Final Day Of Ascot

If you are a fan of jump racing you are right out of luck today as there are six race meetings taking place this afternoon, all on the flat.  There is some exciting action nonetheless with the final day of the Royal meeting from Ascot topping the bill, while there are also fixtures from Ayr, Newmarket, Redcar, Haydock and Lingfield.  Lingfield somehow manage to escape with putting up peanuts for prize money - £30,000 for a seven race card on a Saturday really isn't good enough.  I would imagine that a few of the jump jockeys will have their toppers on today seeing as they will not be required elsewhere.

If you are a fan of jump racing you are right out of luck today as there are six race meetings taking place this afternoon, all on the flat.  There is some exciting action nonetheless with the final day of the Royal meeting from Ascot topping the bill, while there are also fixtures from Ayr, Newmarket, Redcar, Haydock and Lingfield.  Lingfield somehow manage to escape with putting up peanuts for prize money - £30,000 for a seven race card on a Saturday really isn't good enough.  I would imagine that a few of the jump jockeys will have their toppers on today seeing as they will not be required elsewhere.

The big race of the day is the Group One Diamond Jubilee stakes which is due off at 4.25pm.  There will be fifteen runners competing over the six furlongs trip and the fast ground should certainly suit Aljamaaheer from the Roger Varian stable.  The trainer has said that this is his best chance of a winner and seeing as he was on the scoresheet yesterday with Cursory Glance, his chance has to be respected.

What a great result in the Queen Mary yesterday when Rizeena prevailed in the Coronation Stakes under Ryan Moore for 80 year old trainer Clive Brittain.  Clive did his usual little dance after his filly had won his first race at the Royal meeting since 1974.  He is still the first trainer on the Newmarket gallops everyday at 5am - jockey Ryan Moore said that it is always an early start if you ride out for Clive!

I see that Royal Ascot fashion correspondent Gok Wan is in pantomime at Christmas as he appears as Dick Whittington in Cinderella in Southampton.  I am saying nothing , that's his tip for today!

While there are no runners from the stable this afternoon, we will be at Worcester tomorrow where among our runners we will have Purple 'N Gold and His Excellency (pictured below).  His Excellency, who finished third behind Simonsig in the 2013 Arkle reverts to hurdles for a2m4f handicap when he takes part in the 4.50pm race.

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Surprise surprise, England are out of the World Cup after Costa Rica managed to beat Italy 1-0 last night.  It just goes to show what poor sides England, Italy and Uruguay must be.  Do Costa Rica even have a football league?  Apparently England have already told manager Roy Hodgson that he will carry on in the position as he has done a good job...I really must be missing something!  It is the first time since1958 that England have lost their first two matches - why don't they extend his contract while they are at it, he has clearly done so well!  Not one of the England players would have made it into the 1966 World Cup winning side.  It just goes to show what a great side Sir Bobby Moore and co were.

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It's not all doom and gloom however, could we be on the verge of winning a cricket match agains Sri Lanka.  Sri Lanka made only 257 runs and there was a good five wicket haul from Plunkett.  England are 36-0 in their first innings - come on England!!!

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