Runners At Taunton Today

There are three jumps cards taking place this afternoon at Newbury, Uttoxeter and Taunton, also on the menu is one all-weather flat meeting from Kempton.  The stable has five runners at Taunton today - four of them, Famousandfearless, The Wealerdealer, Party Girls and Prasina Russata (pictured above, nearside) contest the 1.05pm race, while Bladoun represents us in the 2.50pm.  The card looks pretty competitive and it is hard enough to pick winners when the stable has only one runner, but choosing between four is very difficult!  They should all run respectably - I guess that is what's called sitting on the fence!

There is a good card at Newbury this afternoon and the 3.15pm race looks particularly interesting - there is £35,000 in prize money and it has attracted an eight runner field.  Nicky Henderson has a promising sort called Chatterbox...a lot of people have been talking about this one!  Boom boom!

Our only runner yesterday, Makadamia was unable to build on the promise of her racecourse debut and was a disappointing favourite in the bumper at Wetherby.  Perhaps the race may have come a little quickly after her last race, while she did also appear likely to benefit from a step up in trip.

I am off to London today with Martin, Carol and David for lunch at the Dorchester.  MCP is being honoured with the Sir Peter O'Sullevan lifetime achievement award so it should be a great day.  There are plenty of desirable auction lots up for grabs including a luxury trip to the 2014 Dubai World Cup on 29th March which includes several nights in a five star hotel and tickets to the races - it is all in the aid of Sir Peter's favourite charities which all benefit racing, horses or other animals.

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I thought that Manchester United produced the performance of the season so far to beat Bayern Leverkusen 5-0 in Germany.  Meanwhile Gareth Bale scored from a free kick for Real Madrid, yet as he took it the 40,000 Madrid fans all donned their Christiano Ronaldo masks!  The Englishman seems to be taking some stick over there, even though they play for the same team...most odd!

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It is not looking so good on the cricket front - not only are the England team 1-0 down in the Ashes series, we are also 1-0 down in 'The Bashes'!  The England supporters who follow the national side everywhere are known as 'The Barmy Army' and traditionally they take on the oppositions fans - today they take on the Aussie supporters in Alice Springs.

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I see that six men have been arrested for football match fixing in this country.  If found guilty they should be given long prison sentences...I don't think we are severe enough with sentencing in this country.