Macca

The Irish Derby is on Saturday night Here are the listings, form & odds from RacingPost.com ... Irish Derby (Curragh) The early favourite 'Russian Emporer' has been withdrawn but will probably run in the Epsom Derby on the 4th of July (1 week from this Saturday) And if you're looking for a double at the meeting the race straight after the Derby is the G3 Vintage Crop Stakes where 'Latrobe' is listed as the topweight (if it runs)

Don't worry, I saw the same advert and wasn't paying attention and thought the same thing. Went to the planner to bookmark & record and no go!

Highlights from past events only HT ... this year's tour is due to start on 29th August.

Yep ... doing that as I heard the English dubbed version is lousy and I never watch dubbed version's anyway. It's quite a lavish production ... they've spared no expense and the various story lines already look very interesting. Costumes, acting, cinematography & set designs are superb. German film making at its finest. Set nearly 100 years ago but the viewer feels like you're taken back to that time period. I will binge on this show!

Just watched the first 2 episodes ... I'm hooked (totally) Great recommendation Wyl. There's quite a bit of excellent European Drama to watch ... just need to find the time to watch it all!

If I get a chance I'll post up a few links for the Irish Derby next Saturday (Curragh) ... at first glance it looks a good betting race with no clearcut favourite. One for the exotics.

For the overseas racing ... On your TAB account you can tune into Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing 2 or Sky Thoroughbred Central. Just login for access Works fine for me on a laptop or on the phone. Racing channel (68 or 78) often covers a bit of the European racing as well. Sky Thoroughbred Central will possibly be taking the ITV UK feed for the Curragh next Saturday.

At AFL level you'll often get the same 7 or 8 Board members with 1 or 2 standing down every now and again often being replaced with like-minded types. Thus, not much ever seems to change. Sound familiar? Unless a coup happens or if a Board stands aside. But a new group may not be all that different to the old group. Could easily be more of the same, or worse And it doesn't matter where it's all based or where the meetings are held. The key is whether the Board is competent or not. It's all about the personnel. As an example, if you think of the Collingwood board, you think of Eddie. He rules the roost but he does a great job (IMO)

It stands to reason that a player or 2 was going to test positive to the virus so another plan surrounding that inevitabily could have been enacted. There was talk previously of playing games every day with an even bigger reduction in game time (but with more games) Any game called off could simply be called a draw in that scenario. Yes, that opens up the possibility that games could be deliberately compromised but again, that possibility is always there anyway (PED use etc) Let's face it, the draw/fixture is compromised anyway so we never get parity. So, in theory, today's game gets called off with the points shared but we might have been playing another game on Wednesday. The best teams end up at the pointy end of the ladder and any premiership is never won with luck being a big factor. Players going home to their wives & children greatly increases the chances of the virus appearing in the hubs too. So, you live with the risk and plan accordingly. What we've got now is confusion and no clear path. You can't have forfeit's as we're all in the same boat.

Yeah, Royal Ascot does seem a good note to end 'our' season. After the Sydney Autumn we still get some great racing from Morphettville, Doomben & Eagle Farm (Goodwood, Doomben 10,000, Stradbroke et al) Mid August sees things start up again with Group racing out of Melb & Syd so that's a decent break. I'm still keen on the overseas racing of course but that's just me. For instance, the Irish Derby is on next Saturday at the Curragh. Russian Emperor (Galileo/Atlantic Jewel) has been installed as favourite (4-1) Trained by Aiden O'Brien. But the Monkey Business thread awaits!

Managed a few nice collects today ... mind you, the previous few weeks were horrid! Went back to exactas with the odd win bet and it paid off. Do what you do, do well (and all that) Same principle at Sha Tin tomorrow ... just missed on a big quaddie last week so here's hoping! And the news is that HK connections might make an offer on 'Front Page' ... it might reappear as Hot Prawn something or other before we know it.

Got the exacta in the Cherry Tortoni race Wadda ... won well and looks to have a bright future. But 'Front Page' looked ultra impressive in winning the Creswick Stakes ... looks to have a big future. Gytrash won the race last year whilst Nature Strip won the year before so the race has produced some handy types. Both horses Blackbookers for sure.

