Three Runners Today

It's a busy day ahead with five meetings taking place - three of them on the flat at Thirsk, Brighton and Sandown, while there are also two jumps fixtures at Ffos Las and Worcester.  The stable has runners at both jumps meetings, Kilrye and Oddjob (pictured above) at Ffos Las who are the mounts of Tom Scudamore, while Conor O'Farrell takes the ride aboard Standing Ovation at Worcester.  Standing Ovation did finish runner-up in a point-to-point and hopefully this quicker ground could help bring about some improvement.

Our only runner at Newton Abbot yesterday, Ladyvie finished a fair fourth in the 2m6f handicap hurdle.  She ran in snatches but did well to finish up as close as she did.  The unlucky horse of the race was Orion's Express who had the race won until taking a heavy tumble at the second last flight.

On the same card there was a big gamble landed as Planetoid bolted up under A P McCoy at 5/6.  The champion jockey was replacing Mattie Batchelor who was down to ride the Jim Best trained gelding but had a puncture and no spare wheel...it's a shame he wasn't sponsored by Bathwick Tyres!  The matter has been referred to the BHA.

*****

What a knock from Jos Butler in the cricket as he hit 47 not out from just 16 balls.  If he had managed to reach 50 it would have been the fastest half century in history.  He hit three sixes and six fours - it was a really entertaining (albeit brief) innings!

*****

Everton have at last managed to appoint a new manager.  Robeto Martinez takes over and the team are only 7/1 to lift a trophy this coming season.  He has a very hard act to follow in David Moyes - the team loved Moyes so Martinez' first job will be to win the players over.

Talking of football, I see that Andrey Arshavin cost Arsenal £7,800 per minute last season and it looks as though he will be shown the door along with Denilson and Squillaci.  That alone will save the Gunners £11million per year - now hopefully for them, Arsene Wenger will stick his hands in his pockets and fork out for some decent players (afterall, he does treat it like it is his own money)!