My Pick Of The Weights!

Well, it looked like an interesting afternoon at the famous Abbey Road recording studios in London yesterday for the unveiling of the 2014 Grand National weights.  David looks to be well represented with six entries (Junior, Our Father, The Package (pictured above), Goulanes, Swing Bill and Standing Ovation) although it looks as if a couple of them will need a few to come out before they will get a run.  The race now looks more like a very good staying handicap chase than a Grand National with high class horses Tidal Bay and Long Run heading the weights at 11-10 and 11-9 respectively.  With that calibre of horse at the head of the weights there will be quite a few good handicappers that will not even get a run.  Although there is still a long way to go, at this stage my pick of the weights would be Shakalakaboomboom at 40/1, Tidal Bay at 25/1 and Our Father from Pond House at 40/1.

There are three meetings to look forward to this afternoon, one over the sticks at Musselburgh as well as two all-weather flat meetings at Kempton and Lingfield.  What is more, there is no inspection planned at Musselburgh!  The stable has no runners this afternoon.

Champion jockey A P McCoy was up in Scotland yesterday and rode a couple of winners at Ayr as well as a second and a third, so it was a worthwhile trip for him.  Meanwhile on the all-weather I was impressed with the performance of Monolight at Southwell - despite needing to be loaded into the stalls from the front, he won with any amount in hand.  He is definitely one to keep on the right side over the coming weeks.

*****

I was thrilled to see my football team West Ham gain three points last night by defeating Norwich.  In fairness Norwich looked to be the better team for most of the match.  Even so, that is four clean sheets in a row now for the Hammers and that gives them a fighting chance of staying up, while at the top of the league Chelsea will be disappointed to have dropped two points to West Brom.

At the other end of the table Fulham and Cardiff look to be in real trouble, although it is still very tight between the bottom eleven sides.  West Ham are top of the drop league with 25 points and there is only 8 points between them and bottom side Fulham.

I see that Roy Keane has decided to put the boot into Manchester United.  He says the rot started at the club years ago and that they need five new players.  I wonder if he is having a pop at Sir Alex?

There is some exciting action taking place tonight and for those of you who like a flutter, I will be having a little double on Everton at 1/2 and Liverpool at 4/9 - it could be a good night on Merseyside (and in the Barnes household)!