Scu's Back...Or Is He?

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with four on the level from Thirsk, Sandown, Salisbury and Wolverhampton as well as a jumps fixture from Bangor.  Bangor receive today's wooden spoon with just £29,000 prize money up for grabs.  Just think, if you finish fourth in their handicap hurdle you win a cool £166 - I'm not sure what that is going to pay for...possibly a round of drinks?!  Having said that, they should at least be applauded for taking the initiative with schooling races - the track is planning to have it's first fixture next month and will give horses and jockeys the opportunity to jump hurdles, fences or even compete in racecourse gallops for experience.  The concept is already a successful part of the regime in Ireland and I am sure that Bangor will be well supported.

Could someone please explain to me how Luke Harvey ever managed to ride any winners during his career as a jockey?  The former rider turned presenter and producer was on his way to Plumpton yesterday to do some camera work.  It was not until he was within a few miles of the track that he realised that he was supposed to be at Fontwell for the day!  You wouldn't want him riding around a figure of "8" course - he would surely get lost!  He would be the only jockey riding with a sat-nav, actually correct that - it would be Luke and "Tom Tom" Scudamore!  Talking of Tom Scu, you have to feel a little sorry for our stable jockey who has been itching to get back into the saddle since his enforced holiday - he was due back at Bangor today, although I notice that his one intended mount is now a non-runner!  He will now have to wait until tomorrow to get back into the action at Newton Abbot where recent winner Houston Dynimo (pictured above) will be among his intended mounts.

I was watching the action from Fontwell yesterday afternoon and there was drama in the opening novices' handicap hurdle when Workbench ducked out at the exit to the course with the race at his mercy.  This seems to happen a lot at the track and it begs the question, why can they not move the exit (which is currently halfway up the run-in) to somewhere it is not going to cause such chaos?

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It has dawned on new Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal that he needs practically a new squad of players.  It is obvious to everyone that he is seven players short of a winning team - as far as I am concerned Sir Alex and David Moyes need to take their share of the blame.

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I was disappointed to see that the Red Arrows had to cancel their aerobatic display in Torquay last night due to bad weather.  They are due in Dartmouth this evening and I might try to catch them there - they are one of the few great British institutions we have left.  I remember one of Martin's old owners offering quite a lot of money to charity if he could go up in one of their planes.  They told him that he would not pass the medical!  Do you remember Jeremy Clarkson going up in one of the planes?  His face was distorted more than normal and he was sick everywhere!  I will leave you on that thought...have a nice day!

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