Lingfield Goes Ahead

I am pleased to report that following a 7.30am inspection at Lingfield, their jumps card goes ahead this afternoon.  They said that the course was raceable yesterday, but then they always say that...I think it is just to keep your interest!  Anyway, in this case they were proven right and at least it should give us something to watch this afternoon!  The clerk of the course reports the going to be very heavy and there are going to be plenty of tired horses in the closing stages, especially in the three mile handicap chase.

I thought that My Brother Sylvest ran a cracker in the handicap chase at Ludlow yesterday afternoon to be beaten only 3/4 length on ground that I did not think he would like.  He was trying to give 20lbs to the winner, Mentalist so this was a really good performance and our six year old's turn cannot be far away.  Martin went to Ludlow yesterday for the first time in over twenty years...guess who he used to send to Ludlow?!

Stable conditional Tom Bellamy (and I use the term "stable" advisedly) rode a 28/1 winner at Kempton yesterday afternoon for Richard Mitchell.  Bells Junior gave his mount a great ride and it is good to see him getting the odd outside ride...I have said it often before, we have a very good team of jockeys at Pond House and it amazes me why they do not pick up more spare rides.

It wasn't the best of days for Nicky Henderson yesterday as a couple of his good things were turned over at Kempton.  1/5 shot Snake Eyes was narrowly beaten, while 7/4 favourite Kells Belle was pulled up.  The ground was certainly very testing, although I am not sure that tells the whole story.

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Harry Redknapp takes QPR to out of form Sunderland this evening and it's a shame the match isn't on television - it would be entertaining to see him twitching on the touchline!  I wonder how many of Mark Hughes' players he will pick?  QPR badly need a result, a draw at the very least.

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Helen was kicked out of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here last night.  As much as she was very annoying, I did find myself questioning what I am going to watch now...her and the Pussycat Doll were a nice pair!