God bless and recover well John

[Until I moved to London, I could never have given this answer, but now I think forever. Obviously who knows etc, anything can happen with this industry, but I'm more confident than ever that I will be able to make good money every year from this game for the foreseeable future.]

Got 90 minutes to kill before the game starts so happy to do a Q&A if anyone has any questions for me

How much longer do you see poker as being your main 'occupation'? Until I moved to London, I could never have given this answer, but now I think forever. Obviously who knows etc, anything can happen with this industry, but I'm more confident than ever that I will be able to make good money every year from this game for the foreseeable future.

Aspirations post poker? All family based. I.e. Have one

What is the best thing/experience/skill/learning that poker has 'given' you? Ability to get on with people from all walks of life. Confidence, independence, freedom. Reading people IRL.

What is your greatest regret about taking the route that you have? Hard question, not sure if I'm answering this the way you meant it. But things that poker doesn't allow me to do that I would like to do is mainly revolves around the unsociable hours and lack of contact with real world. Means most of my friends are poker players and I find it hard to get excited about other peoples jobs / interests. And inability to get a mortgage!

Nothing like getting a bit serious!!

Oh, and would you rather fight twelve duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck. Duck sized horses - easy - just stamp on them, kick them away etc. Wouldn't know wtf to do with a huge duck

Nice responses, thanks.

The skills/learning that poker has given are especially interesting. I have often thought that if one is of an inquisitive nature, asks questions and (crucially) listens to answers then the life of a live pro could teach a lot that most jobs don't.

The real world is still there if you want to interact with it, Al. I'm sure poker can be all-encompassing but I would guard against it becoming your livelihood and social context if at all possible. When I worked in my old role I found myself in a place where it was all I did for both work and leisure. I think after a time that risks dulling the enjoyment/fulfillment of either.

Got 90 minutes to kill before the game starts so happy to do a Q&A if anyone has any questions for me

How much longer do you see poker as being your main 'occupation'?

Aspirations post poker?

What is the best thing/experience/skill/learning that poker has 'given' you?

What is your greatest regret about taking the route that you have?


Nothing like getting a bit serious!!

Oh, and would you rather fight twelve duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck.

it got me no discount!

£2000.

time to become a member of chelsea.

Whether availability remains I do not know but this site is showing packages... http://www.chelseahealthclub.com/matchday-hospitality

Strong work, Pads. Without knowing anything about it (but with a cynical dose of common sense) I would I imagine 1.2 is massive overs.

As I say without knowing anything I would have thought that well negotiated you could pick it up for <=1 and ~800 with a small amount of equity. I would imagine, with no disrespect intended, the first price quoted factors in a "they want to buy" multiple.

Good luck and shout anytime.

DTD this weekend? I will buy you a white wine spritzer if so x

[But when I did my due digence and see where he came in the Blonde Cheltenham Tipster competition it's put me off staking even a fiver]

    Right,I have no idea about thread etiquette but I am with the prawn sandwich brigade at Cheltenham this afternoon and need some tips. The boy has suggested Rolling Maul in the 4.10. But when I did my due digence and see where he came in the Blonde Cheltenham Tipster competition it's put me off staking even a fiver. So mad punting blondes,where do I put my money?

Story checks out.

Every now and then even a blind squirrel will find a nut!!

[I am with the prawn sandwich brigade at Cheltenham this afternoon]

    Right,I have no idea about thread etiquette but I am with the prawn sandwich brigade at Cheltenham this afternoon and need some tips. The boy has suggested Rolling Maul in the 4.10. But when I did my due digence and see where he came in the Blonde Cheltenham Tipster competition it's put me off staking even a fiver. So mad punting blondes,where do I put my money?

Story checks out.

That stable performance graph is, I must say, pretty sexy. Very sexy in fact.

Home Farm, yes - sorry!!

Punt it on the exchange

Given the National is the perfect opportunity for "my window cleaner's dog's uncle says" I wanted to pass this one on that I got...

