Leicester, Kempton Runners

Today there is action from Wincanton, Market Rasen and Leicester as well as an all-weather card from Kempton.  The stable has two runners at Leicester; Taj Badalandabad and Bladoun as well as Dalgig who is a runner at Kempton.  Dalgig blotted his copy book last time out when he didn't want to come out of the stalls, giving Graham Lee a real 'Hamlet moment' - let's hope our four year old is on his best behaviour this evening for Willie Twiston-Davies.  Taj Badalandabad (pictured above) was a ready winner over hurdles at Chepstow last time and looks a most promising recruit - Tom Scudamore is aboard both of our runners today and they both appear to hold solid claims, while he has also picked up a couple of well-fancied outside rides.

I see that Dynaste has been put up as the Pricewise selection for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.  He suggests that the 14/1 currently available is an excellent each-way price and who am I to disagree?

I was trying to recall yesterday if Martin ever had any runners at Catterick during his career and I couldn't for the life of me remember a time.  I was quickly corrected by a couple of readers with better memory's than my own and they both recalled a particular day in 1998 - Trevor Bowsher told me that Evangelica finished third at the track, while Barry Stewart remembered that Pomme Secret (ridden by 'The Fat Antipodean' Jamie Evans) was a winner there on the same day...the day itself was Valentine's Day and it certainly wouldn't be the first time I have forgotten that!  Thank you to both gentlemen who took the time to contact me.

There are some good looking lots set to go through the sales ring at Cheltenham next week.  Twenty Two's Taken won two bumpers and finished runner-up to the Willie Mullins trained Lyrical Theatre in a Listed contest at Navan last month, while I'm Too Generous was a ready winner of a Musselburgh bumper last month.  The one who could finish up as top lot though is point-to-point winner General Principle - I would imagine there are going to be some fairly hefty price tags next week.

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There was a great result for England's cricketers yesterday as they beat Sri Lanka on the D/L method.  I would suggest that Moeen Ali is one of the most improved players around and he put together a great innings of 58 - maybe all of the players should grow a beard?!  The down side (isn't there always a down side?!) is that skipper Alistair Cook could face a one match ban for slow play.  It is currently the rainy season over in Sri Lanka so they are going to struggle to get all the overs in in any match.

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Chelsea were impressive last night in taking Spurs apart 3-0, while Manchester City beat Sunderland 4-1 away from home.  These two teams look head and shoulders above anybody else in the Premier league at present and should fight it out between them.

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I do enjoy a bit of boxing and there are some good fights coming up - apparently Anthony Joshua will knock out both Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora...he could even do it on the same night!

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Finally, I see that a three dollar cheque signed by the late Marilyn Monroe in 1957 could fetch as much as £15,000 at auction in Nottingham on Saturday.  Talk about inflation...let's hope it doesn't bounce!