McCoy On Sidelines

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with three over the sticks at Musselburgh, Fontwell and Hexham as well as an all-weather flat card from Wolverhampton.  With All Force Majeure now a non-runner in the bumper at Fontwell, the stable is without a representative on the racecourse today.  Another absentee will be perennial champion jockey A P McCoy who looks likely to miss at least the next two weeks of the season, including the Paddy Power Gold Cup meeting at Cheltenham.  I saw A P a couple of weeks ago and he still didn't look to be 100% and this latest absence all but scuppers his quest for an incredible 300 wins in a season.  He hopes to be back in time for the Hennessy at Newbury, incredibly it is a race that the champ has never won...I will have to mention that to him the next time I see him!  In all seriousness though, let's hope that he makes a speedy recovery and returns in the same irresistible form he was in before his injury.

Racing must be one of the hardest sports in the world with AP on the sidelines, former champion flat jockey Paul Hanagan out with a broken collarbone and Cam Hardie detained in hospital for a second night (and the latter two are both flat jockeys), that is before you get on to the three tragic jockey fatalities in Australia and the USA in recent weeks.

I see that trainer Donald McCain is voicing his concerns over the race planners - next Wednesday there are no less than three three mile novice handicap chases.  It seems a little odd having so many similar races on the same day - I suppose they know what they are doing?

It must be the day for rants - British number one tennis player Andy Murray's brother Jamie is having a go, suggesting that not enough is being done to promote the sport in Scotland.  As far as I can tell, there are not enough Scousers and Cockneys taking up tennis.  Where did Murray learn the game during the early years?  I rest my case...

David and Victoria Beckham have been invited to Wetherspoons.  His sister is organising a party meal at the pub in Stepney, East London - I wonder if David will be forking out the £7.99 for the cost of the meal?!

I had to smile when I read that Communications Secretary Eric Pickles met Political Editor of the Bristol Post, Ian Onions yesterday.  I bet the meeting was quite spicy - I hope the pair didn't get too hot under the collar!