Went close with the last 2 picks ... Well done DZ with Hello Youmzain. Fought on really well and I had a bit on for the win. And Pinatubo possibly loomed too early as apparently the horse just gets the mile. Dettori got the win for his horse and Frankie is riding as well as ever. Sha Tin for the last 4 races is my plan tomorrow. A quaddie and a few exactas.

Ah well, there's always the late double ? By the way, we are overdue for the late double to salute too. Not sure it's ever happened

I've ended up going local Wadda as I'm reasonably confident with JMac onboard ... Best Bet Randwick Race 5 No.6 Southern Lad (Win) $3.00 Pinatubo is a terrific pick for tomorrow night (stole my thunder!) ... needed the run last time and is sure to fight out the finish this time.

A commanding performance. But sadly, the horse would get too much weight in the Melbourne Cup or Caulfield Cup but you have to wonder whether either race is a true handicap these days anyway. Got to have a high rating just to get into either race ... and they have cut off the loophole for the Northern Hemisphere 3yo's. So the weight difference has shrunk between top & bottom. Now is the time to make both races SWP or WFA because we're close enough to it anyway. And the World's best stayers don't feature. Make the races true international affairs. And if a horse like Stradivarius won either cup at shortish odds then so be it. We'd hail the champion horse.

Probably right Wadda ... although my picks are mostly still running ? I usually do ok at Ascot too ... bit more confident about the Sat night racing though and Stradivarius should win the Gold Cup tonight. Very short so multi only. Just need to find another winner to go with it.

I'll almost certainly pick out something from the Saturday night Ascot meeting. There's 3 G1's on offer so something will no doubt stand out.

Royal Ascot it is then lads? Go to RacingPost.com for all the news and form. Once there just click on any horse for the form I watch out for the tips and the guest tipster (which get posted up on the day) The odds are up earlier though.

Battaash wins. Commanding performance - all class. In the end, the even money offered was money for old rope. I was on Glass Slippers for a bit of value (in a double with Circus Maximus) but the fillly was no match for the winner.

Mogul presented and then didn't run on. The winner (Pyledriver) wins at 20-1. Carrying a bit of condition was Mogul but no excuses. Form is tricky, all the same. Nearly all the horses are first up after a long break.

Good thinking Wadda The racing on Friday night & Saturday night from Ascot is first class A lot of familiar names with 10 Group races to choose from. We should be able to find 3 winners amongst those events. I was on Frankly Darling as well ... Mogal should win too. Mogul is a full brother to 'Japan' (who races in the Prince of Wales Stakes tomorrow) Addeybb is in the same race ... won 2 G1's in Oz in our Autumn.

Yeah I've had a bit of a flutter tonight Wadda Just a couple of one-off doubles & win bets. As you said, some handy types running around and the favoured runners usually find their way into the finish. Great racing to be had. Should we resurrect the Monkey Business thread for our best bets? AFL & NRL back in full swing as is the EPL from Thursday onwards. Maybe get our picks in before Saturday? We may need a break during the winter racing as has been the tradition (apart from having an interest in UK & Irish racing festivals)

As for our collective leadership on the field, where is it? Of the experienced players who set foot on the ground last Saturday, how many came close to playing at their best? Gawn - yes, Petracca - yes All others, no. Oliver is below his best (as he was last year despite winning the B & F) He's got the ability to be pure A grade and should be dominating. Jones, Salem, May, Lever, Jetta, T-Mac, Brayshaw, Fritsch, Harmes, Langdon, Melksham, Tomlinson & Viney can all play much better than their current output. And none of them are rookies who lack experience. So why is that? Whatever the answer is, it can't just be the coach. Goodwin may not be a great coach but last year's pitiful performance was on the players IMO. We beat Essendon and things might improve but I'm not holding my breath.

We need to look further than the coach ... and previously, its often where I have looked (first) But not this time. We have deep cultural issues and the A-end of the problem is the output of the players. So does the fish rot at the head PF? I believe so but not every time. Were Skilton & Ditterich poor coaches? Record says maybe but neither coach had the cattle Either did Barassi who lost 21 games in his first year nor Roos who lost 18 games in his first year. Have we had the same type of Board for all these past decades? Do we need to look at the Board, Jackson, Pert & Mahoney as well? I say yes. Let them sort it out for once. So we've got a problem at the top and a problem with the output of our experienced players (who go missing when the heat is applied) Cause and effect That's My Take!