THE BERNIE THE BOOK COLUMN
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING (AND I DON’T MEAN CHELTENHAM)
A month early to the Irish invasion of Prestbury Park and the juggernaut of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott among others, comes the Six Nations which begins this weekend with the first round of matches between the northern hemisphere elite. And with the World Cup coming up this autumn in France, and France being favourites to win the competition ahead of the likes of the All Blacks and the Proteus, it is surprising that they are not favourites for this, until you factor in home field advantage, a critical component in international Rugby Union. And here’s the rub, the fixture programme this year has IRELAND playing both their home matches against England and France in the raucous venue of the Aviva Stadium and their away engagements in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Rome. Therefore the 6/4 represents, to me, respectable, if not exceptional, value and certainly worth a punt!! Europe’s three major competitions return this month at the business end of the tournament.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE My two fancies in September continue to be at the head of the market with Man City (advised at 3/1), the market leaders at 7/4. Additionally if FC Hollywood get past PSG, then the current 7/1 will seem fantastic value. Well worth a press, but since then NAPOLI, clear in Serie A have emerged as dark horses and one team to avoid in the draw. 14/1 odds are insane and an insult to the Italians and lets be honest do you really want to offend a team from Naples!!!
EUROPA LEAGUE Europe’s second tier competition seems to centre on Arsenal and the winners of Barcelona v Man United, these teams are head and shoulders above the rest. Arsenal, come April will be trying to close out a first Premier league in 20 odd years to really annoy Piers Morgan, so to me I would rather concentrate on a level you devils tie between United and the Catalan giants. I would say its too close to call, and therefore the disparity between the outright prices of 9/2 on Barca and a whopping 9/1 on UNITED seem farcical. Take the 9/1 now.
CONFERENCE LEAGUE Europe’s third tier competition sees West Ham as 4/1 favourites!!.
PHTM FEBRUARY 2023
This is the same team that’s practically propping up the Premier league and again I think the English bookmakers are taking us for patriotic mugs, and let me tell you a home truth after gambling for over 40 years; there is no patriotism where money is concerned, and anyone who disagrees, is not a fully paid up member of the Horse Whisperers! Far better to back JUVE at 12/1 to cock a snook at the Italian authorities who had the temerity to dock them 12 points for financial irregularities (was it ever thus) or the yellow submarines of VILLAREAL at 20/1.
AND SO TO CHELTENHAM Last weekend saw Trials Day at Cheltenham with a bumper nine race card. Great racing but with the exception of the Champion Chase to my eye, largely a case of balloons being burst, not filled with helium. In contrast Ireland continues to dominate and I have scarcely seen a more accomplished winner than....
STAYERS HURDLE: TEAHUPOO 11/4 So imperious, this rates one of my naps of the meeting. BROWN ADVISORY (formerly RSA): Serial Cheltenham winner, SIR GERHARD 7/1 CHAMPION CHASE: A rare Mullins hiccup with Energumene and comprehensively put in his place by last year’s Arkle winner, EDWARDSTONE (5/2) even though he got outgunned last week. CHAMPION BUMPER: Question, if It’s For Me is so good, how come he was allowed to start second favourite in his debut to the Mullins talking horse CHAPEAU DE SOLEIL. At 8/1, pass the sunscreen! BOODLES: Ultimately I think Mr McManus might aim COMFORT ZONE at the easier Boodles, rather than the Triumph and he is specularly advised as such at 10/1, if he were to turn up in the Boodles, he would be a bottle the blue chance. BALLYMORE: Again if he rolls up over 21
⁄2 miles in the
Ballymore, I think IMPAIRE ET PASSE at 9/2 is fantastic value. Finally, a word of caution, backing ante post on horses is fraught with danger, if it is your bent look for NRNB and lesser odds rather than the purer, all in, turn up or not, form. See you in Tattersalls! Cheers
Bernie the Book 79
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
