Skylander Our 60th!

The long trip up to Sedgefield was made worthwhile yesterday when Skylander bolted up in the bumper by thirteen lengths under Tom Scudamore to become our 60th winner of the season.  He certainly seemed to handle the testing going and looks another nice jumping prospect - a winner of an Irish point-to-point, he will certainly be seen to even better effect when tried over further.  Our other runner Mount Haven was a disappointing favourite although he seemed to hate the soft ground and is clearly better than this effort - his previous form reads well and there will be plenty of other days for him when returned to a sounder surface.  The stable has no runners today.

I see that Nicky Henderson has his first ever runners at Catterick this afternoon.  He has three chances and two of them are forecast as favourite - I am still not convinced that his stable is firing on all cylinders yet.  Catterick is one of the few tracks I haven't been to and thinking back, I don't recall Martin having any runners there...if you can think of any drop us an e-mail and correct me!

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Apparently Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told supporters that the Gunners will win the Premier League within three years.  Well, they certainly won't be winning it this season so that leaves him two years to make good on his word.  I guess he wants another three years as manager, although until he sorts out his defense it is going to take him another ten years.

Even so, I will be putting my faith in Arsenal tonight at 17/20 and doubling them up with Everton at 11/20.  The Arsenal game is on television tonight at 7.45pm so Mrs Barnes will be confined to the kitchen!

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Tiger Woods returns to competitive action tomorrow in Florida for the Host The Hero World Challenge.  I thought that the sport would miss him but to be brutally honest, I am not sure that it has.  I have my doubts whether he will ever return to the imperious form he showed before and it appears to be a mental obstacle as much as a physical one with him.

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I will leave you with a final thought for the day...Why do Bagpipe players walk when they play?  To get away from the noise!