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Tanya's Blog - 22nd November 2010

What a week, a mixture of the office, clocking up the mileage, Haydock’s betting ring with all its drama, more mileage clocked up, and then judging Betting Shop Manager of the Year.

Finding winners had been impossible and when Alan Algar of Blue Square asked me to take part in the tipping competition I just hoped I wouldn’t be embarrassed. I feared the worst on Friday at Musselburgh and toyed with what would be the selections on Saturday. I really fancied Stagecoach Pearl but not as much as Tidal Bay. I even had the bravado to do a Scoop6, first time in a number of years and for a layout of £24 I managed to get five legs up, but Lingfield’s 2.30 was a stitch up which my Dad said I couldn’t get up in four goes, well I had three and didn’t even tip a placed horse.

Tidal Bay
© racing-images.co.uk

To add insult to injury I backed Tidal Bay win only and didn’t even do the forecast with Imperial Commander. I couldn’t believe the on course bookmakers were so determined to lay the Gold Cup winner, many such as Totesport, M Cook, Cliff Emery and Corbett were keen to go Evens and it took some funds to shorten them. See, bookmakers do go bigger than the exchanges. They must have lost heavily on the day, at least it was refreshing to see people use their opinion.

Yesterday was a fantastic day which kicked off well in Ladbrokes London Victoria, I stood in the shop willing Frankie Figg to jump every spruce fence and that he did, Brian Hughes was fabulous and no sooner had he crossed the line I raced to catch a cab to judge Betting Shop Manager of the year. Brough Scott, Andrew Pennington, Jim Cremin, Helen Scott, Nigel Boardman, Chris O’Keeffe and I sat interviewing the eight finalists from 1.30 to 6pm, it went very quickly proving to be tremendous fun, all eight ran well, a worthy winner will be announced around 2pm today at a lavish ceremony hosted by Lee Mottershead.

A rendition of Britain’s Got Talent for Betting Shop Managers played out on Sunday evening when Brough called upon any of them who could play the piano, only two could and then very badly. Massive plaudits to John Parrott who had made his way from Aintree to London for the dinner at 7.30 he left Aintree after Hello Bud crossed the line for the Bechers Chase.

I was lucky enough to sit between reigning champion Angie Bowers and her husband, as she hands over her crown the next champion has a tough act to follow.

Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty tend to rule supreme at Kempton and Bobs Worth catches the eye at 12.30. Jeremy Kyle owns Sonning Star who runs in the 3.10 but I would like a speculative interest on Royal Kicks. Tom Cannon is an amateur to follow and he takes a valuable seven pounds of Royal Kicks back round a course the horse loves. It’s a day to come back gently and hopefully I will have more solid selections tomorrow.

POINTERS

Nicky Henderson has had 17 winners from his last 55 runners at Kempton

Barry Geraghty has had ten winners from his last 27 rides at Kempton

Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson have a 30% strike rate when teaming up together

Neil Mulholland has had five winners over hurdles from his last ten runners

Noel Fehily has had 13 winners for Paul Nicholls from his last 30 rides

Sam Thomas has never finished out of the first two in four rides in Ludlow’s 3.55