Bengali's Bumper

It was a good day for the stable yesterday with Bengali winning the mares' bumper at Ludlow under her winners' penalty.  She made all the running and saw her race out really well, sticking on bravely in the closing stages - I really love these horses that you can see are doing their best.  There was good prize money for a race of this nature with £3249 on offer to the winner.  I would imagine that she will probably now be sent hurdling as life under a double penalty in National Hunt flat races could prove very tough, she has the size and scope for obstacle and I see no reason why she shouldn't manage to be equally as successful in that sphere.

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with two over the sticks at Sedgefield and Lingfield as well as some all-weather flat racing action from Southwell.  I know it is rapidly approaching December and the regular flat season is far behind us now, but it is hard to comprehend how a track like Southwell can attract any runners when they are offering just £29,000 in prize money across their eight race card.  Anyway, I digress...the stable has just the one runner today; Sinndar's Man who goes at Lingfield in the 1.30pm race - Tom Scudamore's only mount of the day.  Our three year old has won on good/soft ground at Uttoxeter and while this looks like another step up in class, I really like his attitude and he should handle this testing going.

Barry Geraghty wasn't popular at Kempton yesterday after he was beaten aboard the first two favourites at 2/9 and 4/9.  Personally, I can't understand why anyone would want to get involved with horses that are that short on heavy ground.  I don't mind betting short prices on the football as that form is far more likely to stand up regardless of conditions.

Talking of football, what a game tonight between Manchester City and Bayern Munich on ITV at 7.45rpm.  City look to have a weak team out tonight largely due to injuries so Bayern look to be worth an investment at odds of around 6/5.

Why is it that people always want to change things that aren't broken?  I have to agree with snooker player Neil Robertson who wants to know why they are changing the format to the UK Championships to the best of eleven frames.  The fewer frames you play, the more shock results you are likely to find whereas over the longer matches the best players find a way to win even if they are not playing their very best.

I see a man was attacked in a Plymouth car park yesterday by two thugs wearing gorilla masks...they said they were only monkeying around!

I must say happy birthday to one of my Brixham neighbours, Annie who celebrates her incredible 111th birthday today.  She puts it down to eating fish...that means that Martin will live to be 200!  It is certainly chilly down in Brixham at the moment - fortunately I still have Mrs Barnes to warm up the car for me before I get in it!