"I met Arthur Moore a few years ago and he told me this horse would win a National in time.  This was just before he ran in the Irish National aged 6 (too young) and came third. 
 
Clearly after that Arthur Moore went downhill and the horse moved to Henry de Bromhead.  It came out and won first time for him so clearly retained its ability.  It then raced in Lexus, Hennessey and Gold cup so clearly de Bromhead thinks highly of the horse.  Those defeats and one poor run at the start of the season has led to a pretty attractive mark.  Certainly de Bromhead thought so as he protected it and by only running him over hurdles....and he has snuck in as number 39. 
 
Has Andrew Lynch on board and I just wonder if this isn't worth a few quid at a huge price"

The chap is a friend of a friend and apparently a decent enough judge. Make of it what you will (not a recommend as mere here say) but I wanted to pass the info on.
 

It's reminiscent of the TfT meet up a few years ago.

That took far longer than I intended, but here it is:

Real Madrid just tweeted this picture of their players celebrating their El Clasico win:



"Ronny, just try to look natural..."

The part of Cristiano Ronaldo is played by Ed Gascoigne

Tikay is playing Luka Modric.

JaffaCake is Sergio Ramos.

And, deliciously, Karabiner appears to be Gareth Bale.

Life goals unexpectedly achieved today:

1. 'Comparison' to Cristiano Ronaldo

Bad news, team. Just as Bingo had been confirmed to go for his Saturday engagement at Newbury we got the below update:


"I've just had a call from Noel with some bad news. Bingo has suffered a fracture to one of his hind fetlocks whilst working this morning. (The attached image will show you where the fetlock is for those of us that aren't sure).

It's a clean fracture but will require a couple of screws - the surgery for which will be undertaken this evening.

The implications are not terrible but it does mean an end to this season. He'll have box rest and then a summer break, we should be back as good as new for next season.

A disappointing end to this season particularly with such a good last run (and a great opportunity to repeat this weekend). Let me know if you'd like to discuss."




So.....the Gascoigne experience of horse ownership continues. One win apiece, neither of which were attended, followed by a spell on the sidelines. Such is life!! Let's hope he comes back sound into next season.

I'm lucky not to be bottom the way my week has gone.

Well done to the winners and a huge thank you to Vince for an almighty organisational effort!!

You'd always rather a horse finished strongly than tailed off. Let's hope this applies to the week's tips, as yesterday was pretty poor.

What went well?

- We were right not to back Min.
- 9/4 Sizing John (w/out Douvan) was a winner, as was the straight forecast of him following the wonder that is Douvan home.
- The 15/8 Vroum Vroum Mag and Douvan double copped.

What went terribly?

- Silver Concorde may still be going in the Supreme.
- The handicappers we backed unseated, nowhere, non-runner, nowhere. Strong.
- Noble Endeavour fell and Native River (who I backed for the RSA, sigh) scuppered the "best jockeys in the race" tricast.


Well, faint heart never won fair maiden. We go again.

1330 - Neptune

Yorkhill probably carries the most rock-solid novice hurdling form around this season, with form lines all over the shop suggesting his Tolworth win at Sandown was a very fine performance indeed. He should hold both O O Seven (think about it, nice) and Welsh Shadow.

The Neptune is a favourite's race, traditionally. Perhaps it's the slightly longer trip than the Supreme, maybe it's that it doesn't tend to carry a single horse that carry the hopes of a nation, maybe it's just variance. If Yorkhill looks very solid, however, then Yanworth could be something very special indeed. He absolutely hacked up in the end of January trial around Cheltenham, and when Barry Geraghty jumped off he wasn't exactly playing the horse down.

Quite what the best way to tackle the race is I'm not sure, but Paddy Power are first up in the combination forecast market (first two, any order) at 6/4. Gut feel is that we'll get a bit more than that if/when others price the market up, and I think if you can get anything like 7/4+ it's a very solid bet.

