Not A Long Way To Tipperary!

Day five of the jumps racing sabatical so there is light at the end of the tunnel!  For our amusement today we have five flat meetings from Musselburgh, Brighton, Lingfield, Newmarket and Haydock.  I'm not quite sure why there are afternoon meetings at Lingfield and Brighton - they are not far apart and will certainly be taking custom from one another...another victory for race planning.  Furthermore, the prize money over here is disappointing once again - Lingfield offer £25,000 across seven races, while Tipperary has £128,000 up for grabs - racecourses beware, it's not that long a way to Tipperary!

I see that bookmakers Betfair are already paying out on Richard Hughes as champion flat jockey and he is only a 4/5 shot to complete the hat-trick next season.  It's like money in the bank - mind you when you consider the current interest rates, it's probably best it doesn't make it into the bank!

Talk about keeping it in the family...I see that Peter Bowen's two sons, twelve year old James and his brother Sean won both of the pony races at Yarmouth yesterday.  Sean hopes to become a conditional jockey next year when he turns 16, let's hope he doesn't eat too much otherwise he will end up looking like his dad!  I am only joking of course, Peter is looking very slim these days.

I was shocked to see Joe Fanning on the cold jockey's list.  He has now gone 30 rides without a winner...I find this strange as guv'nor Mark Johnston must be turning out winners.

I see that England are even money to win the fourth Ashes Test at Durham.  The weather forecast predicts there could be showers throughout the course of the match.  Jimmy Anderson has an excellent record on the pitch having claimed 15 wickets in just two matches - it looks like a tricky one forecast...I think I will keep my winnings from the last Test in my pocket.

Liverpool chief John W Henry has once again reiterated that they will not sell Luis Suarez for any price...there is nothing worse for a team than a player who doesn't want to be there and money talks, so I guess we will just have to wait and see.