THE BERNIE THE BOOK COLUMN
ITS PURE POETRY IN MOTION FOR LONGHOUSE IN NATIONAL
The nation’s favourite race is upon us. April 15th sees the Grand National at Aintree and in a last hurrah for the jumping season, now that Cheltenham has finished, the Irish can once again dominate, as they
have done over the last five years. But will it be to the juggernaut stables of Mullins or Elliott, or will the shrewdest trainer in County Kildare have the last laugh?? If there is one trainer who continues to fly under the radar, it’s Martin Brassil and if there’s one trainer (apart from Tony Martin) whose modus operandi is to prepare a good coup, it’s Martin Brassil and I think he’s doing one right now with LONGHOUSE POET to win the Grand National this month. The double carpet and bigger has long gone but the Poet is still freely available at 25/1 and while I would not advocate each way in a 40-strong field, it does return a 30 unit amount should he finish in the first five (without winning) to a 5 unit each way stake. (Win return is 130 units for a Jacques Cousteau) he is surely the one to be on. If you fancy Longhouse Poet (if I have convinced you) then google his last run and second in a rapidly diminishing distance and now 11lb better off in the National weights is ROI MAGE, who at odds of 66/1 plus (I took 84.0 on Betfair Exchange for small stakes) has got to be of interest!! Surely to Murgatroyd! My other fancy – as it is the National – is the Willie Mullins’ trained CAREFULLY SELECTED, currently available at 33/1 but one who will outrun his odds; note of caution, he might swerve Aintree and go for the Irish National five days earlier, but NRNB is widely available so no loss pre race. Of course the Flat is now upon us with the Lincoln run this weekend and although the Guineas weekend is the first weekend in May, anyone who wants to bet early (like me) and secure a better price for a horse that might have a setback should invest in TAHIYRA to win the 1,000 Guineas at a fabulous Burlington Bertie (10/3) Watch her two previous runs on Google. WOW and I mean WOW. She’ll do for me. The corollary is the 2000 Guineas and in Aiden we trust!! So its LITTLE BIG BEAR for me at 5/1. If he’s trained on from his setback last September, then again WOW.
PHTM APRIL 2023
US MASTERS And back in Georgia where the Magnolias are fragrant, It’s the first Golf Major of the year, the US Masters. Back in January I was quite sweet on Justin Thomas but he is playing so appallingly, I wouldn’t rush in now and again my two against the very small field are… COLLIN MORIKAWA and WILL ZALATORIS, freely available at 18/1 and 25/1 respectively. There is no doubt the twice Grand Slam winner Morikawa is going to be winning for many years to come and now that his new swing changes are taking effect, I can see a bold showing, along with perennial Augusta swinger, Will Zalatoris. There will be a raft of Group bets, top debutant, top golfer by Continent, top Senior and my pick of them would be, LIV golfs CAMERON SMITH in the Australasian category, despite being at odds with the PGA and SUNGKAE IM (top Asian). Odds are not yet out but anywhere above 7/4 for Smith, I would steam in.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Anyone taking my advice on NAPOLI throughout the season is sitting pretty. Advised at odds of 25/1 down, they have reached a top price of 4/1 and now that the draw has been made, they sit in the other half of the draw to European giants, Man City, Bayern and Real. It is rare I press but at 4/1, pass the juicer!!
EUROPA LEAGUE I have the feeling that Man United are just too short and have been going to the well one too many times. I did tip up JUVE at 12/1 (now 5/1) but again they look short of what a winning team should be. I again tipped up the chances of SEVILLA (again at 12/1) but they’re playing the Reds, so looking at the draw now, I would advocate an interest in Jose and ROMA at Tom Mix (6/1).
I hoped you backed Ireland (Rugby Grand Slam) at 7/2, Michael Smith (Darts) 7/1 and Impaire et Passe and Gallopin at Cheltenham (advised at 11/2 and 11/4).
Until next time. Good Punting…
Bernie the Book 89
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