One Runner At Newton

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon - three on the flat at Carlisle, Nottingham and Windsor as well as a jumps card from Newton Abbot.  Once again it is another good effort from our local track to have the second most prize money on offer this afternoon.   The stable has one runner; Purple 'N Gold (pictured above) who goes in the handicap hurdle at 3.30pm.  He has been in decent form once again and I would imagine that stable jockey Tom Scudamore will be producing this one as late as possible.  He was a good fourth in a very competitive race at Stratford at the end of last month and had he jumped the last flight better he would have finished second at worst.  There is only a short run-in after the last at Newton Abbot so Scu will need to be at his very sharpest.

It could be a good day for Tom this afternoon as he has also picked up a good outside ride aboard Applause For Amy who he rode to victory last time out on this track - she has a 7lbs penalty to carry today.

What about that idiot who ran out onto the track at Leicester on Saturday?!  Unfortunately warm weather, drink and idiots do not go together very well!  Personally I would have called the police and had him charged and banned from all of the race tracks...we don't want racing going the same way as football.

I had to laugh when I read trainer Mark McNiff's comments after his mare Penny's Tune won at Dowpatrick yesterday.  The handler said, "She's like a woman, you have to talk to her nice!"  I know exactly what he means!

*****

It was a shame that England were not able to get a result against Italy on Saturday night as they lost 2-1 in their opening game of the 2014 World Cup.  Even so, I thought they played quite well although I have to question manager Roy Hodgson's use of Wayne Rooney.  You cannot play him wide on the left side - he was continuously having to track back to help the defense.  He doesn't play that position for Manchester United, I just wonder whether Hodgson has the bottle to drop him?  I thought that Sterling was without a doubt the star of the England side, looking very quick and sharp.  I still think that Ashley Cole should have been picked and this was a majoy blunder from the manager - let's see if he can grow a pair and pick his best team and play them in their correct positions!

*****

Finally, a useless bit of trivia...did you know that today is the start of the fresh water fishing season?  Years ago I would have been sitting by a river at midnight waiting to start fishing.  That hasn't happened so much of late after all the times I have been told to sling my hook!  Have a nice day...

Tweet?