5 Flat Cards

It is a busy afternoon with five meetings taking place although you are out of luck if you like a spot of jump racing - you will have to travel to Ireland for the fixture at Limerick if you want to get your National Hunt fix.  At the risk of sounding repetitive the prize money on offer at the jumps fixture is more than three of our flat cards this afternoon, while Leopardstown has more prize money on offer than anybody with £145,000 up for grabs so once more the Irish are leading the way.

It is a busy afternoon with five meetings taking place although you are out of luck if you like a spot of jump racing - you will have to travel to Ireland for the fixture at Limerick if you want to get your National Hunt fix.  At the risk of sounding repetitive the prize money on offer at the jumps fixture is more than three of our flat cards this afternoon, while Leopardstown has more prize money on offer than anybody with £145,000 up for grabs so once more the Irish are leading the way.

A P McCoy is aiming to record his fastest ever century of winners and you wouldn't bet against him doing it.  The champion jockey recorded another hat-trick at Worcester yesterday afternoon to move him on to 81 winners at an incredible 30% strike rate.  Tom Scudamore is next best in the jockey's standings on 37 winners.

At least Battle Group managed to participate yesterday on his first run back from retirement, although Johnny Farrely's quirky nine year old did finish tailed off on his first start on the flat at Lingfield.  He came out of the stalls okay, so all he needs now is 40 stalls at Aintree...that could be a problem!

I see that Mark Perrett is 52 today.  Mark rode a Cheltenham Festival winner (Balasani) for Martin, as well as that famous Scottish Grand National success where he managed to cajole Run For Free home from a seemingly hopeless position.  Many happy returns Mark!

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I cannot believe that my beloved West Ham managed to lose to Wellington...no, not Wellington down the road but Wellington, New Zealand!  I am surprised that Wellington were able to find eleven players.  Personally I cannot see the benefit of sending these teams around the world playing friendly matches just before the start of the season.  Surely all that travel has to be tiring?  I wonder if money has anything to do with it?

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Looking at the Commonwealth Games, the bookmakers are pricing up just about everything.  Australia are 1/3 shots to win the men's hockey, while Alistair Brownlee is 2/5 to win gold in the men's triathlon.  The bet could be Australia to win the netball at 4/9, although I can't find a price for the tiddlywinks.

I was talking with Mrs Barnes last night and she asked me to look at things from a woman's point of view so I went and looked out of the kitchen window!  I hope my wife doesn't read this...

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