Weekend Jottings

There are just two meetings taking place this afternoon - a flat card from Pontefract and a jumps card from Southwell.  David runs Kalifourchon in the 3.40pm race at Southwell.  It is a three mile handicap hurdle and it looks a competitive contest with our six year old at the foot of the weights on 10-5.  He ran well on his seasonal reappearance at Market Rasen when second from this mark, form which would give him fair claims.  Stable jockey Tom Scudamore is in the saddle and it is a shame that there are not more than six runners as I think he would have had each way claims.  Meanwhile the flat card at the Curragh looks like a cracker with three Group races taking place - Ryan Moore looks to have a strong hand in each and Happily should win the fillies' Group 2 at 3.20pm.

It was good to see that the Summer Carnival at Perth was a complete sell-out yesterday with 10,000 tickets sold and none available to buy on the day.  It just goes to show that if you put good races on, market it correctly you will get people in without having to stage a pop concert after racing.  Perth do an excellent job and we have always received a warm welcome - I know that David likes it there, not least I am sure because he boasts an incredible 54% strike rate there over the last five seasons!

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I can see Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez falling out with owner Mike Ashley.  The manager was told back in May that he could spend 'every last penny that the club generated'.  They get big crowds at Newcastle so I wonder where all the money goes?  Perhaps the owner is thinking of opening a sports business?!  Newcastle take on Huddersfield this weekend and if they can't beat them, there will be an even bigger divide between owner and manager.

The big game of the day is between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.  The 11/10 available about Spurs looks worth a bet to me, although the biggest concern for me is the big pitch that they will be playing on until their new stadium is constructed.  A big new stadium certainly hasn't done my beloved West Ham any favours.

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Why did woolly mammoths become extinct?  They slowly became irrelephant!  Have a nice weekend...

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