Junior Bids For Irish National!

It is a real Bank Holiday bonanza today with seven meetings taking place this afternoon as well two great meetings in Ireland.  The stable has a runner at Huntingdon as well as a runner in the Irish National at Fairyhouse.  Junior (pictured above) carries topweight in the big race but is by no means badly treated - he won from a mark of 155 at Newcastle earlier in the season and is partnered by that day's winning jockey Conor O'Farrell from a 1lb higher mark.  I have been to the Irish National once or twice and the hosts do make you feel very welcome...I remember a very young Mr Adrian Maguire winning the race for Martin aboard Omerta many years ago.  Grand Exit is our runner in the boys' race at Huntingdon and she will be partnered by young Kieron Edgar.

I thought that Ronaldo des Mottes ran a sound race to finish third in the Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumpton yesterday.  Despite being 4lbs lower in the weights than on his previous start he does not look any better than reasonably treated by the handicapper and may benefit from tackling a slightly longer trip.

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I see that the forecast is set fair for most of the remainder of the week ahead of the Grand National meeting at Aintree and they have started to water the track.  It seems that the easterly wind is drying the track out, but please...not too much watering - it would be nice to have some genuinely good ground!

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Looking at the football I think that Sunderland are taking a gamble on appointing Paolo di Cannio as their new boss.  He has a 2 1/2 year contract, but I don't see why they couldn't leave Martin O'Neill in charge for the last seven matches.  If they went down they could have given him the boot and employ di Cannio to get them back up - he looks like he is on to a hiding to nothing to me.  Most of the fans do not want the Italian and will certainly be in for a hard time from them if they do not stay up!

I am looking forward to the Cup replay this afternoon between Chelsea and Manchester United.  Chelsea should have beaten United at Old Trafford and they look worth an interest to me at odds of around 6/4 ( I am sure that Man Utd fan Tony Lomas will be delighted to hear me tipping up the Blues!).

Elsewhere, I firmly believe that Liverpool have the best player in the Premiership in Suarez...he may not be the nicest person, but he doesn't half know how to play the beautiful game!

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Finally, have you ever wondered what is meant by the term 'laughing stock'?  Is it cattle with a good sense of humour?!  Anyway, have a nice Bank Holiday Monday!