Quiet Day

Home Run - runs at Taunton tomorrow -
looking for his 4th win in a row

After a hectic few days at Pond House we can draw breath for a minute with David having no runners today.  This is momentary respite as we have six runners tomorrow at Taunton and Haydock (check back here tomorrow for more news of them) and then lots of entries on New Years eve at Uttoxeter and Warwick and New Years day at Cheltenham, Exeter and Musselburgh.  These meetings are all under the threat from weather unfortunately so please keep everything crossed we do not get all the rain that is forecast!  However, It is a very dark, wet and windy morning at the yard so I hope it improves a little and I am just glad I don't have to work outside in it!  Today there are four meetings on around the country with three over the sticks at Newbury, Doncaster and Kelso (which passed its 7am inspection) and a flat card at Wolverhampton.  

Mind you, the best card looks to be over in Ireland at Leopardstown with 161,000 Euros of prize money on offer.  The big race is off at 2pm, the Istabraq hurdle, a Grade 1 with 55,000 to the winner.  Hurricane Fly is a 1/3 shot in the Post and there are only five runners.  The fourth placed horse wil get 2550 Euros which is worth more than winning four of the races at Wolverhampton!  What a performance from Tiday Bay at Leopardstown yesterday and well done to the Paul NIcholls team.  He looked beaten coming to the last but stayed on very well to beat the best of the Irish chasers including Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs.  I cannot see the Irish winning the Gold Cup this year but we shall see!

I see Sir Alex Ferguson is stirring things up again by saying "I'm the boss of the biggest club in the world, not Newcastle a wee club in the North East"!  I would be very careful if I was Sir Alex in Geordieland!

Harvey Smith is 74 today.  I have a picture of Harvey with myself and MCP on my wall.  The caption is two oldies and Harvey Smith!

My football bets for today are Stoke 20/23, Cardiff 20/23 and Sheffield United 4/11.

Wayne Rooney spent out £80,000 on three racehorses last year and they won him only £5,000!  I am not sure that Wayne is in the raacing game for the money but it is not a very good return!  I guess the £80,000 is not even a weeks wages!  Have a nice day.