Tanya Stevenson
Tanya’s Blog - Remember the name: Mountjoy Osprey
Mountjoy Osprey, write the name down. He has a very bright future in the greyhound world under the guidance of his trainer, Mark Wallis. My father, not easily enthused, came back from Romford last night and so far has mentioned the dog about seven times!
Apparently as the traps lifted the greyhound went 10 clear (no exaggeration) with the deficit reducing to just over five lengths at the line, recording a very juicy 23.93. Just 20 months old, I shouldn’t think Mark will test him over too much further than 450 as that might knock out his engine.
The brilliant Sky Sports greyhound coverage starts tonight for 2012 at Hall Green. It’s a track, which I used to walk a couple of years ago, with a massive disparity in the going from outside to the inside rail. Then round the paddock/first bend it went from the equivalent of good to firm or +30 to soft -30. Ie. you’re not going to launch yourself in reeling in the leader as you enter the first bend until entering the second bend.
But may I stress that was a few years ago I would love to walk it and see what it is like now. Big difference in price in the sprint for FIFIS ROCKET at 3-1. I know he is four now but if take a look at what traps he has been running out of recently, 3, 3, 3 & 1 and tonight he gets a wide seeding drawn six. He is sure to edge towards the rails at some point and he is a very strong and a bit of a bruiser. Tune in at 8.35.
All good fun at Taunton yesterday, no doubt Darlan will be part of the Morning Line’s Festival Fix and Sam Waley-Cohen seems to keep finding himself in the Stewards’ room, yet I loved the result of the 1.40 200-1, 50-1, 33-1 were the prices of the first three home.
Just two meetings today, Leicester and Southwell, and I wish I could find a big priced winner - we all do. In Leicester’s first race it would be the easy option to plump for Kazlian, but I like Tuscan Gold and his fourth to Hit The Headlines at Huntingdon means he's better value. Plus I can’t believe High On A Hill’s debut run over hurdles; he must improve on that and anything in double figures would be tempting, I sense a Tuscan Gold/High On A Hill forecast coming on.
New Orleans eased through to their next challenge - a visit to San Francisco and the impossible task of trying to penetrate their defence. I remember when the 49ers came to Wembley and they were useless. All change now as a composed Alex Smith has a dependable defence - the equivalent of a brick wall.
However the Saints have the ability to improvise and I’m hoping the 49er coaching staff will struggle to adapt to the quirks of the Saints. Scrutinising the handicaps Green Bay having to give the New York Giants a 9pt start is just too much.
The Giants have momentum and their greatest asset is stood on the sideline in coach, Tom Caughlin. Constantly looking as though he has swallowed a wasp, he is a task master, who gets results. However he makes Steve Keane at Blackburn look secure in his job!
The Giants easily accounted for a tricky Atlanta and now arrive at Lambeau Field to take on a rampant Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. On their last meeting just three points separated them so where does the 9pt differential come from. Green Bay are slow starters with a tendency of giving up a lead early, so unless the Giants' bottle goes I can’t see it being a rout.
For those not familiar with NFL behold the fairytale that is Denver Bronco quarterback Tim Tebow. An ‘ugly duckling’ back at the start of the season, constantly ridiculed to the extent he became a cult figure! Yet within a matter of weeks he has turned that negativity into such a positive following and against all odds not only made the playoffs but reduced the Pittsburgh Steelers to a jibbering mistake-making nonsense.
Now all roads lead to the cool, calm collective in Foxboro, the New England Patroits, who are beginning to run out of fingers for Superbowl rings. Denver receive a 14pt start but that doesn’t include the calculation for what fate has in store for Tim Tebow. His plays are so rough round the edges even an emery board nor sand paper could smooth them, but he has ‘Lady Luck’ on his side. In reality the Patriots should annihilate the Broncos but these are two teams steeped in NFL history, with many unbelievable preceding playoff chapters to their stories, I suspect this will be another great unmissable one.
POINTERS
Nicky Henderson has had nine winners and six seconds from his last 24 runners
Ian Williams has had four winners, a second and two thirds from his last 12 flat runners
David Pipe has had six winners and four seconds from his last 20 runners
Robert Winston and Hughie Morrison have teamed up for six winners from their last 11 Southwell runners
Phillip Makin and Kevin Ryan have a 40% strike rate at Southwell
Brian Ellison and Barry McHugh have a 40% strike rate at Southwell
Paddy Brennan has had six winners from his last 10 rides
Tom Scudamore has had seven winners from his last 14 rides
