Happy New Year!

Well, Happy New Year everyone!  Although sadly Cheltenham was abandoned yesterday owing to the inclement weather, at least there are five meetings taking place this afternoon including at one of our local tracks, Exeter which has passed an early morning inspection.  The other meetings take place at Musselburgh, Catterick, Fakenham and on the all-weather at Wolverhampton and the stable has runners at Exeter and Musselburgh...yes I did say Musselburgh - it's a good job our travelling head lads both speak Scottish!

We have four runners across the border - Investissement, E Street Boy, Swing Bowler who bids to extend her unbeaten record to five (pictured above)and Home Run.  The first three are partnered by Conor O'Farrell while it is the turn of Frank Hayes aboard Home Run after he has won four times in the hands of three other claiming jockeys.  I'm not sure if owner William Frewen will be going all that way to see him run today!

The stable also has five runners at Exeter where Tom Scudamore does duty aboard Bamboleo, Leader Of The Gang, Buddy Bolero, Quinte du Chatelet and Starlife who will be partnered by young conditional Kieron Edgar.  Quinte du Chatelet steps up in trip which could help him and he will love the heavy ground.

*****

There was a strange start to the 1.10pm at Uttoxeter yesterday when A P McCoy was left at the start.  The tape was caught around a couple of horses but the starter let them go and the champ obviously thought the rest of the field would be recalled but they weren't.  Unfortunately as they came under starters' orders as a punter you will have done your money.  Surely the bookmakers should offer some festive cheer and rethink this daft rule - if you can't win, then why should you be able to lose?

*****

I see that Phil "The Power" Taylor is considering retirement after his bust up with Raymond Von Barneveld.  Poor Phil said that Raymond was "squeezing me and holding me too much.  I am under the weather, I feel fragile, I've texted him and he has text me back and he loves me to bits"...Phil, that is why he keeps squeezing you!  It's all double Dutch to me...think about it!

*****

I will be hoping to make a winning start to 2013 with a little treble on the football - my selections are Swansea at 8/13,  Tottenham at 4/11 and Port Vale at 11/10.  Who's with me?!