Weekend Jottings!

It's the Japan Cup at Tokyo today and there are two European challengers bidding to lift the £1,664,000 prize.  James Given saddles Dandino, while Aiden O'Brien runs Joshua Tree.  The O'Brien runner finished three places in front of Dandino in the St Leger at Doncaster and it will be interesting to see how they get on.  Buena Vista is the forecast favourite...no, not that Buena Vista!

Talking of today's racing action - there is an all-weather meeting at Kempton this afternoon, and novelist and friend of Pond House, Jilly Cooper will be at the races signing copies of her latest novel "Jump".

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I was amused by Sir Peter O'Sullevan's quote "My first BBC wage was 15 guineas and it was probably more than I was worth when I started 50 years ago, the trouble was it did not get much higher!"  I am sure there are plenty of racing enthusiasts out there that would dispute the "voice of racing" was not worth his wage!

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I thought that Tom Scudamore was very good on the Morning Line yesterday when appearing as a guest.  He came across as a very eloquent and intelligent young man, and one thing is for sure, when he decides to call it a day in the saddle I am sure that he would be able to get a job as a broadcaster...he is certainly better than his father Peter...only joking Scu!

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I am going to add another item to my Christmas list and hope that my wife takes the hint (and not offence!).  A dozen sexy ladies for the greyhound racing industry have decided to shed their clothes for a 2011 calendar to raise money for the Retired Greyhound Trust.  Stunning Sky Sports presenter Julie Collins owns a retired greyhound and is one of the beauties featuring in the calendar - it is available for £10 from the website www.greyhound-girls.co.uk