More Great Action

Despite there only being three meetings, it looks like being another cracking day of racing action with three meetings at Cheltenham over the sticks and Newmarket and Ripon on the flat.  With prize money in excess of £436,000 up for grabs at Newmarket, it is hardly surprising that they have drawn a top class card.  Yesterday at Cheltenham Vieux Lion Rouge finished third over 2 1/2 miles, staying on nicely in the closing stages - on this sort of ground he looks as though he might need a bit further, although he will almost certainly be better returned to a softer surface.

How unlucky is Richard Johnson to be riding in the A P McCoy era?  Johnson has ridden 151 winners this season and is set to finish runner-up in the jump jockeys' championship for the umpteenth time.  McCoy aside, he is the winningmost jockey in British jump racing history and in at any other time he would be heralded as one of the greatest of all time.

Talking of jockeys, Tom Scu has had a career best 98 winners this term, but is still a couple short of his maiden century of winners.  Tom has been looking for those elusive winners for a few days now - let's hope that he can notch them before the end of the season next weekend, it would be a great achievement.

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I see that it is colourful owner Roger Stanley's 59th birthday today.  Roger, who has had some great horses at Pond House down the years including the likes of Madison du Berlais, Grands Crus and Gevrey Chambertin, plays a bit of golf and does quite a bit of cycling.  I am sure he is a better cyclist than golfer despite the fact I have never seen him ride a bike!  Sorry, Roger...anyway, many happy returns.

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There were a couple of shock results in the football last night, including a terrible result for Manchester City as they dropped two points to Sunderland who are currently bottom of the Premier League.  It looks like they can kiss goodbye to the title with that sort of performance.

What a job manager Tony Pulis has done with Crystal Palace.  They beat Everton 3-2 and it baffles me why a big club has not yet offered him a top job.  He would do a good job at somewhere like Spurs - the biggest problem for him is that he is not foreign!  I don't understand why Tottenham always seem to be intent on getting in an overseas manager.

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I had to chuckle when I read an article about Mercedes Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton yesterday.  Lewis said that he had had the best few days in the UK with his dogs.  I wonder what keeps him in Monaco?  I think I see a pound sign coming up!

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