Fideles Foot Perfect!

It was a good day for the stable yesterday with all three of our runners performing creditably at Market Rasen, including fences debutant Ainsi Fideles (pictured above) who bolted up in the beginners' chase, scoring by an impressive 23 lengths.  To my eye it looked as though he should little trouble following-up in this sphere.  Although this was his first success in Britain, he had hinted at a good deal of ability several times over hurdles and the switch to fences clearly bought that talent to the fore.  Meanwhile His Excellency ran well on his first attempt at 2m6f, finishing runner-up to The Nephew to whom he was trying to concede 15lbs.  Weather Babe also finished runner-up in the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle so all in all it was a productive day for the yard.

This afternoon there are four meetings taking place with three on the level from Ayr, Ripon and Windsor, while there is a jumps meeting at one of our local tracks, Newton Abbot.  We have one runner; Decoy in the 2m1f handiap hurdle at 4.15pm - he is undeniably well treated on his old form, although he does need to bounce back to figure judged by his most recent efforts.  Conor O'Farrell takes the ride.

It has always puzzled me why jockeys do not just put their hands up when they make a mistake.  I thought that William Buick gave Eclipse favourite The Fugue a terrible ride at Sandown on Saturday.  Why is it that the four jockeys who finished in front of him did not find the ground slippery?  The stewards held an enquiry so they clearly were not happy with the running of the horse.

I know it is a day late, but I would just like to wish colourful owner Stuart Mercer and our travelling head lad Bob Hodge a very happy birthday for yesterday.  I won't tell you there ages, although Stuart has a bus pass!  Many happy returns gents.

It was a good weekend for the Barnes household yesterday as not only did my Wimbledon double come to fruition, but I also backed four winning horses on Saturday...we can eat for another week at least!

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Did Lewis Hamilton win some sort of car race yesterday afternoon?  He now goes second in the drivers championship following the retirement of team-mate Nico Rosberg.  It should be an interesting second half to the season but the Mercedes boys still seem to have it very much between themselves.

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I was watching the mens' final from Wimbledon yesterday afternoon and was left slightly perplexed as to why the BBC would keep showing Victoria Beckham.  Every they turned the camera toward her, she was doing her hair or preening herself.  She looked bored out of her mind, it is clearly another place like Royal Ascot where it is good to be seen, even if you have no interest in the sport!

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