But, in the months ahead, the chances of derailment are significant.
And with a year or two of appeals ahead, the chances of Microsoft's ever being broken up are uncertain.
If they had got 200 ahead, our chances of winning would have gone completely".
If you've ever even heard of Grape-Nuts ice cream, you're already a step ahead, and chances are you're from New England, too.
But even so, says Curtice, with Labour some three points ahead, the chance of that hung parliament remains remote.
It's impossible to know what's around the next turn, but rather than hold on tight, Murphy chooses to plunge ahead, allowing chance, gravity, and a less-than-cat-like agility to determine his fate: "I feel that I'll land feet up no matter what.
It's little more than a lesson in public speaking for the older students, and for the younger ones, an opportunity to look ahead, and a chance to practice being a better audience member than I am.
Look 12-18 months ahead, and the chances are that price pressures will have eased.
Anyway, Venturi has lots of time & plenty of chances ahead of him.
