Tut tut Mr Spencer!

Jamie Spencer has been given a 10-day ban by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority.
The former Champion Jockey was found guilty of failing to ensure his mount Mickmacmagoole achieved the best possible placing in a race at Southwell in November 2005.
He was cleared of any wrongdoing under the non-triers' rule.

The 26-year-old Irish rider, the champion jockey in 2005, was punished instead under the less serious Rule 158, which covers negligence.

"Obviously I am disappointed to be banned as I stand by the ride I gave, but I am glad I have been cleared of deliberately stopping a horse, as that is the reason I came here," said Spencer.

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Bullet boy - 8:36 - 15/1 (each way)
Major Blitzrieg - 9:12 - 9/1 (each way)
Flashy Canyon - 9:36 - 11/2 (each way)

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How to get over the FA Cup blues!

If you like me support a club who were dumped out of the FA Cup's third round yesterday then theres only one way to raise your spirits and thats by making some money on the virtual ggs! Liverpool may have lost their throne but life goes on and hopefully tonight's top tips will help erase the memory of yesterday's fiasco at Anfield!Afterall it could be worse, I could be a Charlton Athletic supporter!!!

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Tourettes Pete - 8:36 - 13/2

The saying' God loves the trier' seems to have been written for this horse. The 3 year old colt from the Martian stable has never registered a win claiming 17 placed finishes from 30 runs. Agonisingly the grey finished second in his last race on the 3rd of January losing out to eventual winner IXL by just three quarters of a length. It seems a win is beyond him so maybe the best hope for him is another placed finish tonight in Hong Kong. However its when you least expect it that a horse like this picks up the win so it may be wisest to back him each way if you're tempted.

Agrippina - 8:48 - 7/2

This horse dreams of fast going. In her 7 and a half month career the aceface trained 4 year old has had her best days on this going and will be confident ahead of tonight's level weight race in the USA. In 83 races Agrippina has secured 25 victories (8 of those being on fast going) and 37 placed finishes. Current form is solid and she comes into this race on the back of a fine win last Thursday in the USA. A fine horse she could well secure win number 26 tonight if all goes well.

Comancheros - 8:57 - 46/1

Huge odds here for a horse who's won 4 and been placed in 6 of her 13 races so far. From the daimilk yard the 3 year old has impressed in the lower grade races but she'll find a greater challenge in this evening's encounter in the States. Still at such long odds shes certainly worth a small each flutter.

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You can't keep a good thing down!

One of England's greatest racing legends Lester Piggott has been given the all-clear after being hospitalised over Christmas.

The 71-year-old was admitted to West Suffolk Hospital after complaining of feeling unwell on Christmas Eve but was back home in Newmarket five days later.

The 11-time champion jockey underwent tests for a suspected heart problem but his daughter Maureen Haggas said that "the results have come back fine".

Piggott rode 4,493 winners in his career, including nine Derby victories.

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New year gets off to a flyer with Kerkira delivering as expected

In a storming finish in Australia 32/1 outsider Kerkira finished in the places as tipped by yours truly yesterday. Its the 5 year old filly's 30th placed finish in 71 outings.

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Bob the horse - 8:36 - 32/1

Well can bob the horse replicate the fine achievement of Kerkira by stealing a place at long odds of 32/1 tonight in Dubai? The Foxy911 trained colt is currently in the middle of a steady patch despite not registering a win since the 3rd of December. He's been placed in four of his last six races and if he gets a decent jockey tonight then he could be good enough to add to his career winnings of £1,364.

Mill Ghost - 8:57 -25/1

Its not easy to make the step up a higher class of racing but thats the task facing Mill Ghost tonight in Australia. Despite only being out on four previous occasions the 2 year old has impressed already winning once and being placed in three bringing in £56 in winnings. Well used to yielding going the grey will be relishing tonight's race and all going well Mill Ghost will nick a placing at least.

Weeping Jane - 9:24 - 38/1Its very difficult to predict whats going to happen in this Novice Juvenile race as there isn't a lot of experience to look back on. I would admit that it would be a big suprise if Weeping Jane were to snatch this race but stranger things have happened. Owners Kenichi may have been suprised by the length of the odds but Im sure they'd agree this black girl is far more capable than the lofty odds suggest.

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What will 2007 hold for you?

So will it be you who trains the next Lady Killer then and will you reach your owner's goals in 2007? Will you deploy a different tactic or are you happy with how things are going so far?
...and punters will you do the wise thing and follow my tips?????

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The Orb Effect - 8:36 - 15/2

Its very rare in real or virtual racing that you get joint favourites at 4/1 but the 8:36 race from the USA promises to be a money winner for clever punters. In a field of equal ability any of the 14 who go to the posts could snatch this one. I think perhaps The Orb Effect will have a slight advantage over others though with a wealth of experience and successes behind him. The 6 year old from the Punting Paul stable won 19 times and has been placed in 37 of his 107 races thus far chalking up career earnings of £1,027. It'll be an exciting race and this boy could win though a placed finish is more likley.

Kerkira - 8:48 - 32/1

More attractive odds in the 8:48 race and again Im opting for an outsider - this time Kerkira from the Dead Cert stable. The 5 year old black filly may have a poor win to run ratio but its her ability to secure placed finishes that takes the eye. In 70 races shes been placed in 29 and with form like that and odds of 32/1 she must be considered to cause a bit of a suprise down under. Her record over firm is decent and with a good jockey and a strong finish she may well get up for a top three finish.

Maltese Assassin - 9:12 - 12/1

The only main worry with this boy is weight. The concern doesnt come on the back of consuming too much virtual christmas turkey but rather relates to his last three races in which he won each one. On an electric run of form he'll be hoping to make it win number 30 tonight in Austrailia to add to his 47 placed finishes from a total of 110 runs. However Im thinking the bookies may be right to be a tad cautious and precict the Deduson trained grey will finish in the places.

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Not such a happy new year for duo

Top Jockeys Tony Culhane and Dean Mernagh will face corruption charges following an inquiry by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority.

The charges relate to as many as 37 races between July 2003 and April 2004.

Both riders deny any wrongdoing and have released a statement through their legal representatives.

"Tony and Dean have done nothing wrong and remain confident that they will successfully defend the charges," said legal representative Phil Williams.

The riders have been charged along with two unlicensed individuals, Gary Lyons, who is Culhane's brother-in-law, and David Watkins, Culhane's father-in-law.

Culhane and Mernagh are accused of "communicating to Lyons for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind information that was not publicly available or provided for in Appendix N to the Rules".

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Bullet boy reaches target

In the best result of the evening for this tipping site bullet boy managed to sneak a second placed finish in Dubai last night at decent odds of 9/1.

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Hollywood dreams - 8:48 - 5/1 (to win)

Gothic Serpent - 9:12 - 10/1 (each way)

Bacardi Beach - 9:36 - 4/1 (to win)

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Will be war or beef?

Two of Ireland's chasing stars will do battle when War of Attrition and Beef or Salmon meet in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Thursday.
Just six runners will line up for the Grade One three-mile contest.

Michael Hourigan's Beef or Salmon, a three-time winner of the race, beat Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War of Attrition at Down Royal in November.

Former classy hurdler Back In Front also runs while Robert Alner's The Listener is the sole British hope.

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