Runners At Rasen, Chepstow

Today there are four meetings taking place with three over jumps at Market Rasen, Wincanton and Chepstow as well as an all-weather flat card at Kempton.  The stable runs Taj Badalandabad and Smiles For Miles at the Welsh track.  Taj Badalandabad is the winner of two bumpers (one of them on soft ground) and I thought that he performed creditably on his hurdling debut when fourth in what looked quite a hot race.  That view was supported when the fifth finished second next time at Newcastle and the runner-up won easily yesterday at Hexham.  It will be testing ground at Chepstow this afternoon and Tom Scudamore takes over in the saddle.  Let's hope that owner William Frewen has a fast car - he has another runner in the 2.05pm race at Market Rasen!  Home Run goes in the three mile handicap hurdle and he will be partnered by Kieron Edgar who takes a handy 5lbs off his back.  He has twice won on heavy ground so he should relish the prevailing conditions. Meanwhile, Multimedia makes his racecourse debut in the closing bumper and he will be ridden by Conor O'Farrell - we will know more about him after today.

I always thought that the prize money in Meydan was among the best in the world but it would seem that isn't necessarily the case.  They host a card today where the biggest prize on their six race card is worth £12,828.95.  Even so, there are plenty of English jockeys taking part - I wonder if it has anything to do with the good weather for the WAGs?!

I was saddened to hear that Philip 'Taffy' Williams had passed away.  Taffy was travelling head lad to Richard Hannon for many years and he always had a horse for me...I'm not sure how many of them actually won although it never stopped him from giving me tips!

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Manchester United and England football star Wayne Rooney has voiced his support of England manager Roy Hodgson by saying what a good job he is doing.  So far England have beaten Norway, Switzerland, San Marino, Estonia, Slovenia and Scotland - as far as I am concerned these countries have more chance of winning the Eurovision Song Contest.  I would have thought any one of us could manage the national team to beat that lot - just wait until we have to play a proper team...the last proper sides we played were in the World Cup (and we didn't beat too many of them!).

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I see that Essex girl Gemma Collins has already come out of I'm A Celebrity as she couldn't afford to lose any more weight!  I don't suppose she is the only one to make a quick exit in the show's history.  Former East 17 singer Brian Harvey only lasted a week after a row erupted over his farting - the other contestants knocked the wind out of him!  Sorry, that was a stinker!  Meanwhile former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren flew out to Australia but never even entered the camp.  What I don't understand is that the series has been going long enough now for contestants to know what is likely to be in store for them - if they are unsure about it, why do they even bother going on the show?