DJ is a certainty - horse racing to the rescue

The usual roller coaster weekend of punting fun (apart from the golf and football). My stick wielding pals told me that Dustin Johnson (or DJ as they insist on calling him) was a 'certainty' for the Genesis Invitational. His price was 11/2 - "back him each-way at firms paying 8 places as there is 'no way' he can be out of the top 8". I had a £20 each way 'interest' bet on DJ as I knowingly referred to him. 

The course, Riviera Country Club, looked pretty spectacular, surrounded by an urban sprawl of large homes in LA (these initials are catching on). My knowledge of golf is admittedly limited but DJ did not exactly seem unbeatable. When I checked in from time to time on Sunday evening he kept hitting trees and missing putts and he eventually finished 8th after a final round 72. Trouble was so did 3 others, so my return on the proverbial 'each way bet to nothing' was an unlucky for some £13.13 for the £40 invested.

Not much luck with the football either. Watford beat Derby on Friday at a shade of odds on but there were losses on the draws I backed in all 3 Sunday Premier League matches.

But once again the horse racing provided some success. Barney Bateleur (Market Rasen) was in my tracker "Promising first run over hurdles. Keep eye - should make a chaser" so I backed him each way at 33/1 the night before. He looked to be running into a place at best but under an inspired ride by Niall Houlihan got up for an unlikely victory to a resounding 'oi, oi, oi' in this socially distanced bubble.

West Country Racing (a service I follow) strongly tipped up Soaring Glory in the Betfair Hurdle, and for such a competitive race he won really easily. Incidentally I think the 2nd Fifty Ball, is very good as well, and should win a decent race if the handicapper is not too harsh on him. The Betfair Hurdle tends to be very good form, especially when run on goodish ground.

And there was a decent near miss with Thibault in the handicap hurdle at Ascot. I had backed him at 33/1 and despite drifting to a SP 80/1 he looked the winner after the last until ground down by the oh so fit Skelton horse (bloody Harry and Dan!).

Just one bet today - Animal in the 2.20 at Southwell. It is in my tracker as "Suzy Smith horse who could go in at decent price at some point" so have backed him to small stakes at 25/1, although he does look to be up against it with opposition from top yards.


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