News From The Gallops

Today we have four meetings, all on the flat from Doncaster, Epsom, Chepstow and Wolverhampton.  When you consider that Doncaster is hosting the second day of it's Classic St Leger meeting, it is a little disconcerting to see that there is the same amount of prize money on offer there (£58,000) as there is at Clonmel's mixed meeting in Ireland this afternoon.  If you are watching the racing on television there is good news and bad news - the good news is that there are five live races from Donny on Channel 4, the bad news is that they don't have any personalities on the show!  Let's hope that Frankie Dettori sticks his head around the door!

Today we have four meetings, all on the flat from Doncaster, Epsom, Chepstow and Wolverhampton.  When you consider that Doncaster is hosting the second day of it's Classic St Leger meeting, it is a little disconcerting to see that there is the same amount of prize money on offer there (£58,000) as there is at Clonmel's mixed meeting in Ireland this afternoon.  If you are watching the racing on television there is good news and bad news - the good news is that there are five live races from Donny on Channel 4, the bad news is that they don't have any personalities on the show!  Let's hope that Frankie Dettori sticks his head around the door!

As usual the Legends race provided some good entertainment yesterday and it was fitting that Dale Gibson should prevail aboard 8/1 chance Bob.  Since retiring from the saddle, Gibson has been the main force behind the Legends race so well done to him.  Meanwhile a little further back, Luke Harvey finished twelfth aboard Gambino.  The Racing Post comments in running say, "ridden along over 2f out, gradually weakened" - I think they are talking about Luke rather than the horse!

Champion jockey A P McCoy continued his assault on the record books yesterday with a treble at Uttoxeter - he produced another amazing effort aboard Deadly Sting, needing all of his strength to get this one home in front.

This morning I have another nice photograph from the gallops to share with you.  Pictured above working upsides are a couple of promising new recruits to keep an eye out for this winter; Unanimité (Ellie Mackenzie) and Moon Racer (Michael Heard) - hopefully you will be hearing more about them as the season progresses.

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I see that boxing champion Floyd Mayweather has stated that he will retire from the sport next year.  Both Amir Khan and Kell Brook want to fight him, but they must be in it just for the money.  Personally I think that Mayweather will knock them both out - he could do a Muhammad Ali and fight them both on the same night!

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If you are being paid £60,000 per week, why on earth would you consider going somewhere else where you are only being paid £30,000?!  That is the problem that QPR are having offloading Shaun Wright Phillips - I can see that the only way they are going to get out of this one is to buy their way out of his contract and give him a free transfer.

I must say that I feel sorry for new Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal who has been ordered to finish at least third in the Premiership.  Vice chairman Ed Woodward has given the order - I am not sure some of these people are living in the real world.

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