Racing and Football

I don't generally write too many views in this first bit, but is anyone else had quite enough of Arsene Wenger blaming everyone bar his own team's shortcomings for their failure to win a trophy yet again? Last week he was fuming because he claimed, and rightfully so, Arsenal should have had a penalty for the foul by Kuyt. So then when the same occurs this week, he claims it is a gift. At least be consistent Arsene! Did he expect the referee to think "Well they didnt get that one last week, so I'll make a wrong decision here just to equal things up"? Mr Wenger you knew what your side had to do at the start of last night and again at half-time. Maybe you should speak to Mr Adebayor and ask him why he failed to even hit the target when presented with a goden chance instead of trying to blame a ref who I thought had a very good game last night - and thats praise indeed from me!

3.40 Bath Ryan's Future 10/3 (WON +0.53 - Won by a length and a half and quite comfortably in the end at 11/4. Hope you took the early price!)
This 8 year old has shown he still has it over 10f through the winter on the all weather and ran a good race when going down by a head at Nottingham last week, and looks the one of the market leaders who is most effective at this trip. Merrymadcap is yet to be seen over more than 1m1f and it is not obvious he steps up, while Mandalay Prince looks more effective over 1m4f+. So go with the in form horse proven over the trip.

7.45 Man Utd & Barcelona Double 38/27 (WON +1.94 - Two one-nils were enough, but I was slightly worried with no Ronaldo or Rooney in the squad and when Roma got that penalty!)
The headline stories for tonight's tie at Old Trafford have been around Ferdinand and Vidic not being fit, but it now seems like Rio might make it. But its not like the replacemen options of Pique or Neville are wet behind the ears, or that it will affect the performances of Rooney and Ronaldo, who must have been causing Roman defenders nightmares since last Tuesday. And we all know United's strength is in playing attacking football and scoring goals. However it is also worth noting Roma (still without Totti of course) have not exactly been pillaging results away from home as Julius Caesar once did. In their last 7 Serie A games they have won only one, drawn three and lost three - two to teams in the bottom half of the division. At 2-0 down they know they have to score three so will come out guns blazing but risk allowing the United counter attack machine to raid, which I expect them to do and win both legs at 4/6.
Barca put in a good performance at Schalke in the first leg to essentially finish this tie - Barca's home record is 13-1-2 in La Liga and Schalke are not Real or Vilarreal. On the road lately they have thrown points away, and Rijkaard would hence have been happy with the clean sheet in Germany, but like United, they can score almost at will. They have averaged two goals a game for their last 13 games in all competitions, and 12 in 5 at the Nou Camp. Schalke meanwhile lost in Porto in the second leg of the last round, going through on penalties eventually, and have not won an away game against a side in the top half of the Bundesliga all season. Expect Barca to also win both legs at 4/9 and set up the 'neutral's final' with United.