Temps British Debut!

What an exciting day's racing lies ahead!  We have jumps cards from Haydock, Ascot and Taunton as well as an all-weather flat card from Lingfield.  With the overnight defection of Gevrey Chambertin we now have two runners at Haydock - Garde Ville and expensive ex-French purchase Un Temps Pour Tout (pictured above).  All eyes will be on our five year old in the Supreme Hurdle Trial - he brings top class form to the table and an ability to handle this heavy ground.  Tom Scudamore takes the ride and hopefully it will be a good day for Pond House stables.

Over at Ascot there is a Grade One chase with £105,000 in prize money up for grabs.  Unsurprisingly it has attracted a good class of horse, the most notable of which is the admirable Sire de Grugy for the father/son combination of Gary and Jamie Moore.

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I see that England manged to continue their consistent form in the cricket down under.  Despite posting a respectable score of 300, they somehow managed to get beaten again.  The visitors looked to have the match sewn up until James Faulkner hit an unbeaten 69 to lead the Aussies to a one wicket victory (with three balls to spare).  He hit five 6's in a 47 ball knock...for once, I am lost for words!

For the next match in the series the Australians have been made 1/3 favourites with England at 9/4.  Is it really that clear cut?  England threw their last match away - the Aussies have won the series and might just take their foot off the accelerator...I might even be tempted to have a little wager on the visitors - I must be mad!

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I was disappointed to see that at the age of 77, FIFA President Sepp Blatter has suggested that he could stand for election for a fifth term.  Surely someone must have told him it is time to take a rest?  You need fresh blood with new ideas - give someone younger a chance!

While we are talking football, my little bet for the weekend is an accumulator on Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Celtic and Livingstone - that should cover my likely losses from the cricket and put the food on the table in the Barnes household next week!

There is a cracking match to look forward to tomorrow as Chelsea play Manchester United at 4pm.  It is a big test for both sides as they both have issues.  If Chelsea beat United, they will be 11 points in front of the Manchester team...sorry to point that out to you Tony & Eddie!