Weekend Jottings!

This afternoon there are just three meetings taking place from Pontefract, Worcester and Hexham.  It is nice to have a bit of jumps action to look forward to again following a blank day yesterday.  The stable has two runners, Purple 'N Gold and His Excellency at Worcester.  Purple 'N Gold has to carry 11-12 but jockey Mr David Noonan (who was aboard when successful three runs ago) is in the saddle again and claims a handy 7lbs off his back.  He rarely runs a bad race and looks like he has sound prospects once again.

His Excellency hasn't always appeared straight forward but there is no doubting his ability having finished third behind Simonsig in last year's Arkle Chase.  He switches back to the smaller obstacles tomorrow for the 2m4f handicap hurdle and with £11,000 prize money on offer, it is unsurpsisingly a very open affair.  There are some fair sorts in opposition but if he can put his best foot forward there is no reason to think that His Excellency cannot go well under stable jockey Tom Scudamore.

I see that Towcester racecourse are going to open a greyhound track in the middle of their National Hunt course - they will race on Friday and Saturday evenings.  I hope they have managed to get their sums right as I haven't seen too many dog tracks opening lately.  If they get their fixtures correct, you could end up doing your money on the gee gees in the afternoon, then getting the opportunity to do it all over again on the dogs in the evening!  Does it get any better than that?!

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What do you call an Englishman in the knock-out stages of the World Cup?  Howard Webb!  I have just had to explain to Mrs Barnes that he is an English referee!

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British ladies tennis player Heather Watson is tipping her recent conqueror Madison Keys to go on to big things in the sport.  Madison beat Heather 6-3, 6-1 and possesses a very strong serve and hits the ball extremely hard - keep an eye on this young American as she could be going places.

Looking at the draw for the first round of Wimbledon next week, I reckon our five women could struggle to make it to the next round.  Why is it that we are unable to unearth any home grown talent?  I'm sorry, but the Lawn Tennis Association cannot take credit for Andy Murray...they have spent a fortune on coaches but with no notable success.  Maybe the LTA have it all wrong?

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Apparently there has been a surge in the numbers of great white sharks since 2008.  I would have thought that Greg Norman was a little bit long in the tooth to be breeding now!  Another one that I am going to have to explain Mrs Barnes later! 

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