1410 - RSA

This is a race for seriously tough cookies - 3 miles around the old course for a novice is no laughing matter. If you look through the role call of previous winners you'll find any number of horses that ground their way to the top of the tree: Denman, Bobs Worth, Lord Windermere.

More of That won last year's world hurdle, and whilst that looked a pretty scrotty rendition of the staying hurdle Championship, Annie Power did the form a few favours yesterday. He then had Ballyalton well beaten on the same track in November. He's not run since December though, and whilst ostensibly he's been weighting for better ground, I see massive value in greater experience in a race as tough as this.

I can't be having Shaneshill as the 3 mile trip looks a case of having a runner in the race rather than anything more precise. Blacklion would be a popular, local, winner but I don't think he has the class. Roi des Francs was held by Monksland round Gowran, a horse that got absolutely smashed by.....

No More Heroes at Leopardstown. Punted for last year's potato race Gordon Elliot has made no secret of the regard he holds the horse in. It's a great chance for Bryan Cooper to take a bit of the pressure off and I fancy this one will see money for it. 5/2 seems fair but I fancy someone will push it to 3/1 as an offer - that is must bet territory.

1450 - Coral Cup

"If it's there I'll give you the money myself" - Catchphrase (?)

Finding the winner of the Coral Cup isn't exactly a walk in the park, but I think I have it. Technically that's now thought I had it as Pipe team aren't sending King's Palace back over hurdles. Back to the drawing board...

Blazer will likely prove popular. Sporting JP's silks and erstwhile favourite for the Betfair Hurdle after sluicing in over in Ireland he was disappointing last out but could be excused owing to the tight turnaround between races. In a race like this you're not looking for a horse that will grind away respectably, you're either a stone well in or you're not, and Blazer does have the capacity to tick this box.

Blood Cotil isn't exactly going to sneak in unnoticed in Rich Ricci's silks and he's been prominent in the antepost markets for any number of races for a long time. He's not been seen over hurdles for the last couple of years, and pitches up here off a very 'attainable' mark. He went off 4/1 jolly for the Grand Annual last year (pulled up after jumping poorly) but a return to a slightly longer trip and the small obstacles should suit. At 12/1 he's got to be on the shortlist.

1530 - Queen Mum

This should be a fun one, as Un de Sceaux looks to show that anything Douvan can do, he can do better.

People struggle to forget/forgive a couple of crashing falls early in his chasing career but (at the risk of tempting fate) his jumping has looked much more assured of late. There's a very strong case of "if he gets round, he wins" here, and I'm not too sure I see the logic of him being 8/11 when Douvan was sent off 2/7 - one of these prices just must be wrong. I'm pretty comfortable recommending a chunky bet at 8/11 with a view to laying it off at prices from 8/15 down. You should end up with a nice free bet on a horse that should win.

The each way shape of the race is very nice indeed, but you may need to be a bit wary of backing what looks like a parade of former Baywatch superstars past their prime and completing the walk of shame home. I'd love nothing more than to eat my words as the mighty Sprinter hacks home, but I'm afraid I just don't see it.

Felix Yonger and God's Own both represent decent each way bets to my mind.

1610 - X-Country

Again there's a few whose best days may be behind them in here. Jodie's Orders is no such horse, however, though it's in the price as the favourite. I know nothing about any of these, really, so will leave well alone.

1650 - Fred Winter

There's a couple I like in here, namely Voix du Reve and Le Curieux.

The former was prominent in the triumph betting for a goodly while but now rediverts here and represents Ruby's choice. The latter remains trained by Francois Nicolle (sure he will move next season) but now sports the Green and Gold of JP. Quite how the handicapper can mark up the horse off a few flimsy races in French ground I've no idea, but I fancy this one might tighten up in price through the day. It's a very tricky race however so stakes relatively minimal.

1730 - Champion Bumper

Ask an Irishman. Not a horse, but a strategy.