Too Close!

There was nearly a big turn-up at Plumpton yesterday as Too Generous (pictured above) our 1/5 favourite for the mares' race scraped home by a head in a thrillling finish from Grace And Fortune.  Indeed, having been headed shortly after the last she battled on very gamely to get back up in the dying strides under Tom Scudamore and bail those who backed her at prohibitive odds out of trouble - I bet there were more than a few anxious punters as the race unfolded!  Anyway, she has been characterised by her willing attitude and once again she showed great determination here to extend her record to four wins from five starts.

It's 1.5°c this morning and there is a frost on my car for the first time this winter.  Luckily my wonderful wife turned the car on and ran the heater for me...in my dreams!

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon, two over the sticks at Ffos Las and Lingfield (subject to an early morning inspection at the latter) as well as an all-weather flat meeting at Wolverhampton.  The stable has one runner at Ffos Las, Shaking Hands who is bidding to follow-up his Towcester success of last time...he will certainly appreciate the testing conditions - three of his four wins have come on heavy ground and he stays longer than the mother-in-law!  Tom Scudamore will once again be in the saddle.

I hope that Taunton will be able to stage their richest ever raceday this weekend.  With prize money of over £115,000 on offer, including a £30,000 open handicap chase it is unsurprising that it has attracted some decent entries including Cheltenham Festival winner Hunt Ball.  Let's hope that the snow keeps away!

*****

I see that Harry Redknapp has signed a couple of French players for QPR, Lock Remy and Yann M'vila for £15 million.  They must be paying them a lot of wages, afterall why would they go to a team that could be relegated at the end of the season?  It has to be money - I hope 'Arry has done the right thing.

*****

I see that golfer Rory McIlroy has his say about Colin Montgomerie captaining the next Ryder Cup side.  He says that no player should captain the team more than once - Rory wants Paul McGinley.  What I would like to know is, is the captain's job really that important?  Surely it is the players who have to take care of business?

Golfer: "Do you think I can get there with a five iron?"
Caddy: "Eventually!"

Have a nice day...