Weekend Jottings

Today there are just three flat meetings taking place at Yarmouth, Goodwood and Beverley.  It must just be me, but I cannot believe that there are no jumps meetings taking place on a Sunday - if I were the owner of a National Hunt course I would certainly be pushing for these Saturday/Sunday fixtures, it isn't rocket science - most people are off work at the weekends and are able to go racing.  It is hardly inspiring action, although I was interested to see that Goodwood are hosting a 1m3f three year olds' seller - back in the day myself or Martin would have been at Goodwood to bid on the winner, or claim one that we thought would make a hurdler.

The stable has an enviable record of success with horses that have come from sellers or claimers with the likes of Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand, dual Cheltenham Festival winner Blowing Wind and more recently the likes of Notus de la Tour all coming from the bargain basement.  The minimum claiming price for one from the Goodwood race today is £8,000 although I think on this occasion any potential buyers would be better off looking at a quarter share of Royal Peak for £2,500 or even outright ownership for £10,000.  You know that he is a proven winner and will make into a novice chaser.

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Cardiff play Manchester City at home today.  It should be an interesting match although Cardiff didn't look too good against West Ham and I would fancy City to put a few goals past them.  I am looking forward to the match between Spurs and Swansea - both teams scored five goals in Europe earlier in the week...they both play attacking football and there should be a few more goals today.

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Looking at the US Open Tennis, once again the ladies' tournament looks very lopsided.  Serena Williams is a 4/5 shot, while second favourite Victoria Azarenka is available at 3/1.  Outside of those two, the third favourite, Agnieszka Radwanska (watch your pronounciation!) is an 18/1 shot - not the most competitive of contests.

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Childish I know, but I couldn't help but be amused by world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan's tweet 'On train, just moonied the entire platform in Germany'...I guess he must have been going for the brown!