Five Meetings Today

Today we have five meetings taking place, four on the flat at Yarmouth, Catterick, Lingfield and Kempton as well as a jumps card from Worcester.  There were plenty of non-runners at Pontefract yesterday after the ground had changed from good/firm in places to soft after just the second race - I am not sure how much rain they had, although it must have been quite a downpour to change to those extremes in such a short period of time.  The weather (and therefore the ground) looks a lot more stable today, but as you know as soon as the going changes, so do the results.

Today we have five meetings taking place, four on the flat at Yarmouth, Catterick, Lingfield and Kempton as well as a jumps card from Worcester.  There were plenty of non-runners at Pontefract yesterday after the ground had changed from good/firm in places to soft after just the second race - I am not sure how much rain they had, although it must have been quite a downpour to change to those extremes in such a short period of time.  The weather (and therefore the ground) looks a lot more stable today, but as you know as soon as the going changes, so do the results.

We are all on AP watch at Pond House at present as the champion jockey closes in on the career total of winners of MCP.  McCoy remarkably failed to ride a winner yesterday so is still three short of Martin's total but he does have six chances to put that right this afternoon and all six of them are forecast favourite in today's Racing Post.

I am looking forward to the start of the July meeting from Newmarket tomorrow - there are no fewer than three Group races taking place as well as a Listed contest - I am hoping that the skies remain clear as I already have a few that I am looking to back.

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What an amazing performance from the Germans last night as they demolished home nation Brazil 7-1 in the World Cup semi-final.  The Brazilian defence was not a hard nut to crack!  I know they had two of their star players missing but I really was expecting much better from Brazil.  They really were terrible and I reckon we could have even managed to get a Pond House squad to give them a game (or even England!)...that is seriously how bad they actually were.  They still have to play for the third/fourth position although I reckon their morale will be pretty dented after this.  I don't think I will ever look at those scantily clad Brazilian dancers that parade around the Cheltenham Festival the same way again!

Tonight's semi-final is between Holland and Argentina and is on ITV at 9pm.  I reckon the bet could be Arjien Robben to be booked for diving at a tasty looking 9/1...having said that, I did advise Brazil last night so what do I know?!

Away from the World Cup, why on earth would Manchester City spen £6million on a goalkeeper when they have England goalie Joe Hart?  These days most of the teams have a forty year old reserve team goalkeeper.  The betting would suggest that new signing Willy Caballero will start in goal in the Community Shield - let's hope he does not make a balls up!

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Today sees the start of the cricket test series between England and India.  I have already backed England to win the series - I really must be mad.

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