Franklin Fourth

With Huntingdon's jump meeting passing an early morning inspection, there are four fixtures to look forward to this afternoon.  There is another National Hunt meeting at Doncaster as well as two all-weather flat cards at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  The stable has no runners today.

I thought that Franklin Roosevelt performed creditably to finish fourth in the staying handicap chase at Warwick yesterday afternoon.  He had to carry top weight of 11-12 around in really testing conditions - it seems to me that the heavy ground has found out plenty of horses burdened with big weights lately.

With Huntingdon's jump meeting passing an early morning inspection, there are four fixtures to look forward to this afternoon.  There is another National Hunt meeting at Doncaster as well as two all-weather flat cards at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  The stable has no runners today.

I thought that Franklin Roosevelt performed creditably to finish fourth in the staying handicap chase at Warwick yesterday afternoon.  He had to carry top weight of 11-12 around in really testing conditions - it seems to me that the heavy ground has found out plenty of horses burdened with big weights lately.

This morning I am pleased to bring you another photograph from our gallops of a couple of horses who have engagements this weekend.  Below you will see Red Sherlock (left) working in company with The Darling Boy.  Our unbeaten five year old Red Sherlock is entered at Cheltenham in a Grade 2 novices' hurdle this weekend, while The Darling Boy, who ran so well to finish a close second on his Pond House debut has engagements at Sedgefield on Sunday and Plumpton on Monday.

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Following Wednesday's betting frenzy it seemed a bit quiet on the punting front yesterday.  There is plenty of debate going on about the Barney Curley coup and a lot of people are voicing their displeasure.  I would like to know exactly what connections have done wrong?  It was the handicapper who has dropped the horses - Eye Of The Tiger by 56lbs, Indus Valley by 32lbs and Low Key by 28lbs.  They were all entitled to win from those sort of marks, although I wish I had the foresight to have spotted it myself!  I was surprised that Racing Post betting editor Paul Kealy should say 'If the coup didn't leave a sour taste in the mouth, you're not a proper punter'...what on earth is he talking about?!

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It is difficult to believe but England have actually given themselves a fighting chance in the latest One Day International cricket match by scoring 316-8 against the Australians.  They need to win to avoid equalling the worst ever run by an England side (ten consecutive losses)...I am sure they will find some way of bottling it!

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I have heard of people splitting up by text, but I have never heard of someone getting the sack by text.  Well, that is exactly what has happened to Blackpool manager Paul Ince.  Chairman Karly Oyston sent him a text his marching orders...mind you Ince is a bit scary!

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My boy Lester tells me that he calls his girlfriend 'West Ham' because she kicks off every five minutes!  I must admit I did find that one mildly amusing.  Mind you, what does amaze me is that you drop into the bottom three of the Premier League and the manager takes you abroad to do some warm weather training.  Personally, I would have taken them to the Antarctic!