Great at Fontwell

            Great Tempo at Fontwell

Today we have three meetings, a jumps card, yes a jumps card at Fontwell!!  Plus there are two flat cards at Lingfield and Chelmsford.  David has one runner at Fontwell, Great Tempo in the 4.15pm at Fontwell, a handicap hurdle over 2m5f.  He ran well last time out at Chepstow to finish third and he runs off the same handicap mark of 105.  His one win came on heavy ground so he won't mind the underfoot conditions today.  A similar run to last time would give him a great chance with Tom Scu in the saddle.  I would like to wish Penny Hills a very Happy Birthday.  MCP and I had breakfast with her on Wednesday and it was a very good breakfast!

It is great to have some jumps racing back on today after a blank few days due to the weather.  The good news also is that they are putting on some extra meetings to try and make up for some of those that have been lost in the past few weeks.  There is a meeting at Fakenham tomorrow and there is also and extra meeting at Wincanton on Monday and Hereford on Tuesday.

Yesterday at Wolverhampton the placepot dividend paid out the second highest in the bets history with £81,874.  Only Cheltenham in 2015 with £91,774 has ever been higher.  I am amazed that all-weather racing at Wolverhampton can get that many people interested in the placepot but then I suppose with various meetings being called off people wanted to have a bet on something!

It was sad to hear of the passing of Eric Bristow last night at the age of just 60.  I watched the crafty cockney quite a lot in my younger days.  He certainly put darts on the map.

Did anybody watch the Masters Champion Sergio Garcia yesterday?  He completely lost it and ran up a thirteen on the par 5 15th hole at Augusta and equalled the worst ever score on a hole at the course!  The greens looked so quick and you only had to touch the ball and it was gone!  It looked like putting on lino!

There is a good game in the Championship football tonight, Cardiff versus Wolves. 6/4 Wolves will do for me and it is live on Sky at 7.45pm.  It will be another sports night for Mrs Barnes with the golf on as well - she will be pleased!

A trick shot is a 'Dennis Wise'... a nasty five footer!  Have a nice day.