More Abandonments

It would appear that we are set for another blank day on the turf following the abandonment of Wincanton and Pontefract.  That leaves us with just an all-weather card on the flat from Lingfield.  Even the good jumps card from Fairyhouse in Ireland has to pass an early morning inspection.  I can't remember the last time so many meetings were called off in April (and it is only the 3rd today!).

I watched the Irish National yesterday and the ground did look atrocious.  After 3½ miles on bottomless ground there was a blanket finish with only a length covering the first five home.  Gordon Elliott recorded a first success in the race and that means he now has a handy lead in the Irish trainers table.

The team from Aintree were at Pond House at the weekend to dress our special Grand National style schooling fences.  They are available for any trainer to use in preparation for the National meeting, although with the ground so heavy at present, it is hard to gauge the benefit.

I see that Sam Thomas is gutted that Market Rasen has been abandoned, not because of the racing but because he had been invited into the Director's Box for a three course meal.  It's funny the things that make different people tick.

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West Brom have given their manager Alan Pardew the boot along with a modest golden handshake of just £500,000.  That sort of figure is hardly worth leaving the club for!  The money that gets thrown about...it just isn't the real world.  I wonder how long it is before another club will give him a job?  Meanwhile, there is a real thriller to look forward to on BT Sport tonight with Juventus playing Real Madrid.  Real Madrid look worth a shout at 17/10, while I will be having a short-priced treble on Aston Villa at 8/13, Fulham at 9/20 and Wolves at 4/7.  That's my night sorted out...switching between channels on the television - I'm sure Mrs Barnes will be thrilled.

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Finally, a thought for the day.  The definition of rubbish: the stuff you throw away.  Definition of stuff: the rubbish you keep!

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