Dear Lord, Please let the weather relent and allow Festival Trials Day to go ahead at Cheltenham this weekend. Many thanks.
The top class action doesn't finish there - though I love the way the big races will be over before all the football kicks off - as the novice hurdle that follows could include another top notcher. The New One reminded me a bit of French Holly at Warwick two weeks ago as he looks like a ferocious galloper. We know he handles the track and I could see him becoming a warm order for the Neptune after this.
The other novice I have been most impressed with recently was Un Atout, who bolted up at Naas last weekend. He beat nothing but looked majestic and it sounds like he's right at the top of the pecking order among Willie Mullins powerful novice brigade. Un Atout shares the same sire, Robin des Princes, as Sir Des Champs and could also be a bit special. Willie Mullins said afterwards "he may go for the Deloitte Novice Hurdle in three weeks and I won't be anxious to step him up in trip for the moment." I like that quote for two reasons. First, he needs more experience and Mullins usually sends one of his to the Deloitte. Second, it sound like the Supreme Novices is the target rather than a step up in trip in the Neptune for which Mullins and Gigginstown have plenty of other options. That's enough to trigger my first Festival ante-post bet and I'll be snapping up some of
Sky Bet's 7/1 on Un Atout to reign Supreme.
Football
Sky Bet Premier League Title odds: 4/11 Man Utd, 9/4 Man City, 25/1 Chelsea, 125/1 bar
Super Sunday was eventful on and off the field at White Hart Lane last weekend. I sat with Jamie Redknapp and Gary Neville in the studio convinced the game would be postponed. The ground-staff did a magnificent job to get the game on and were rewarded with a fascinating match. For 92 minutes Gary described it as very nearly the perfect away performance and exactly how Manchester United need to set up to take on Real Madrid in the Bernabeu. They just won't want a repeat of the sting in the tail from Dempsey's equaliser. Man Utd have had the 'sign' over Spurs for years but Tottenham deserved the point on Sunday and will take a lot from the two games against United this season. AVB's side have a real resilience about them.
United drifted in the title betting from
3/10 to 4/11 but I see the Tottenham game as a major hurdle cleared and ticked off. Arsenal are the only side in the top seven they still have to play away from home, with all the big guns having to travel to Old Trafford. United remain firmly in the driving seat.
Manchester City (9/4) are hanging in there well and with United, Chelsea and Arsenal hogging the newspaper headlines, for the moment Roberto Mancini's side are cruising along nicely under the radar.
Friday was crazy even by Premier League standards. The writing was on the wall for Nigel Adkins as soon as the money poured in all that morning on him to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked. Adkins was soon trading at 1/10 with Sky Bet and the rumours were swirling around on Twitter. The timing of the sacking was staggering, just two days after I'd been at Stamford Bridge to witness the Saints fans' ecstasy at the 2-2 draw and climbing to 15th in the table. 48 hours later Adkins and his excellent coaches, Andy Crosby and Dean Wilkins, were gone. Mauricio Pochettino immediately and ruthlessly installed. Before the game at St Mary's on the Monday Night Football Gary Neville explained his amazement at the decision and what a risk it is for the club. He was equally shocked by the lack of a single mention, let alone a thank you, in the Southampton match day programme.
It's not often a new manager sparks the odds on his team being relegated to shorten. Saints have the biggest cushion from relegation that they've had all season (4pts) but are still only
7/4 with Sky Bet for the drop. However, there were encouraging signs from the first 45 minutes on Monday night and the squad are now in Barcelona getting to know their new manager.
It's over to the FA Cup this weekend but I'm already looking forward to getting back to action on Sunday week at the Etihad.
