Day Three!

Well, it's now day three of our summer sabbatical and I am now desperately missing my jumps action.  There are four meetings taking place on the level from Brighton, Kempton, Pontefract and Yarmouth and while there are a few competitive handicaps it isn't exactly an inspiring days racing.  That is especially true at Yarmouth where the biggest field boasts eight runners - hardly surprising when you consider there is barely £30,000 in prize money on offer across their seven race card.  Over in Ireland there is almost £80,000 on offer at Sligo...perhaps we could learn from the Irish model, less racing and more prize money?  Still, it is a big day tomorrow as entries close for the jumps meeting at Newton Abbot (pictured above) next Wednesday - I can't wait!

It was a shame to hear that 1992 2,000 Guineas winner Rodrigo de Triano has died of pneumonia at the age of 25.  His Classic year fully announced my hero Lester Piggott's successful return to the saddle and the duo combined to land four Group One races that year.  He was also instrumental in launching the career of Peter Chapple-Hyam who was fortunate enough to train a horse like him in only his second season.

These jockeys are made of tough stuff - I see that former flat champion jockey Paul Hannagan is on course to return to the saddle in a fortnight following a fall at Goodwood last week that left him with a fractured left arm.  Having said that, he has plenty of incentive with the likes of star filly Taghrooda all set for the Yorkshire Oaks later on this month.  The Oaks and King George winner is a quite exceptional filly, although she looks fairly poor value for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for which she is currently the 4/1 favourite for the big race at Longchamp in October - there is plenty that can happen between then and now.

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It is the start of the final major golf tournament of the season tomorrow as the USPGA championship starts at Valhalla, Kentucky tomorrow.  Following on from his recent form Rory McIlroy would appear to be the man to beat, although at odds of around 11/2 he is plenty short enough in the market.  The 25 year old has won three of his seven events since splitting up with Caroline Wozniacki - perhaps we should be looking to back the former world number one tennis player in the hope that she can find the sort of form that McIlroy has rediscovered?!

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