Weekend Jottings

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon and two of them are over the sticks at Hexham and Worcester while the other fixture is on the flat at Pontefract.  David has one runner today; Celestial Path (pictured above) who contests the 4.40pm at Pontefract - a two mile novices' hurdle.  He was a classy flat horse but is yet to recapture that level over hurdles.  He will certainly appreciate this surface but will need to improve on his most recent efforts to feature, especially as he has to shoulder top weight of 11-12.  Tom Scudamore makes the long trip back from Perth yesterday to partner our six year old.  I wonder what sort of mileage Tom does on his car annually?

I watched every day of the Royal meeting from Ascot and I have to say that it just seems to get better and better, while I thought that ITV's coverage was excellent.  They seemed to have all angles covered and even if you didn't like racing, there was something in it to keep everyone entertained.  Even the hot dog seller received a mention!  Congratulations to ITV on a job well done.  Meanwhile, the course looked to be in magnificent condition so well done to everyone involved with that - I am normally one of the first to criticise the courses when things are not as they should be, so it is only right that I hand out the laurels when they excel.

*****

There is a big football match on tonight with England taking on Panama in their second World Cup match.  The kick-off is at 1pm and the papers have been building it up all week, although I don't see how leaking the England team sheet is any help to them at all.  They should get away with it against a team like Panama but it would be much tougher against the better teams.  The bookies make England as short as 1/6 to win - let's just hope that the players don't let us down.  The best result of the tournament so far has to be the Croatians beating Argentina 3-0 - I must admit that it was made sweeter by having a few quid on!

It is the French Grand Prix from Paul Ricard this afternoon.  I am not a great fan of Formula One motor racing and I constantly wonder why the drivers are not in identical cars with identical engines?  That would sort out who the best driver is...it seems so obvious to me.

*****

I do all my addition in my head...it's the thought that counts!

Tweet