Two At Worcester

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon, two on the flat at Salisbury and Lingfield as well as jumps fitures from Worcester and Fontwell.  The stable has two runners at Worcester this evening, newcomer Lady Of Longstone and Massannie in the 2m7f handicap hurdle - Tom Scudamore is aboard them both.  There are plenty of horses making their debuts in the bumper so there is little form to go on and you just don't know what you might come up against.  Both of our runners are fairly big prices, but Massannie (pictured above) has shown she possesses plenty of ability (as well as a few quirks!) and could go well if putting her best foot forward.

I see that David came to the rescue of trainer Kim Bailey yesterday when his horsebox broke down on the motorway near Pond House en route to Newton Abbot.  Travelling head lad Craig Wylie took Kim's horse to the races in our box and Amazing d'Azy duly did the business by obliging in the first race under a good ride from champion jockey A P McCoy.  It was a good day too for stable jockey who picked up a winning outside ride when Applause For Amy won by a head in a driving finish.  Manjakani did not look like he wanted to go past despite the best efforts of McCoy and could be one to steer clear of in future.

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Following the news that the Derby viewing figures are declining at an alarming rate, predictably the inquiry as to why has begun in the Racing Post and it would seem that there are plenty of people who agree with me.  "A whole new set of not quite so smarmy presenters wouldn't be a bad place to start", "Bring back Francome", "Get rid of boring Graham Cunningham" and "Mick Fitzgerald is not a natural, I hate the coverage" - these are just a few of the comments in today's paper.

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With so much scandal surrounding FIFA and their credibililty at present, has anyone else wondered why all the leading football nations don't get together with a view to forming their own association?  They could set up their own board with a new group of directors who are young and not set in their ways like Sepp Blatter.

On the domestic front, the transfer merry go round has begun.  Joe Cole has left my beloved Hammers to join Aston Villa - Cole couldn't get into West Ham, so I am not quite sure why Villa would want him.  Meanwhile I think that Steve Sidwell is a good signing for Stoke on a free transfer from Fulham.

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Finally, does anyone have any suggestions for my frozen shoulder?  I have had it for six months and it is driving me crazy - any suggestions (except anti-freeze!) gratefully received.

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