Kerry National Day

It is an all flat racing day in England with meetings at Yarmouth, Sandown, Beverley and Kempton so if you like your jumping you are out of luck...unless of course you can get coverage from the meeting at Listowel in Ireland this afternoon which hosts the Kerry National.  As always it has attracted a competitive field which isn't surprising considering the good prize money on offer.  J P McManus has a strong hand with no fewer than six of the eighteen runners, while Conor O'Farrell travels over for the ride aboard Romanesco for Gordon Elliott.

It is an all flat racing day in England with meetings at Yarmouth, Sandown, Beverley and Kempton so if you like your jumping you are out of luck...unless of course you can get coverage from the meeting at Listowel in Ireland this afternoon which hosts the Kerry National.  As always it has attracted a competitive field which isn't surprising considering the good prize money on offer.  J P McManus has a strong hand with no fewer than six of the eighteen runners, while Conor O'Farrell travels over for the ride aboard Romanesco for Gordon Elliott.

There was a great party at Pond House last night for birthday girl Carol Pipe.  I won't tell you how old she is, but she really doesn't look her age.  Considering all the years she has been married to Martin it really is quite remarkable!  Among the guests were Peter and Pam Deal (Make A Stand) and they are another couple that never seem to alter.  Peter must have been some talker to pull a cracker like Pam...only joking Peter!  Tom Scudamore and wife Lottie also made an appearance - Tom had ridden a 25/1 winner earlier in the day at Stratford...you would think he could have mentioned it to me before!

While we are talking birthdays I see that it is former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton's 64th birthday today.  He had a couple of good horses with MCP, Wingspan and Catch The Cross...Jo Hart could do with having a word with 'Shilts' - he never needed Head & Shoulders to catch the ball!

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It was good to see Robert Thornton back in action for the first time in six months at Stratford yesterday.  Furthermore to come back with a winner was a real bonus...it will no doubt have done his confidence the world of good.

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I see that World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan could have landed himself in deep water with the sport's governor Barry Hearn.  Following Stephen Lee being found guilty of match fixing Ronnie suggested that there were loads of other players doing the same thing and that Lee had just been unlucky.  Hearn wants the 'Rocket' to name names although I can't see that happening - where will it end?

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I see that Manchester United finally came good in the end to win 4-2 against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions' League.  Rooney has the fans back on his side and scored his 200th goal for the club, making him one of a very elite band of players.  His new head piece looks very fashionable...I wonder what Colleen thinks?!