5 Runners Today

It's a busy day with five meetings taking place and for a change there is a bit of balance to the schedule.  There are three flat meetings taking place at York, Bath and Wolverhampton as well as a couple of meetings over jumps at Newton Abbot and Ffos Las and the stable has runners at each National Hunt fixture.  Weather Babe (pictured above) takes part in the 2m4f handicap hurdle at Ffos Las and she has been in good form this term although she doesn't seem to have an awful lot in hand of the handicapper.  Conditional jockey Michael Heard claims a useful 10lbs off her back.

Over at our local track Newton Abbot, the stable has four runners; Purple 'N Gold, Hawkhill, Skylander and Rathlin Rose.  David sets a bit of a poser in the bumper by fielding two last time out Irish point-to-point winners - the Post make Rathlin Rose a 7/2 chance and Skylander (pictured right) a 7/1 shot.  With very little form to go on, could they have it the wrong way around?

I thought that Australia was very impressive in landing the Judmonte International at York yesterday afternoon.  He was very relaxed and showed a good turn of foot to beat The Grey Gatsby by a couple of lengths with something to spare.  Aidan O'Brien said that he needed a racecourse gallop - it's not bad when you can pick up £453,660 for a racecourse gallop!

I see AP got to 100 yesterday...no, not winners but runs hit off his bowling!  The champion jockey was participating in a charity cricket match and was hit all around the park according to my spy at the match.  He says that he had never heard of cricket when he was at school and it certainly showed in his play!  Fortunately for him, he is a considerably better jockey.

Talking of cricket, I see that it is owner William Frewen's 55th birthday today.  William, who has owned some good horses down the years including the amazing Lough Derg is a keen cricketer himself - I'm not sure to what standard but it has to be better than A P!  I wonder if he has one of those stripey ties?  Anyway, many happy returns William - we hope you have a great day.

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I see that Yaya Toure has not been given a new contract by Manchester City.  Poor chap is only on £200,000 per week - how on earth is he going to manage?!  Remember, he is the one who spat the dummy when the club did not give him a birthday cake, that is all you need to know!

While we are on the subject of football, I cannot understand why Liverpool would want Mario Balotelli on a season long loan.  He is a problem and the trouble with signing problems is that they can upset the whole team.  They have just managed to get rid of one problem, why invite another?

Surely Spurs can beat Limassol?  I have just come back from my annual holiday to Cyprus and while it is a nice place, it is not a footballing country and I will be having a bit of the 4/9 about Tottenham.

A burglary was recently commited at West Ham where the entire contents of the trophy room were stolen.  Police are looking for a claret and blue carpet!  Have a nice day...

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