Three Runners Today

The stable has runners at both of the jumps meetings this afternoon as we send Battle Group (pictured above) on the long trek up to Wetherby, while Take Over Sivola and Presenting William take his chance at Uttoxeter.  Our northern jockey(!) Tom Scudamore takes the ride at Wetherby, while Conor O'Farrell does duty at Uttoxeter.  They look to be very competitive contests so we will be hoping for the best.

A P McCoy rode his 100th winner of the campaign at Hereford yesterday aboard Vasco du Ronceray.  The champ claims that he would like to ride 200 winners this season, but considering it was only 1st November yesterday that should be a mere formality so long as he can remain injury free.

Over in the States, the Breeders' Cup starts today and I have to admit to it being one of my favourite events of the year...at least when there is a bit of European success anyway!  I do enjoy being able to gloat about being able to beat the Americans in their own back yard!  I see that John Gosden and Aidan O'Brien are both backing the plan to ban Lasix at next year's meeting.  I remember going to the USA with one of Martin's runners many years ago and the vet asked us what drugs we wanted put into our runner...he said that as long as it was declared to the clerk of the course it was okay.  It seems that most of the trainers were running on some sort of drug or other, but personally I am of the opinion that they should not be running on any sort of drugs and that should be the case in all sports.  If you get caught you should be banned for life, you know it's wrong - no second chances!

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I see that Andy Murray lost to Polish qualifier Jerzy Janowicz in the third round of the Paribas Open yesterday.  The Pole was matched at 590 on the exchanges - I bet there were a few punters who managed to get their fingers burnt!

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Mick McCarthy has been announced as the new manager of Ipswich, while Ian Holloway is set to take over at Crystal Palace - they will certainly liven those two clubs up!  It is incredible the number of managers who fail to deliver on expectations, get the sack (and a nice settlement) and then find another lucrative role.  I wish I was a football manager - I could write down eleven names and spend the chairman's money!