Weekend Jottings

It is a quiet day with just two meetings taking place and flat action from Newmarket and Hamilton. The card at Newmarket is a high quality affair and it features the first fillies' Classic - the 1,000 Guineas. Meanwhile, there is also a Listed contest and a Group 2 in support.  It could be another good day for the Aiden O'Brien team - he saddles favourite Rhododendron as well as Hydrangea and ante-post gamble Winter...there could be more flowers for the Ballydoyle stable.

I find it unusual that a jockey of the standard of Joe Fanning has decided to go to Hamilton.  He has a decent looking book of mounts and could be the man to follow at the Scottish track.

There has been a lot in the newspapers recently about Lester Piggott.  I remember many years ago when Martin and myself went to see Barney Curley in Newmarket and Lester was there in the kitchen chatting with Barney...I don't think they were talking about what was for breakfast!  Legends like Lester come along only once in a lifetime - the older readers among you will know what I mean.  At one time he was probably the most famous sportsman in the world.  The last time I spoke with him was at the sales in France - I was enormously proud that my sporting hero even remembered me.

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I see that Jeff Stelling has apologised after he called for ex-Hartlepool boss Dave Jones to be sacked on air.  Jones was sacked only two days later - it is hard enough for the managers of these smaller clubs like Hartlepool without the likes of Stelling putting the boot in.

Motor racing was never really my sport but one name I do remember from my younger days was Timo Makinen.  Sadly the flying Finn has passed away at the age of 79.  He was best known for his two hat-tricks in the RAC Rally - a great character and a sad loss.

There is a good Premiership football match on today as Arsenal take on Manchester United.  I wouldn't be surprised if United fielded a weaker side so the 20/21 about Arsenal couild be worth a look, along with an interest on Liverpool at 8/13.

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I went to a Swedish pantomime the other day - it was called Snow White & The Sven Dwarfs!

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