Coffee Anyone?

There are six meetings taking place this afternoon with five of those coming on the level.  The action is from Chester, Doncaster, Newcastle, Newmarket and Yarmouth, while if you are a fan of the jumps you had better live in the north of the country as the sole National Hunt fixture is at Cartmel.  It just goes to show how much rain we have had over the last few days - all of the turf meetings have the word 'soft' in the description in some form or other.  David does not have any runners today.

I find it amazing that Epsom Derby winning jockey Padraig Beggy is without a ride in this weekend's Irish Derby despite Aidan O'Brien having five of the nine runners in the race, including Wings Of Eagles on whom he was successful at Epsom.  I guess it just goes to show the strength in depth at Ballydoyle.  There has been plenty of money for the French raider Waldegist over the past few days and he is now only 9/4 with Paddy Power.

Talking of Paddy Power, I couldn't help but laugh at their latest marketing stunt which takes an unashamed swipe at coffee franchises Starbucks and Costa following findings of faecal bacteria in their ice.  In one of Power's shops, located door next to one of the coffee establishments they have window adverts saying: "Don't gamble next door...We won't sh*t in your coffee"!  Naughty I know, but one of the best bits of reactive marketing I have seen in a long time.

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I see that Andy Murray has withdrawn from today's Aspall Tennis Classic at London's Hurlingham Club.  This cannot help his Wimbledon preparations - he needs all the help he can get based on his early exit from the recent Queen's Club tournament.  If he was 100% fit and well he would be playing - his management team say that he is fit and well but if you believe that you will believe anything.  I certainly wouldn't want to be backing the number one seed for Wimbledon until I have seen a revival in his form.  Meanwhile, Alex Ward has become the lowest ranked Grand Slam qualifier since Mark Knowles in 1998 - he is currently number 855 in the world and will pick up a nice few quid regardless of result from here on in (which always helps!).

UEFA chiefs have brought in new anti-bribery rules to tackle tournament vote rigging.  I don't know how anyone in their right mind would have voted for a World Cup in Qatar...not only will it be too hot for the players, it will also be too hot for the poor spectators.  I would imagine the first aiders will be kept very busy.

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Little Jimmy says to his mum, "When I grow up I want to be a man".  Mum replies, "Don't be silly dear, you can't do both!"  Keep smiling...

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