Struth! Hope I can dig myself out of a hole with these at a very tough Avondale meeting.

Top 5
R4 no5 Desert Lad
R5 no 18 Jac Pot
R7 no 7 Carchelo
R8 no 6 Post Road
R9 no 4 Sterling Prince

For some reason I feel a little confident today. Not sure why.

Top 5
Ascot
R7 no 16 Grand Nirvana
R8 no 9 Scenicism
Doomben
R1 no 5 Paymore
R7 no 8 Bar Linnie
R8 no 18 Covet Gold


Second Stringers
Avondale
R3 no 2 Glam Slam
R7 no 2 Montetra
Trentham
R6 no 5 Halls
R10 no 4 Conchord

Nice little result last Saturday with 3 out of 4 of the second stringers winning and all 4 placed. Usual tough races in NZ today but all horses listed have good depth in their form and a multiple collect will be very worthwhile.

AWAPUNI
R4 no 13 STARK JUSTICE (gets back and gets home but poor strike rate)
TE RAPA
R8 no 6 EQUALS THAT
R9 no 3 CULMINATE (ultra consistent)
R10 no 11 REPOSADO (promising type)
EAGLE FARM
R5 no 13 PRIMEVAL DEMAND (consistent up and comer)

I like these a bit today; all at Riccarton.

R1 no 3 Grand Rapids
R8 no7 Kay's Dreams
R9 no 6 Wellesley
R10 no 3 Menelaus
R11 no 6 Monkey Business

Like these at odds today. All are at the very spacious Awapuni track.

R1 no 8 Regal Secret (been unlucky lately but a tough race)
R4 no 9 Shi Kin Fly (racing well at the moment)
R5 no 11 Macadamia (down in class on recent runs)
R7 no 11 Fereira (honest stayer)
R10 no 17 Possum (chance at odds with Conchord very short)

A decent start last week with the first two winning at good EW odds. Possum was a late scratching.
Hope you all had a beaut Christmas. These may help with the credit card.
Top 5
Ellerslie
R5 no 1 Morelle (consistent up and comer)
R6 no 8 Puttanesca (needs a strong pace as she getrs back and finishes on)
R9 no 3 Ginga Dude (good horse but tough race)
Adelaide
R6 no 11 Close The Door (promising)
Brisbane
R3 no 5 Covet The Gold

Second Stringers
Awapuni
R7 no 8 The Black Oak (big finish; has been freshened)
Brisbane
R6 no 9 Paymore (very honest but struggling to win)
R7 no 8 Bazzooka (I think he's a bit underrated)
Melbourne
R6 no 7 Time Matters (honest horse but second up)

In spite of recent performances I feel a little confident today. There's not a lot of depth in the fields. Anyway, here goes.

TOP 5
Te Aroha
R4 no 11 Jacpot (chance in even race)
R10 no 5 Bally Magic
(Pukekura
R7 no 10 Stark Justice rode him up last start - big finish when quietly ridden)

Doomben
R5 no 8 Express Air (promising but has to beat Youthful Jack)
R7 no 2 Bar Linnie (top class horse)

These may pay to follow today (then again...)

Top 5
ELLERSLIE
R5 no 15 Don Domingo
R6 no 11 Starmon
R7 no 4 Culminate
R9 no 18 May The Horse Be Magic
R10 no 8 Equals That

Second Stringers
WAIKOUAITI
R9 no 2 Dear John
HASTINGS
R5 no 4 Under & Over
R7 no 11 Conchord
GOLD COAST
R7 no 2 Forestreno

Nice, quiet little meetings in NZ today. As on most Saturday mornings, I'm feeling confident today.

TOP 5
AWAPUNI
R1 no 4 Albus (consistent horse in average field)
R2 no 4 Daffodil (resuming from short break - classy)
R3 no 4 Regal Secret (highly promising)
R5 no 10 Phantom Storm (considered a Derby horse by connections)
R8 no 15 Scandalous (good chance at odds)

SECOND STRINGERS
ELLERSLIE
R6 no 12 Sun Ruler (fairly consistent in short career)
R8 no 7 Yamanna (always runs a good race)
R9 no 8 Late Addition ( good value chance)
R10 no 10 Vonusti (been consistent though a little disappointing last time)

Good value at Trentham today. I'll be on these (all up).

R2 no 7 Occidentalis
R3 no 9 Henree
R4 no 3 Numero Lago
R5 no5 Cellmate
R10 no 12 Colonel Danske

Maximum Star is a good outsider in the big sprint (race 9).