Weekend Jottings!

Today we have just two National Hunt meetings to look forward to at Ffos Las where the ground is currently riding heavy and at Market Rasen (good/soft).  I would imagine there will be a few non-runners at the Welsh track owing to the going.  There will probably also be some impressive winners too as soft ground can tend to exagerate winning margins.  The stable has no runners this afternoon.

Meanwhile Jonjo O'Neill has plenty of runners, although champion jockey A P McCoy would appear to have taken the day off.  He must be locked up somewhere, or terrorising green keepers on a golf course!

Talking of A P, I was looking through the list of all-time most successful jockeys and was amazed to see that Mick Fitzgerald had ridden more winners than John Francome.  I'm sorry Mick, but as far as I am concerned John Francome was different gear - if A P weren't around, I would have had Francome every time.  Surely one of the unluckiest sportsmen of all time has to be Richard Johnson.  Again, if A P weren't around, he would have been champion jockey fourteen times by now and we would have been proclaiming him as the finest jockey ever!  I wonder if Richard has any pictures of A P at his home?...Maybe they are on the dart board?!

If you fancy a ride in the charity race at the Cheltenham Festival (the St Patricks Day Derby) then you had better get fund raising.  The event is open to any amateur jockey, but the condition is that you have to raise at least £5,000 for charity as well as provide your own mount.  Sarah Oliver is the person to contact on 01886 884488, but be quick as you need to apply by 20th November.

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With a game like Manchester United versus Arsenal on the television this afternoon, you know exactly where I will be.  Does it get any better than this...have a nice weekend!