Tanya Stevenson
Tanya's Blog - Fallon could be at the double
Sunday - a day of what might have been. On the blog on Wednesday July 13, my selections for The Open included Davis Love III to finish in the top 10 and Dustin Johnson each-way. As they say, it is not the winning or the losing that counts, it’s the ability to arb!!! Davis Love III is playing tremendous golf at present but he just can’t putt which cost him and me a full payout as he tied 9th with two others, meaning two-thirds of the winnings. Bless Lucas Glover for bogeying the last so it didn’t get split further to a half.
As for Dustin Johnson, stupidly the opportunity to hedge at 3.35 having backed him at 65 was passed by yours truly as I was sitting on a top five placing, but if I had a brain the sensible option would have been to hedge when he led the field knowing he's always shying away from the winner's enclosure. Going out of bounds at 14 was typical of his make-up. He doesn’t yet seem to have the ability to close a major, even though he has won PGA Tour events.
Surefire future winners included Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy (but not in inclement weather) and Anthony Kim; the last-named being the best player on the US Tour, who after being plagued with injury problems showed just how brilliant he can be when he fit. The day of hitting the woodwork continued with Banimpire in the Irish Oaks.
On to cricket, India are here hoping to retain their world number one status. I have backed them to win the Test series, even though I fully expect them to lose the first test at Lords. A draw will be a bonus. They played abysmally in the warm-up game at Somerset and haven’t had much match practice, but if England get too complacent Broad and Bresnen will be bowling at them all day.
RAYVIN BLACK was a very good greyhound and looking at the owners of the equine namesake he could be well-named. Ray White is a very lucky owner - dual Greyhound Derby winner Rapid Ranger was amongst his prolific CV. There are many non-runners across the country today and the defections in Yarmouth’s 2.15 give Mark Tompkins's runner a big chance.
Kieren Fallon could have a quick double as he also rides another of my selections SET ME FREE in Yarmouth’s 3.15. An easy winner at Redcar, the horse could like the sea air. Finally not far from the west coast at Ayr I like the look of MONEL for Jim Goldie at 5:00.
POINTERS
Sir Henry Cecil has had five winners and two seconds from his last eight runners
Sir Mark Prescott has had six winners and two thirds from his last 14 runners
Frankie Dettori has had five winners, a second and two thirds from his last 14 rides
Phillip Makin has had four winners and three seconds from his last 14 rides
Marcus Tregoning has a 35% strike rate at Yarmouth since 2007
Tim Easterby has won Beverley’s 8.30 three times in the last 10 years
