Gabrial 2nd At Southwell

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Salisbury, Haydock and Chelmsford as well as a jumps card from Sedgefield.  There are no runners from Pond House today, although stable jockey Tom Scudamore makes the long journey north where he has picked up some outside rides including an odds-on shot in the 2.10pm race - it will be a long journey home if that gets turned over!  Gabrial The Great ran a good race at Southwell yesterday, finishing second beaten only a neck by the favourite.  He travelled through the race supremely well and jumped to the front at the last at which point I thought he was going to win, only for him to get run down again near the line.  He has more than enough ability to win races over hurdles or fences, although things do need to go his way.

I see that Cheltenham racecourse have taken the curious decision to change the name of their 'Open' meeting in November to avoid confusion with the golf tournament of the same name.  I am not sure why golfing's elite have suddenly become upset by the name, the fixture has been so called for 17 years!  It's not easy to mix racing up with golf...or is it?  Mind you, I suppose the officials had a nice lunch while discussing it!

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The deciding test match starts today between England and the West Indies with the visitors available to back at 10/1, suggesting that they think their last victory was a fluke.  I thought they won fair and square and I wouldn't want to be backing England at 1/4.  With rain forecast, the draw is a 9/2 shot - I think I will give this one a wide birth.

I see that Chelsea have dumped Diego Costa's club Range Rover in the youth team car park...they can dump it in my garage if they are struggling for space!

Boxer David Haye has said that he can beat Anthony Joshua, even though he is 9 years older, 3 stone lighter and 3 inches shorter.  Haye has clearly spent all of the money that he earnt for his last fight (which incidentally, he lost).  This would be a joke of a match were it to ever go ahead.

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Thought for the day...real blondes don't drive Smart cars!

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