Edmund Runs At Leicester

This afternoon we have a jumps meeting at Leicester and an all-weather flat card to look forward to at Southwell.  It's amazing how there is any racing taking place on the turf when you see how much rain we have had in the west country.  Apparently Leicester have had a dry night - it has been so long, I can't remember the last time anything was dry around here!  Recent pictures show Worcester with standing water up to the top of the running rails, while I would hate to think what Newton Abbot is like at present.  In Brixham we had water coming over the lower harbour walls and I haven't seen anything like that in many years.

Anyway, I digress...the stable has one runner at Leicester this afternoon, Edmund Kean in the novices' handicap chase over 2m7 1/2f at 1.50pm.  He was a former point-to-point winner and proved a useful novice hurdler last season, winning twice at Fakenham and Taunton.  He has a disappointing reappearance run to overcome, but he has always looked like a chaser in the making and should go well if he can put in a clear round and settle better than at Cheltenham.

I was watching the racing from Southwell yesterday afternoon and was impressed by the performance of Hopatna - the mare has now won three times and still looks to be ahead of the handicapper.  If I were training her, she would be turning out again shorlty under a penalty.

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Arsenal star Theo Walcott must be really down in the dumps this morning.  His cruciate ligament injury will keep him out of the World Cup finals in Brazil.  It is like a jockey or trainer having one of the fancied horses for the Gold Cup, only to be told that they cannot run.  The trouble for Walcott is that the World Cup only comes around every four years.  Meanwhile I see that FIFA President Sepp Blatter has lambasted Brazil for the delay in building stadiums for this summer's World Cup.  Was it not Blatter that gave the World Cup to them?  Even if it manages to go ahead on schedule, I am sure there will be trouble with all the supporters over there.

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I see that Manchester United have now agreed to give £50 million to David Moyes to spend on new players.  The team certainly need some new blood, but would you put your money in the hands of the man who bought Fellaini for £27.5 million?  He is looking like a terrible buy.

Millwall landed a bit of a touch when they signed Ian Holloway as their new manager.  The fans will love him...it is just a shame that West Ham didn't try to sign him.

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I was fascinated to see that there is a school in England that has 42 languages spoken!  That include two Zulu dialects (and that doesn't include Cockney!).  I can just imagine any potential job adverts...Teacher wanted, must be fluent in 42 languages, English not required!