Happy as Larry

Mentioned the above phrase at work this morning (that place we never talk about) and a colleague looked up its origins on t'internet.

Several on there apparently but we settled for the Australian / New Zealand option of it referring to a boxer called Larry Foley :-

There’s a suggestion that it comes from the name of the nineteenth-century Australian boxer Larry Foley (1847-1917), though why he was especially happy nobody now seems able to say. Perhaps he won a lot of contests? (He was certainly one of those who originated gloved boxing rather than bare-knuckle fighting in Australia and his name is still remembered there.) But this origin is far from certain and the early New Zealand reference renders it less so, without ruling it out altogether.

Thought no more of it until in Ladbrokes at lunch-time and notice that a horse called Happy as Larry is running in the 2.30pm race at Lingfield. Can't ignore an obvious omen like that can you ?

The answer you should be looking for is yes ! Forecast to start 6-1 favourite by the Racing Post, I take the 7-1 on offer, Happy as Larry starts at 14-1 and finishes 14th of 14 !!!!!

Half-way to Oz

....... not really, but sort of !

Encouraged by the success of Washman of PL qualifying for the Aussie Millions in January I thought I would try the same route he had.

A buy-in of $50 + $5 on Blue Square into the satellite daily final with only 11 players tonight (presumably due to the alternative attraction of the football) to qualify for the weekly final which has one seat guaranteed.

Only 11 players including one sit-out but still took only five minutes less than two hours to get through it. There were Aces a-plenty and I think they held up all but once. I had them three times and against my better judgement I slow played them on the second and third occasions as I got less action than I should have on the first occasion.

The second time with AcAh the flop came all spades (including the 7 - no action), then the A of spades (so I bet and was called), then another 7, luckily giving me the full house and a few more of his chips.

A few hands later the game froze on me for the second time. We were down to the last 3 and I had KQ on a flop of Qxx when it froze. I frantically try and get back in, breathe a sigh of relief when I do and he hasn't raised , so push all-in to be called by his Aces ! From first to third in one go and all I had to do was let it freeze me out !

I got Aces again when short stacked (25% of the chips) down to the final two. So slow played them and eventually got all-in to win with an Ace high one card flush. From back level I think I might have won every hand culminating with A rag holding up and it's on to Friday's final.

Friday will be my last poker for two weeks as we are off to Newmarket December Sales (bloodstock), which actually include some dates in December unlike last year.

Last poker that is other than the Virgin Festival live poker this Saturday and Sunday !

We were there

Had a good day racing at Doncaster yesterday, although not profitable (2 seconds and a third).

Well done to both jockeys who share the title for this year, especially Jamie Spencer in the end who had to ride the last winner of the flat season to draw level again.

Some bookies pay out on a single winner using the number of second places to decide and that title goes to Seb Sanders, who celebrated by travelling on to Wolverhampton to ride the winner of the last race there at 9.20pm !

Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag