Nunthorpe Double?

You are out of luck if you are a fan of the jumps today.  There are no less than seven meetings taking place but they are all on the level with the action coming from Chester, Doncaster, Lingfield, Newcastle, Newmarket, Windsor and York.  The 2.05pm race at Newcastle looks to be a cracker - it is the Northumberland Plate, a 20 runner handicap over 2m½f.  It is a race Martin won a few times as well with the likes of Tamarpour and Far Cry.  Ascot Stakes winner Lagostovegas catches the eye under a 5lbs penalty and looks to be the one to beat.  With the race worth £150,000, it is well worth winning!  Meanwhile, I can only see Newmarket's good/firm ground getting quicker and quicker as the day goes on.  Trainers are obviously concerned as there are only 46 runners and I would be amazed if there weren't less before the end of the card.

It will be interesting to see if 2,000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior can regain the winning thread in the Irish Derby.  He was only 4th in the Epsom version, a couple of places behind Dee Ex Bee but the bookmakers make them 8/11 and 7/2 chances respectively.  Saxon Warrior looked like a superstar earlier in the season and they clearly think the form will be turned around, although he didn't look like he was crying out for 1m4f at Epsom to me.

Stable jockey Tom Scudamore has picked up a ride at York today, yes I did say York!  He tries to defend his title in the jump jockeys' Nunthorpe which he won aboard Tylery Wonder last year and is 4lbs lower this time around.

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There are some exciting football matches to look forward to with France and Argentina the highlight.  I will be backing Argentina at 13/5 as the French don't look to be in great form to me.  Uruguay versus Portugal also looks like a good match and Uruguay are 10/11 to qualify - that match is at 7.00pm.

Ian Poulter committed a faux pas in the French Open golf yesterday when he hit a poor drive and uttered an expletive loud and clear for the television cameras.  The commentator quickly apologised but it was already too late.  The narrow fairways and plenty of water certainly found a few players out.  The Ryder Cup will certainly be interesting when it is played there - you could lose a player in the rough just looking for his ball!

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Mrs Barnes kicked me out so I have been living in a telephone box for the past few weeks.  I just wanted somewhere to call home!  Have a great weekend...

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