Four Flat Cards Today

I'm afraid it is another blank day for jump racing fans although there are four meetings taking place this afternoon from Beverley, Nottingham, Lingfield and Newcastle.  Typically though, the meeting with the most prize money on offer today takes place over the sticks at Ballinrobe!  Despite there being no runners from the stable, the horses have to be kept ticking over and above is a nice picture of the string on the gallops during first lot this morning.

It came as a bit of a surprise that champion miler Kingman was retired yesterday.  It is a real shame that we will not get to see him on Champions' Day at Ascot and wouldn't he have been some representative for Europe in the Breeders' Cup?  To my mind he is without a shadow of a doubt the best three year old of his generation and had we not been lucky enough to witness the imperious Frankel in the last few years, we would have been waxing lyrical about Kingman.  Hopefully he will be able to make his mark at stud - what a stallion line-up at Banstead Manor...Frankel and Kingman!

I'm afraid it is another blank day for jump racing fans although there are four meetings taking place this afternoon from Beverley, Nottingham, Lingfield and Newcastle.  Typically though, the meeting with the most prize money on offer today takes place over the sticks at Ballinrobe!  Despite there being no runners from the stable, the horses have to be kept ticking over and above is a nice picture of the string on the gallops during first lot this morning.

It came as a bit of a surprise that champion miler Kingman was retired yesterday.  It is a real shame that we will not get to see him on Champions' Day at Ascot and wouldn't he have been some representative for Europe in the Breeders' Cup?  To my mind he is without a shadow of a doubt the best three year old of his generation and had we not been lucky enough to witness the imperious Frankel in the last few years, we would have been waxing lyrical about Kingman.  Hopefully he will be able to make his mark at stud - what a stallion line-up at Banstead Manor...Frankel and Kingman!

I would like to wish Lady Clarke a very happy birthday.  Lady Clarke always used to look after MCP and myself very well whenever we would attend Uttoxeter racecourse which was run by her late husband Sir Stanley Clarke.  The Clarke's have had some wonderful horses with us down the years including the likes of Lord Relic, Honest Word and Rolling Ball as well as current incumbent Top Wood.  I could tell you a great story about Rolling Ball but that will have to wait for another time...

There is a great article in the Post today about Mick Easterby.  Mick is one of those larger than life characters who can spin a real yarn - he would always find us at the Newmarket sales and tell us some great stories.  As always he is great entertainment and the article is well worth a read.

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What about Manchester United?  Bookmakers William Hill have reported that they have laid 1.2 million bets on Manchester United in their matches so far this season and more than 1 million of them have already lost!  Maybe they should consider sponsoring United?!

Liverpool can be backed at 4/9 to win this match against Middlesbrough and normally you would be able to back them with confidence.  However, you don't know what sort of team they are going to turn out for their Capital One Cup clash.  If I were them, I would be taking it seriously - it is looking more and more likely that this is the only piece of silverware they have a chance of winning this season.  I will be doubling the Scousers up with Aberdeen at 2/5.

While we are on the subject of football, I see that the PFA Chief Executive wants at least four homegrown players on each team.  Personally I think they should take it a step further and have no more than four overseas players on each team - I have been saying this for some time, although I doubt it will ever happen.  Until it does, we will just keep struggling at an International level.

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I see that Ricky Fowler has had an amazing haircut just in time for the beginning of the Ryder Cup...the American golfer has had 'USA' cut into his hair.  David had the opportunity to go up to Gleneagles to watch, mind you the way he plays golf he could have had Butch Harmon as his coach and it would not have made the blindest bit of difference!

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