the end of the 2012 season then I will be amazed. In fact, if it doesn't go well then I will not give any tips in future. In truth, it doesn't make a blind difference whether people subscribe or not because this is simply a promotion for bigger and brighter opportunities but if people want to be part of something I feel have potential then you are welcome. I would like to thank all those who have subscribed. You will not be disappointed - just impressed.


Thanks for all those who read HCE on a regular basis. 


(I want to apologise for being Mr Grumpy Head. I will upload a motivational post and stare at it for an hour or two :-)

It's A Trainer No Brainer

Trainers trainers everywhere but not a horse to back. Well, that can often seem the case when betting two-year-olds on debut. In fairness, it isn't the wisest move to bet on juveniles when making their race course bow because from a statistical standpoint they are much more likely to win on their second start. Peter Chapple-hyam, Richard Fahey & Tom Dascombe are masters at scoring on debut. However, many trainers feature a particularly poor strike rate. Here are a few of the worst candidates.






Worst Trainers For 2yo Debutantes Winners    (Based on *statistics  at least 6 years data)


Mark Tompkins 0/128


Michael Esterby 2/102


Rod Millman 1/94


Dean Ivory 0/54


Hughie Morrison 4/115


John Hills 3/122


Michael Blanshard 0/48


Peter Makin 0/46


Reg Hollinshead 0/45

Have You Heard Of The Online Betting Guide (OLBG)?

OLBG.com has the largest and most extensive fantasy betting competition in the whole of Europe. It’s free to enter and OLBG.com has given out over £100k in cash prizes so far! With millions of page impressions a month and a loyal userbase, this is definitely a punters favourite.

What you need to know about OLBG.com:

- It’s Free to enter

- 300+ monthly prizes totalling over £4,000

- Create personal tipping league amongst friends or your site users 

- Make virtual bets on a wide range of markets

- Daily and antepost horse racing tips

- Every Football league you can name ( ok, not quite but pretty close)

- Exclusive Free Bets only open to OLBG.com members

- Create your own betting blog giving your mates your daily tips and advice

- And just about every other sport under the sun!

A Quiet Day, Mr Fahey

I have been struggling to write posts these last few days. I'm relying on the Daily Beach Babes and Yankeeyou to fill this space. 


Sure they have their fans, those girls.


I would like to thank the regular supporters of the Yankeeyou who forward their tips. In truth, it is a thankless task. If the selections win, the world and his wife want more but if they lose then Mr & Mrs from Cats Bottom convince themselves they could do much better following their olds aunt's method of reading the tea leaves. I sometime wonder if I would be better to revert to more stealthy tactics and bet behind my cloak and dagger. Perhaps turn into Mr Random. Who knows, one day I may just disappear from blogging as quick as I arrived. As with most things in life, it is probably best to please yourself and let the rest of the world come and go as they wish.


This two-year-old black hole doesn't make for inspiring prose. Always waiting for the new season to begin. I had intended to write a few HCE Snippets, taken from trainer blogs with regard to their juveniles, how they are progressing etc. The Brocklesby is a word two-year-old fans listen out for. It's like a whisper which grows to a shout as the race day comes galloping into sight. It's akin to a Chinese whisper. That tiny promise builds momentum, playing Mind Games with those who dare dream...


