Plenty Of Rain!

There are four meetings to look forward to this afternoon - three on the flat at Yarmouth, Lingfield and Kempton as well as a jumps card at Exeter.  The ground at the Devon track is officially being described as good/soft, although judging by the amount of rain we have had in Brixham I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was considerably softer.  It was a similar story yesterday where the ground at Pontefract finished up being heavy - the 2m2f handicap was 35.08 seconds slower than the standard time for the race...just think how far a horse can run in that sort of time!  The stable has no runners this afternoon.

There are four meetings to look forward to this afternoon - three on the flat at Yarmouth, Lingfield and Kempton as well as a jumps card at Exeter.  The ground at the Devon track is officially being described as good/soft, although judging by the amount of rain we have had in Brixham I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was considerably softer.  It was a similar story yesterday where the ground at Pontefract finished up being heavy - the 2m2f handicap was 35.08 seconds slower than the standard time for the race...just think how far a horse can run in that sort of time!  The stable has no runners this afternoon.

Don't forget that it is David's turn to feature in the stable tour in the Racing Post today.  I see that David has picked out my horse to follow for the coming season...I won't spoil it by revealing the name - you can see for yourself in the paper!  Suffice to say, the trainer reckons that he can run up a sequence in novices' hurdles...I hope he is right!  Looking at the list of 'barn leaders', Martin Ayliffe, Simon Burrough, Gerry Supple and youngster Oliver Defew.  There are a few years of experience between that lot...mind you, one of them (who will remain nameless as a I dont want to embarrass him) is a Norwich supporter - you would think he would know better!

Pictured right is one of the horses Davd gives a favourable mention to in his tour; Amigo, who is seen here exercising on the gallops.  The trainer says that last season's dual hurdles winner could switch between hurdles and fences this season. 

Watching the action yesterday from Plumpton, it occurred to me that the best finish of the day was actually in the pony race as Buds Beauty won a thriller by a nose!  The meeting was in aid of the Moorcroft Welfare Centre that helps former racehorses so it was all in a good cause.

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It's not easy staying in the Premier League - just ask Crystal Palace fans.  Palace were beaten 4-1 at home by Fulham and manager Ian Holloway received quite a bit of stick. As far as I can tell, Sunderland also look doomed, while Middlesborough have sacked their manager Tony Mowbray.  Why do these clubs have board members or a chairman?  None of them seem to be accountable for the mess their clubs are in, despite the fact that they are the ones that hire the managers!

If Arsenal are as good as their manager seem to think they are, the 11/8 available about them to beat Dortmund at home tonight could end up looking like a bit of value.

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If you missed the latest installment of our stable staff interviews yesterday, below is another chance to see which Pond House resident jockey Conor O'Farrell selected as a horse to follow for the coming season...