A Winning Weekend!

It was a good weekend for the stable with two winners split between Saturday and Sunday, while we had another finish a head second.  Ainsi Fideles kept his good run of form going while managing to extend his unbeaten run over fences to three with success at Market Rasen on Saturday.  He was a ready winner under champion jockey A P McCoy who was benefitting from Tom Scu's enforced holiday.  Meanwhile on Sunday, Houston Dynimo (pictured above) made a winning debut for the yard by taking the 0-120 handicap hurdle at Southwell under McCoy.  He was a good buy after finishing down the field in a seller last time and once again demonstrates David's good eye for a bargain and his ability to improve a horse - he looks just the type to be found another suitable opportunity over the coming few weeks.  There was a great turnout at Southwell yesterday with 8,000 racegoers turning up - I'm not sure if it was to see AP or because it was ladies day, regardless it was a modern day record for the track.

After a weekend with a few jumps meetings, it is back to all flat racing action with meetings from Thirsk, Kempton, Windsor and Wolverhampton.  Today's wooden spoon goes to Kempton who get away with prize money of just £30,000 across their seven race card.

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I reckon that cricket is another sport that is facing a similar problem to horse racing.  They are having problems attracting crowds to the games with county cricket dead on it's feet while there are plenty of empty seats at the Test matches.  Go back a few years and you would struggle to get a ticket.  I think it could be that it takes too long to get a result for today's younger generation (mind you, that is not the case if you are playing India!).  My son says that it is boring, although it will probably be okay when he gets old!

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Manchester United lost at home to Swansea at the weekend.  The new manager still needs to buy another three players before they are competitive at the top level again and they will not be winning the Premiership on this showing, they might even struggle to break the top four.  The trouble for them is that if they don't finish in the top four, there is no place in Europe for them and it is that prospect that attracts the top players to a club.  Sorry to break the bad news to you Tony & Eddie!

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There was a great win for boxer Kell Brook at the weekend as he beat world champion Shawn Porter.  The big money fight against Amir Khan could take place sooner rather than later.  His best purse to date has been for £100,000 - he could get £4 million for the Khan fight!

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