July Feast

1/7/16

We enter a busy July in good shape in a number of markets and particularly following Antiquarium’s 16/1 success in the Northumberland Plate recommended in Ante Post Focus last week, not least Adam Hewson’s summation at the end of his politics blog two weeks ago that Theresa May “represents as an attractive alternative to Boris” at 13/2 so anyone taking his advice is sitting pretty about the Home Secretary becoming the next PM as she is now trading at 2/5.

I try to keep any political thoughts to myself on social media etc. but what a total mess the last week has been on the domestic political scene. It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so important. Not that I’ve ever been a Boris fan but, as for that Michael Gove!!! I can’t believe for one second that his actions are down to a last-minute change of mind. The way he has gone about this reminds me of Francis Urqhuart if you ever caught the brilliant portrayal of his scheming character by Ian Richardson in the original House Of Cards rather than the Kevin Spacey-starred American version, which is also rather good.  

As for the footy, we are 9pts up to level stakes recommendations heading into the Wales-Belgium game tonight on Euro 2016 so far and my pre-tournament 16/1 each-way poke of Italy are now a top price 7/1 before they take on my saver bet at 9/2 of Germany tomorrow. As I wrote in the quarter-finals preview which got off to a good start with a scoreline of 1-1 between Poland and Portugal, I’ll be watching the game with mixed feelings from a betting point of view but my heart is with the Italians. I just love the way that Conte has got them working their socks off and, as such, I have not been able to resist a little 7/1 about Chelsea for the Premiership under his guidance. If he can get the best out of what was described as the worst Italian side in decades then imagine what he can do with Chelsea’s prima donnas.

As you know I am now over half-way through a three-weeks’ trip to Spain so I’ve not see one single ball struck at Wimbledon and probably won’t until the last-16 stage but Carl Redden is keeping on top of the action for us. It looks like it has been very predictable in the opening couple of games as far as the big names are concerned and so far so good for his pre-tournament selections.

I covered the Tour de France in the General Sports section last night with three recommended bets which starts over the weekend and promises to be a cracker in terms of the quality of riders lining up this year and the route - if you enjoy looking at magnificent French scenery. I’m not someone who can watch a six-hour stage from start to finish but I like to dip in and out and catch the final hour of each stage.

I’ll be covering the three-day Newmarket July Meeting next week which is the next major horseracing action for the website in the Race Previews section. I’ve covered the Eclipse and Lancashire Oaks in this week’s Ante Race Focus but will take a week off the Horses to Follow if you don’t mind as I’ve not seen a lot of racing action in the last week whilst I have being entertaining guests but I am back on my own from tomorrow for my final week so can fully concentrate on the action.

www.pauljoneshorseracing.com