Robs Rants - His brains a pentium 4 processor, he loves Carol Vorderman.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2008

I have been asked by the Greyghoose himself to tip him some winners for the Cheltenham Festival, which this year runs from 11 th to 14 th March. I am not the greatest tipster in the world but have followed this National Hunt season fairly closely so I am hoping for a successful Cheltenham financially myself. The main four races at the Festival are on separate days so I will concentrate on them.

Tuesday – Champion Hurdle – The race has been won by the Irish since 2004 and again they bring a strong team across the waters, with favourite Sizing Europe, current champion Sublimity and the talented but inconsistent Harchibald the main threats. Of the British horses, Osana (5/1) has won this season whilst gaining early sizeable leads and then hanging on. This probably will not be allowed to happen at Chelteham. Last year's third Afsoun is from a stable in form, and at 20/1 seems a good each-way bet. But my tip for the race is Katchit. Very rarely do five year olds win this race, but the pony-sized horse has improved as the season has progressed, hopefully to hit Cheltenham in top form, and the way he won the Triumph Hurdle last year was mightily impressive.

Wednesday – Champion Chase – The Paul Nicholls trained duo of Master Minded and Twist Magic are vying for favouritism in this year's renewal, both horses having defeated the current champion Voy Por Ustedes this season, and I make no secret in saying that the winner will come from these three horses. Ruby Walsh has the tough choice of riding one of the Nicholls' trained duo, and his choice may have the deciding factor in which one to back. At present I am leaning towards Twist Magic as long as the ground does not turn too soft.

Thursday – World Hurdle – The brilliant Inglis Drever is looking for a third success but at odds of 4/5 you are not going to fill your pockets, and it is hard to look elsewhere. Of the rest, the improving Blazing Bailey is my personal favourite but again at odds of 6/1 the each-way will not break the bookies. Therefore I will be looking at probably forecasing the two (Inglis Drever to win and Blazing Bailey to finish second).

Friday – The Gold Cup – Many are tipping this to be a two-horse race between Kauto Star and Denman, but I disagree. I am tipping this to be a one-horse race, with Kauto slaughtering the opposition. The even-money currently at Ladbrokes is very tempting, but I am loath to back ante-post. The only things to stop Kauto winning his second Gold Cup are the fences (although the horse has been near faultless this season) and the ground. If the ground turns out heavy then Denman may be in with a good shout, as will The Listener. Of the rest Knowhere kas won decent handicaps this season under big weights and, with a big run, Neptune Collonges could make it a Nicholls 1-2-3 .

Therefore to recap :-

Tuesday 11 March – Champion Hurdle – Katchit

Wednesday 12 March – Champion Chase – Twist Magic

Thursday 13 March – World Hurdle - Inglis Drever

Friday 14 March – Gold Cup - Kauto Star

Whatever happens at Cheltenham , win lose or draw, let's just hope all the horses come back safe and sound.

Good luck & Enjoy

Rob (Club Treasurer)

17th November 2006: GET HELPING

The club is now going through one of its most important stages of its 20 year life as we look to develop our ground with brand new facilities. Phase one of the development, our biodigester plant, is now to go ahead, (although since writing this the spanner has been thrown in to the works – see Guvnor's column) after receiving funding from Action Halifax and the money raised from the abseil & zip slide event. Phase two of the development, the clubhouse facility and fund of this is now in early discussions stages with Calderdale Council. This has been mainly down to one man, Jai Taylor, with a little help from Faz. As Jai has numerous other jobs in the club his workload is phenomenal, so I ask all you members to try and relieve Jai of some of this workload, by first attending the meeting this Monday 20 November at 7pm at the Prospect Inn, and then giving some thought to how you may be able to contribute your efforts into getting our dream up and running. Obviously with Christmas on the horizon many of you will have this in your forethoughts but if we all pull together and do a little something this will equate to little time spent.

With Christmas only five weeks away means only four weeks to our Christmas Draw, where the Charlesworth's, Keighley's and Jackson's usually walk away with a skip load of prizes. If you wish to purchase, or sell tickets to family, friends and work colleagues then please see me. The draw takes place at The Prospect Inn (ignore the venue on the ticket) on Saturday 16 December when the Terriers will have their normal Xmas Get Together, but with a difference, a Hawaiian Night (more details to follow).

I would just like to say a few words about the performance of the team and to congratulate them on their season to date. Apart from the lacklustre performances against Calder Valley and Ackworth the team find themselves on the same number of points as they completed with last season. One of the main reasons for this is that we are winning the close games which for one reason and another seemed to slip away from us last season. Let's see if we can go all the way and push for promotion right to the end of the season.

Tip for the week (well next week – Saturday 25 November) : STAR DE MOHAISON at Newbury in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (if it runs). A Cheltenham Festival winner last March, Paul Nicholls' horse nearly pulled Ruby Walsh's arms out for 3 miles in a hurdle race at Cheltenham last weekend, and won with a double handful. Although against much tougher opposition the horse should have improved for that run.

Good Health

Rob

21st August 2006: Get paying.

Hi everyone and welcome to Rob's rants. Most of you reading this will know me as “the moneyspider” but those of you that don't I am the treasurer of the club.

As it is my specialist subject I would like to begin by lecturing you on how important it is to pay your dues on time. At this year's AGM it was discussed and then passed that all signing on fees and outstanding debts should be paid by the time the season starts and a “no pay no play” policy would be enforced. Now, I am a realist and know this can not happen as all at the club, myself included, want to see the strongest possible team compete week in week out. It is vital we get a good start to the season and carry it on to greater things, like promotion or even the division 2 title – we have the talent. Anyway back to the money situation. By the end of September the club has to find approximately £800 to cover ground, BARLA and Pennine League fees. The players signing on and social members fees of £10 each (equivalent to only 4 pints of lager) will go a long way towards paying these bills. So, all I can say is GET PAYING! (P.S. I will have my “friendly” assistant Bazza helping me collect outstanding debts this season).

Anyway enough of the seriousness, as at the end of the week 17(?) of us piss off down to London for the Challenge Cup final. This will be my first trip for 10 years, and I am much older, but not much wiser, so please take it easy on me. I am especially looking forward to the following ;-

•  The sights of London as jai takes us on a walking tour of the Capital as he goes to buy a morning paper.

•  Seeing Trent get arrested for pissing in the River Thames trying to avert the inevitable in his hotel bed.

•  Not seeing Wayne for the whole weekend when he cops off with some Cockney Slapper.

•  Doddy in London's Gay Bars

•  Huddersfield trouncing Saints

•  But most of all….. THE GENERATOR

Lets hope we all have a great time and watch this space for next week's review.

TIP FOR THE WEEK – Each week I will be giving you a tip. This may be a betting tip or a tip in life. The first tip is one for the whole of your lives and how to prolong it.

“ DO NOT GET IN A CAR WITH BRIAN JACKSON BEHIND THE WHEEL”

Good Health to you all

Rob