We're Back!

Apologies for our absence yesterday.  Unfortunately from time to time websites do need essential maintenance and yesterday was one of those days.  The good news is that we are back just in time for the start of the National Hunt season at the headquarters of jump racing, Cheltenham.  There are four supporting cards on the level at Newmarket, Haydock, Redcar and Wolverhampton.  I say Newmarket is a supporting card, but it does feature three Group One races, a Group Two and two Group Three's!  The stable has two runners in the 5.35pm race at Cheltenham this afternoon; Purple 'N Gold and Street Entertainer.  After more heavy rain the ground could well find a few of these out - hopefully that will not be the case for Purple 'N Gold who has been in fine form all season on top of the ground.  So long as he handles the going he should be thereabouts once again.

There was a good result for the yard yesterday when our only runner, Sinndar's Man (pictured above) won the juvenile hurdle at Uttoxeter in tenacious fashion under Tom Scudamore.  He would certainly have had odds-on punters a little concerned but he is a tough and honest individual and furthermore, he looks as though he will stay further in time.

As I have already mentioned, the Newmarket card is quite tasty and the champion juvenile is often decided on the outcome of the Dewhurst and it looks like another strong field with Richard Hannon's Estidkhaar looking a solid favourite.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were some funny results at Ascot tomorrow as clerk of the course Chris Stickels says there will be heavy in the going description.  This always messes the form up on the level so the most important thing to do if you are considering having a wager is to make sure your that your selection will handle plenty of cut in the ground.

*****

I had to laugh when I read that Patrick Viera claimed that he would have beaten Roy Keane in a fight, although it would have taken a long time to put him down!  Can you imagine the two of them in the same midfield line-up?  I would imagine that Manchester United and Arsenal would dearly love to have a player of either's quality in their midfield at the moment.

*****

It would seem that the issue of drugs has reared it's ugly head in the world of cycling once again with Tour de France winning team Astana facing a probe after three of it's riders were caught doping in recent weeks.  Personally, if they were found guilty I would hand out lifetime bans from the sport.