This Year's Big Outsider Win

It's been an interesting and lively sporting year but surely the biggest and most shocking outsider win of them all was none other than Leicester City who managed to clinch the 2015/16 Premier League at mind boggling odds of 5000-1. Most punters, even Leicetser fans, didn't actually see the bet through to its conclusion, instead cashing out early, though there were a handful of punters who did manage to win a pretty penny! While Leicester's performance this season is more in line with what you'd have expected last year, perhaps the most surprising part of this whole achievement was that the team won the league by a clear ten points (81 to their nearest rivals Arsenal at 71 points).

I feel that we'll be waiting a good while until we find another Leicester level premier league win. It's a once in a lifetime win! Still, let's hope that 2017 offers up a handful of huge priced outsiders for us to take advantage us, whether on the nags, football or another sport!

What do you buy a horse that has everything?

When your horse has nice cosy bedding, a top quality saddle, a warm coat and new shoes every 6 weeks it’s hard to think what else you could get them besides more carrots and feed.

This Christmas we have compiled the top Christmas gifts for any spoilt pony. These are the most unique and fun gifts for riders and owners. Although, your horse might not agree….

Whatever your budget these present suggestions will have your horse racing around the paddock with excitement.

1. Gold Label Treats

This is one gift your horse will love you for. This stocking available on Ebay contains a selection of quality treats in apple, herb, carrot and mint flavours.

2. Santa? Nay….

Your horse might not pass as Santa but it can play dress up as a reindeer if only for Christmas Day. This novelty outfit available online includes a rug with a fleece lining for extra warmth, cosy fleece leg wraps trimmed with white fur and antlers. 

 

3. Your little helper

The full Santa outfit might be a tad OTT, so calm it down a little and choose this cute little elf hat!

These mini hats are available in a number of designs and styles perfect for a little Christmas cheer.

4. Carrot countdown

They make an advent calendar suitable for every diet nowadays. Even your horse has their own calendar even if they need help counting down the days. This advent calendar contains carob and peppermint flavour treats behind each door.

Buy it here

5. Jolly Good Fun

Keep your horse or pony entertained with this staple stable favourite, the Jolly Ball. It stays inflated even when punctured and comes in various sizes and colours.

Buy it here

6. Tongue Twister

If it’s a tad to frosty to let the horses out into the yard keep them entertained until the ice melts with this Lickit! Attach to the stable wall and it provides hours of entertainment.

You can buy this here

7. Tongue Twister

If you really want to spoil your best friend this Christmas then why not buy this Equilibrium Therapy Massage Pad.

At £290 plus it really is a treat for your horse. The pad, which fits to your horse and helps to improve flexibility, and stride strength, comes with a rechargeable battery and charger.

Becher Chase Preview

You might expect that a valuable handicap chase over 3 miles 2 furlongs and the National fences would throw up a few long-priced winners and the Becher Chase has done just that over the last 10 years. Winners at 25/1 (twice), 20/1, 14/1 (twice) and 10/1 in that period are more than enough to whet our appetite so, as usual, we’ve come up with a few that could go well at rewarding odds.

Highland Lodge (16/1) won this race last year, on soft going, off a 5lb lower mark and, while he hasn’t been seen in public since pulling up in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in April, would appear to have a decent chance of a repeat if fit and ready to do himself justice after an absence of 231 days. James Moffat’s 10-year-old has won a couple of times on the prevailing good to soft going and has won, or run well, on his seasonal reappearance a few times in the past. In any case, his trainer reports him in ‘tip-top form’ ahead of this year’s renewal.

Saint Are (16/1) could only finish seventh, beaten 32 lengths, behind Highland Lodge in this race last year, but is only 1lb higher in the weights than when winning at Doncaster in February and should be spot on after two runs already this season. He has plenty of experience over the National fences, having been placed in this race and the Grand National, itself, in the past and the drying conditions forecast for North West England between now and Saturday are very much in his favour. Regular partner Adrian Heskin is at Sandown to ride God’s Own in the Tingle Creek Chase but, in his absence, Brian Harding is a more than able deputy.

Milborough (33/1) has yet to tackle the National fences, but is usually a fairly sound jumper and, having won the Eider, over an extended 4 miles, at Newcastle in 2015, shouldn’t fail through lack of stamina. Ian Duncan’s 10-year-old is just 1lb higher in the weights and ran creditably on his seasonal reappearance when fourth of 12, beaten 13 lengths, behind Carrigdhoun over 3 miles 2 furlongs at Carlisle in October. He needs to improve to win this, but that’s not beyond the realms of possibility on just his second start since April and he’s undeniably well handicapped on his best form.

Selections: Highland Lodge (16/1), Saint Are (16/1), Milborough (33/1)

World Cup of Golf, Thursday, November 24

I bit of a change of tack this week, with an outsider golf tip, instead of our usual horse racing offerings. 

The World Cup of Golf gets underway at the Kingston Heath Golf Club, in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday and, although the Wales pairing of Bradley Dredge and Stuart Manley is hardly the most fashionable, odds of 125/1 in a field of 28 are just too tempting to resist. Key to Welsh success could be the Kingston Heath, one of Melbourne’s sandbelt courses, which should suit both players, and the vagaries of the inconsistent and cool Melbourne spring, which are likely to keep temperatures in the high teens at best.

Dredge, ranked 89 in the world, demonstrated his liking for “firm and fast” conditions when finishing tied for eleventh in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last month. Dredge won the World Cup of Golf alongside Stephen Dodd in Portugal in 2005, when the final round was abandoned, so is no stranger to coming in ‘under the radar’ in the 72-hole stroke play event. Manley, ranked 873, arrives in Australia having secured his European Tour card at the Final Qualifying Stage at the PGA Catalunya Resort, under difficult conditions, and should not be underestimated in an event in which he finished tied eighth, under extraordinary circumstances, at Royal Melbourne Golf Club three years ago.

Selection: Wales (125/1 with 32Red or 888Sport)