Rory Gallagher 2

 

The beat club sessions 1971-72

Rory Gallagher

I went to a rather good blues night last month. The headliners were the Barrel House Blues Band. Rather good they were too playing amongst other things some Rory Gallagher numbers. I only saw the Irishman once. That was just over 43 years ago on 8 December 1971 at Reading University when my sister was a student there.

A quick search on Amazon and I came across this bargain:

Five albums: Deuce / Calling Card / Top Priority / Jinx / Fresh Evidence. 

Total cost just £9.99 and comes with free auto-rip download. Had to be purchased!

TOWIE

Going to have one more bash at Chelmsford tonight. If these get beat I may kick the Essex track into touch!:

20:10Ch 4pts win Mishaal @ 4/1 Betfred BOG

20:10Ch 1pt win Salvatore Fury @ 12/1 Betfred BOG

20:40Ch 2pts win Steel City Boy @ 13/2 Coral BOG 

Seven points staked.

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Henry V photo

Although a rehearsal photo, the exact view from my front row seat....

Harry Vee

Not many opportunities remain to see the terrific production of Henry V at the Ludlow Brewery. I went last night and was thoroughly entertained by the Rooftop Theatre Company for the near two and a half hour event. My evening was complemented with an excellent new beer from the brewery: Ludlow Blonde. I believe the play is close to sold out tonight and is completely sold out on the last night (Friday). My advice: try and get tickets for Thursday!

Here is a shot of the cast in rehearsal:

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Glen Hansard - Live in Glasgow

Harry to the rescue

No good with the tennis final - Pliskova went close but was carrying an injury which obviously didn't help. She will be up to 12 in the world tomorrow I believe.

Got a bit lucky with the PL goalscorers perhaps. Costa with a blank against lowly Burnley and then Aguero could only net one of the five that Man City put past Newcastle. Came off on 60 minutes. 

At Tottenham today it looked like being a blank day for Harry Kane. Hit the post and also "scored" an off-side goal. Spurs awarded a late penalty. Kane steps up to hit it straight at the 'keeper and nets the rebound on 96 minutes to stay in the hunt.

Costa, Aguero 17; Kane, Adams 14; Sanchez 12

Re WTA final Dubai

An intriguing final today between the improving Karolina Pliskova and the world number four Simona Halep. The players have never met before. 

I backed Pliskova at a big price in the Australian Open. She came up against an inform Makarova losing 6-4 6-4. That turned out to be a reasonable performance as the Russian beat Halep a few days later in the quarter-final by an even more impressive 6-4 6-0! 

Whatever happens today I think Pliskova is destined for the top ten this year.

I've had the following two bets:

4pts Ka Pliskova to beat Simon Halep Dubai @ 12/5 William Hill

1pt EW Karolina Pliskova to win French Open @ 80/1 Paddy Power (1/2 odds 1,2) NRNB

Total six points staked.

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Champion Hurdle 3

Although I remain very keen on the chances of Jezki retaining his Champion Hurdle crown, I think there is a second value bet worth having in the same race. This is because of the generous ew terms offered by most bookmakers and the probable prospect of a small field going to post. Arctic Fire, a contender that could be improving fast is available at 16/1 and therefore an EW bet pays place terms of  4/1 1,2,3.

OK this could be viewed as Willie Mullins' third string. But remember that old adage about trainers' second (or even third!) choice being value? No stats to back up that particular statement but in any event I have had a small bet (they only lay small bets) with Bet365 as follows:

1.5pts EW Arctic Fire to win Champion Hurdle @ 16/1 Bet365 (1/4 odds 1,2,3) NRNB BOG

Not only is this firm top price NRNB they also add the BOG stipulation (best odds guaranteed) making a great value proposition.

Three points staked.

Champions' League

We did ok in the World Cup last year but then the wipe out experienced in the FA Cup - before the quarter finals - has not inspired me with great confidence to get involved with outright prices for another football competition. However the Champions' League has reached the last 16 and gets underway again tonight and I've managed to get myself involved to small stakes. The obvious likely winners: Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are naturally at unattractive prices at the head of the market. So I've played a couple of teams further down the odds' list with a bit more value (IMO): 

1.5pts EW Atletico Madrid @ 16/1 Betfred (1/2 odds 1,2) 

0.75pts EW Juventus @ 28/1 Paddy Power (1/2 odds 1,2)

Atletico Madrid can be backed at 18/1 with Sportingbet if they accept your bets. 28/1 Juve is widely available.

4.5 points staked.

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Queen Mother Champion Chase

Had my second bet for the Cheltenham Festival today. Champagne Fever returned to winning ways in an effortless victory on Saturday in Gowran Park's Red Mills Chase (Grade 2). The popular grey now has two possible targets at the Festival - either the QMCC or the Ryanair.

Because of slight question marks concerning two leading contenders in the QMCC (Sprinter Sacre, Sire De Grugy) I thought Willie Mullins' charge would represent a decent EW bet for this prize given his excellent record at the Festival. Consequently I called Coral this morning for some 11/2 EW NRNB 1/4 odds 1,2,3. With these (rebate) terms if the Ryanair became the chosen target nothing would be lost. Imagine my surprise when Coral refused to lay me an EW bet - to ANY stake! I was offered a win only bet, which I politely declined. Much later in the day they have reduced their price to 5/1 (so perhaps someone got a bet on - but not necessarily EW of course).

Sometimes I don't know why I bother and I think it's high time I hang up my betting boots. I do like to have some interest in Cheltenham's championship races though...

The betfair market has only eight runners priced below 60.0 so surely (if he doesn't fall) he must have a huge chance of being in the frame. So it was over to Paddy Power for the following wager:

3pts ew Champagne Fever to win QMCC Cheltenham @ 5/1 Paddy Power NRNB (1/4 odds 1,2,3)

5/1 NRNB is also "available" with Coral internet and telephone service. Note that Lads and W Hill both offer 6/1 but crucially do not as yet offer the NRNB stipulation.