The problem with many trainer websites is that their blogs are lacking in regular content. George Baker, Ann Duffield & Roger Charlton are the exception to that rule because they are avid bloggers and very insightful, humerous and honest souls. The Horse Trainer Website Directory, which can be found on HCE, took many hours to develop but it's bordering on a waste of time for the few who use it. Well, it is there if needed. I always take a look at what the trainers have to say, especially if I am considering a wager. It only takes a moment or two and it is often the difference between betting an not. True, some never have a bad horse, while others are so secretive they never say a word. I noticed a couple of times last year that Richard Fahey and owners Middleham Park Racing had a slight conflict in where their juveniles raced. In general, the owners opinion took preference although Fahey was at least honest enough to note publicly that he would have rather followed a different path. He wasn't always right. It struck me with last year's Brocklesby runner, Our Boy Jack, who went off 10/3. Fahey didn't seem to fancy its chances at all. I can't remember his reasoning but the colt done nothing that day although won a small race later in the season. If you learn about a trainer's opinion - his traits - you can appreciate whether he is open or not... too optimistic...or just trying to throw you a wide ball. I think there is a thin line between being cunning and trying to pull the wool over people's eyes. David Evans is a fantastic trainer of two-year-old horse but the antics surrounding Redair on debut at Kempton last season could have been taken two ways with the withdrawal of the stable's more fancied Seven Year Itch (owned by Evans) and the switching of Cathy Gannon to the, later, substantially gambled Redair, who won. If that was pure coincidence, then I'm backing the next black cat which crosses my path. Paul Cole's blog is as honest as they come. The information is there if you dig a little. Trainers often surprise, too. I sent an email to Rae Guest a couple of weeks ago about one of his debutantes because I was intrigued by the owners and if they were related to a breeder he once trained for. He was kind enough to reply. I always think that says a lot about a person.     


As the start of the new Flat season draws closer there will be much news and excitement about this year's crop of two year olds

Patient Speculation (The Big 10)

If I were giving marks out of 10 then Patient Speculation would get a 9/10

Why?

That's not being negative - it simply indicating what a great tipster Mark is because nine out of his last ten horses have finished in the first three placings. That includes four winners! Now I don't know about you, but when did you last hear of a tipster achieving a 40% strike rate and 90% place?

 No wonder he calls them high probability each way selections.

TATTERSALLS MILLIONS PROVES POPULAR

The 2012-2013 renewal of the Tattersalls Millions has seen a total of 263 two-year-olds entered for the £1,300,000 six race series, which starts in September of this year. All the horses are graduates of the 2011 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 with purchase prices ranging from 20,000 guineas to 700,000 guineas.

The leading British and Irish trainers have all made entries for a number of their two-year-old's including Aidan O'Brien, John Gosden, Luca Cumani, Saeed bin Suroor, Sir Michael Stoute, Sir Henry Cecil and Richard Hannon, who holds the largest number of entries at 21.

Richard Hannon, whose entries cost from 32,000 guineas to 280,000 guineas, knows the race series well, having been first and second in the 2011 renewal of the £500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy, with Coupe De Ville and Tell Dad.

Other trainers numerically well represented include William Haggas with 15 entries, Mark Johnston with 13, Mick Channon with 10 and Andrew Balding and David Wachman both with nine.

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney also stands a chance of hitting the jackpot with his first venture into racehorse ownership. His as yet unnamed Bahamian Bounty colt out of Amazon Beauty is one of two Tom Dascombe trained entries.

Further notable entries include Phaenomena from Sir Henry Cecil's yard, who was bought by the Niarchos Family for 700,000gns. Fantasy In Blue, bought by Cheveley Park Stud last October for 410,000gns has also been entered.

Other high profile buys include Dream India and Marciano, by Oasis Dream and Pivotal respectively; both cost 360,000gns. Dream India is owned by Mrs Fitri Hay, Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor and flamboyant Australian Paul Makin is the owner of Marciano.

First season stallions represented include Duke Of Marmalade, Mount Nelson, Raven's Pass and New Approach, whose 525,000gns colt out of Lady Miletrian has been entered by his owner Sheikh Mohammed. He is, as yet, unnamed.

Edmond Mahony, Chairman of Tattersalls commented, "The number and quality of the entries again demonstrates the popularity of the Tattersalls Millions series and it is particularly pleasing to see seven of the eight 2011 Tattersalls Millions winning connections with entries in the 2012/2013 series. The importance of giving owners opportunities to win decent prize money cannot be overstated and we are already looking forward to another competitive Tattersalls Millions series."

