Haydock Double!

It was another cracking day for the yard at Haydock on Saturday where we secured a double on the card with the wins of Broadway Buffalo and Shotavodka.  There was plenty of support for Broadway Buffalo (pictured above) and he was sent off 5/1 favourite for the very competitive Long Distance handicap hurdle having been available at 14/1 in the morning.  I hope a few of you were on as I flagged him up on Saturday as likely to go well.  Shotavodka also put up a good performance in the intermediate chase over 2m6f and now he has proven his stamina over further there are plenty more options available to him.  The good prize money that was up for grabs means that David has moved to the top of the trainers' table - let's hope he is still there much later in the season!

I thought that yesterday's Plumpton runner A Hairy Koala performed creditably in the bumper despite being a beaten favourite.  He shaped very much like a stayer in the making.

Over at Ludlow there was a right cock-up when it appeared that the advanced flag operator missed the starter frantically waving in the novices' handicap chase.  Why doesn't the starter have a button which makes a loud noise to notify the advanced flag man?  Having said that, if there was a loud noise, you would hope the jockeys' would realise there was a false start, so perhaps we could do away with the flag man altogether?!  It's so simple - Barnes solves another problem for the Jockey Club!

There is plenty of action to look forward to this afternoon with five meetings taking place.  Four of them are on the level at Doncaster, Musselburgh, Lingfield and Windsor as well as a jumps card at Towcester.  The stable runs Lola Galli and Cloughernagh Boy at Towcester.  Cloughernagh Boy has his first start for the stable having won a heavy ground point-to-point in Ireland.  The stiff track should suit him well and he looks to have a good chance under Tom Scudamore.

I see that it is Arkle winning owner Roger Brookhouse's 67th birthday today.  I'm sure Roger will be celebrating in style - let's hope he has a good day!

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Manchester City wrapped up the Premiership yesterday by beating West Ham 2-0.  City have the best squad of players and I can see only them or Chelsea winning next season's Permiership.  They have the best current squads and you can be sure that their owners will be splashing out plenty of cash during the transfer market.

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Does anybody know why Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has completely lost his form?  Surely it cannot be solely down to parting ways with his coach Ivan Lendl?  Afterall, it is Murray that does the playing, not his coach - there is now talk of John McEnroe taking over...you cannot be serious!  At least Murray would be one of the best in the world at shouting at the umpires!

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