Over For Another Year!

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Redcar and Windsor while there is also a jumps card from Kelso.  There are no runners from the stable today although young jockey David Noonan makes the long journey north to Kelso for one ride aboard Tolethorpe in the 3.40pm race.  He looks to have a decent chance so let's see if the 'one ride theory' works today...let's hope so for his sake, otherwise it is going to be a long drive home!

I thought that Starchitect ran a good race when third in the Listed three mile handicap chase at Aintree on Saturday.  He was conceding weight to the first two home and certainly deserves to win another nice prize.  Meanwhile, Vieux Lion Rouge (pictured above) ran another cracker to go one better than last year in the Grand National by finishing sixth.  He looked to be going very well entering the straight but to me it did not look like he quite managed to get home.  It was a very creditable performance nonetheless and he still managed to pick up £13,000 in prize money.

Ballynagour ran well for a long way under David Noonan to finish 11th and La Vaticane gave Richie McLernon a nice ride in 15th, although both would probably benefit from dropping back in trip.  Meanwhile, Doctor Harper was pulled up before the penultimate fence.

Blaklion ran a good race in 4th for our landlord for the week, Gino and as he kept reminding us the result of the big race means that the bill for Friday evening's meal falls at David's door!  Peter Scudamore looked thrilled with the success of One For Arthur who was trained by his partner Lucinda Russell - it was something that he never managed as a jockey, although I never get tired of reminding him that he should have won aboard Strands Of Gold!

It was another great feat of organisation from the team at Aintree and I would implore anyone to pay a visit - the atmosphere is unlike anything that I have ever experienced before.

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Normal service was resumed as Lewis Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix at the weekend.  He beat Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel who's race was compromised by yet another ill-informed pit stop.  Even so, the challenge from Vettel looks real and this could be the closest championship in years - who knows, it might even be interesting!  As you may be able to tell, it is not my favourite sport.

Sergio Garcia won his first major golf championship yesterday at the 74th attempt when winning the Masters.  He beat Justin Rose in a play-off and was a well deserving success for a great player.  There will be plenty of other days for runner-up Justin Rose.

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I have joined Alcoholics Anonymous...I still drink, I just use a false name!

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