Six points staked.

Harry Up!

Scored one against Liverpool last night. Price cut from 16/1 to 9/1 for Prem TGS as a result! Too early to get excited and of course Aguero is a danger tonight against a weakened Stoke. But at least our man is in form this (calendar) year:

                                                          

Premier League top scorer

Regular blog readers will know to their cost I've not done any good in this market this year. I have already backed two losers. I like Harry Kane however and thought he looked very useful in the derby match yesterday. I did actually consider backing him for top English goalscorer (when he was trailing Rooney) some time ago. That was a missed opportunity. He's one behind Austin in that department right now but you'd fancy Harry finishing in front of the QPR man based on the current form of Spurs and the Loftus Road outfit. 

He's on 12 Premier League goals now - five behind leader Costa. Aguero is just two ahead in second place on 14. Coral are offering top price of 16/1 currently and you can have 1/3 odds the first two. I have had: 

3pts EW Harry Kane TGS Premier League @ 16/1 Coral (1/3 odds 1,2)

Six points staked. 

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Jack Brett and friends at Ludlow Brewery

Champion Hurdle 2

Well if you supported my selections in the Betfair Hurdle you've got nothing back unfortunately unless you went off script and backed them with Coral. This firm refunds bets on fallers as free bets so you would have got something in return for them both being on the floor. 

I think their faller insurance concession ends at the end of this month. 

I've pressed up on my Jezki bet for the Champion Hurdle. I detect some weakness in the Faugheen price which is 2.40 betfair yet odds on with some firms. Also Jezki is only 6.8 betfair (all in run or not) so I've had:

3pts EW Jezki to win Champion Hurdle @ 6/1 Coral (1/4 odds 1,2,3) NRNB 

Note NRNB with Coral currently via Internet and not available in their shops yet.

Six points staked.
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Betfair Hurdle

Can't resist a couple of pokes at Saturday's Betfair Hurdle. Especially as several bookmakers offer five places each-way betting. Pricewise is three-handed with On Tour, Bordoni and the previously advised Activial. However my two against the field are as follows:

15:35N 2pts win 1pt place Fascino Rustico @ 14/1 Betfred (1/4 odds 1,2,3,4,5) BOG

15:35N 1pt EW Chieftain's Choice @ 16/1 Betfred (1/4 odds 1,2,3,4,5) BOG

(Above prices and place terms currently also available with W Hill)

Five points staked.

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AFCON final

Far more goals in the knock out stages than I expected. Only one draw in the six matches too, which goes against the trends of the last few years. One more bet before writing off the tournament as a very disappointing exercise:

Sunday 19:00 8pts Ivory Coast v Ghana to draw @ 23/10 Bet365

Champion Hurdle

Last year's Champion Hurdle was a great race for the blog with one of my two selections - Jezki - obliging at the 12/1 taken and thus setting up a winning festival.

In 2014 you may recall there was a terrific shape to the ante-post market for this race. It looked at one time as though as few as six could line-up yet bookmakers were betting 1/4 odds 1,2,3 NRNB etc. In the end nine runners stood their ground (inc 66/1 and 100/1 shots).

There are currently 23 runners declared. I don't really have a clue how many might go to post. But the betting is indicating right now that it's a four or five runner race...on Betfair it's 46.0 bar five with Arctic Fire priced at 20.0. I think you have to oppose the favourite and look for an ew punt. I can't fancy the Fly despite his Leopardstown exploits. It looks to me increasingly like Jezki being the ew play again at the prevailing 6/1. One negative for me is McCoy in the saddle. I would much prefer BG or indeed RW. I have therefore had my first Cheltenham 2015 wager as follows:

4pts EW Jezki to win the Champion Hurdle @ 6/1 Paddy Power 1/4 odds 1,2,3 NRNB

(6/1 NRNB also available with Coral. Please note not all bookmakers offering NRNB at this stage.)

Let's hope we don't see a repeat of the above  Leopardsown blunder!

Eight points staked.

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AFCON semis

I was surprised by the high number of goals in the quarter finals. Partly because of this there was only one draw in the four matches. Statistically the semis are tight matches too. However this year we have odds-on chances (90 minutes play) in each leg. So with slightly reduced stakes and less confidence I have had:

19:00 Wednesday: Ivory Coast V DR Congo to draw 5pts @ 13/5 Bet365

19:00 Thursday: Ghana v E Guinea to draw 5pts @ 12/5 Betfred 

Ten points staked

Paddy Power query

At last Paddy Power have conceded that JM Del Potro was a non-runner in the Aus Open. So don't stand any nonsense from them if they refuse to pay back your stake (or state as they prefer to call it!):

Aus Open quarter betting

Response By Email (Keith C) (02/02/2015 08.47 AM) Hi Mike,     Thank you for contacting Paddy Power Customer Support.   I apologise in the delay in getting back to you.   That state of xxx has been refunded to you this morning.   If you have any further queries please click here to avail of our Live Help.   Kind Regards,   Keith   Paddy Power Customer Service   Follow us on twitter   Check out our iphone and ipad apps: iphone.paddypower.mobi / ipad.paddypower.mobi

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AFCON matches update

Looks like the first of today's matches is over for us with the favourite 2-0 up at half-time. Have  topped up in this evening's match with small correct score interest:

19:30 1pt Ivory Coast v Algeria 0-0 score @ 11/2 Betfred (free bet refund if finishes 1-1)

19:30 1pt Ivory Coast v Algeria 1-1 score @ 11/2 W Hill (free bet refund if finishes 0-0)

Two points staked.

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