There are a total six races in the £1,300,000 series, starting in September 2012. All races take place at Newmarket's Rowley Mile Racecourse

TWO YEAR OLD RACES

£500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy - Saturday 6 October

£300,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Fillies' Trophy - Saturday 6 October

£100,000 Tattersalls Millions Median Auction Trophy - Saturday 22 September £100,000 Tattersalls Millions Fillies' Median Auction Stakes - Saturday 22 September

George Baker...Had A Few Quid On Voler Le Vadette

I'm Free...

Betfair to settle some Voler La Vedette bets

Professional Gamblers

Ad Break

Take a look at the Online Betting Guide. It is free, takes just a moment to join, and basically it's the Swiss army knife for punters.

(It even has a cork screw!)

Sexy Tipping: What Can We Offer?

You have heard of the term ''sexy football''. But what about sexy tipping? Well, if ever a horse racing information service could reach such dizzy heights it has to be HCE Gold. For many years our dedication to two-year-old horse racing has fuelled our daily blog posts. In fact, we are proud of our expertise and believe we have the edge when it comes to our insightful knowledge.


However, we have long attempted to refine our knowledge to a tipping service which makes our readers say: ''I am confident this works.'' It has been a long road, but I feel we are thundering towards the finishing line. Having put myself in the shoes of our readers, I wanted to press forward to a higher level which meets your needs. What makes a winning tipping service? In truth, it is a combination of many variables. But most important, in my opinion, it's about ''confidence''. A faith that each and every tip selection has within a consistency which means those losing runs are something of the past. There are many successful tipping services. However, their Achilles' heel is that from one month to the next fortune may vary to the extreme. Punters strive to find that oasis but so often at the cost of barren spell foundering in a desert of losers. What happens if you join a tipping service a day after the peak and suffer a hostile period in the trough? That is the problem with so many services and why we have taken a different perspective. We often hear the tag that profitable betting should be viewed long-term. There is nothing wrong with such an approach if it suits your needs. But just as important is the short term perspective which is often neglected. 


Surely, both aspects must be the goal of every tipster & subscriber alike. 




Why Join HCE Gold?


1) Free Membership


2) A Dedicated Website (restricted to members only)


3) Good, Strong & Confident Bets: We cannot guarantee every horse will win, but we don't expect you to wait long term to see success. That is the key difference between this tipping service and others. These selections are based on both short term and long-term strength. Both consistency & confidence lead to a positive psychology. I know you will be impressed, but you will be our judge. If you wish to simply watch our selections for a week, month or year then that is your prerogative. We want you to feel confident in making your decision and winning opportunities. Don't miss these limited places. 


4) Our Edge: being a specialist in two-year-old racing, we have the skills to assess this season's batch of juveniles. For many punters, it may seem like a mine field. However, don't forget the converse of that argument - the opportunity to appreciate the talent of some of the best juveniles in training before others become aware. For those who run a portfolio of services, can you really afford to neglect this specialist area? As an individual, wouldn't it make a change to expect Good, Strong & Confident Bets.


5) You will be surprised how good this works.



Join HCE Gold Tips Today


                    

Paul Cole Blog Update

There is very little happening during January, we just have two running this month, Witchy Moments and Gem Of Wizdom.

Gem Of Wizdom runs at Kempton tomorrow in the 4pm Maiden, she has a poor draw and will probably need the race but she is fit and good in the stalls.

Report from the Caribbean - Pete Townshend from The Who was spotted in English Harbour at New year and Prince Albert of Monaco was staying at the Inn. It is rumoured that Putin & Berlusconi are in Eastern Antigua at Berlusconi's estate. 

New Year was headed up by the best band in the Caribbean, Paddy Prendergast (Itchy Feet) also Paddy Prendergast the ex trainer arrived yesterday. The weather is great and the tennis is great.

We are all fresh and ready for the fray.

The Pleasant Critic: The Market Examiner

Eddie Straights Racin' World

Eddie's thought for the day: ''Never underestimate a rodent.''

Tweet