Choice Third At Wincanton

With Musselburgh passing an early morning inspection, there are three meetings taking place this afternoon.  The Scottish track hosts the only jumps card of the day while there are two all-weather flat meetings from Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  There are seven races at Lingfield, although ironically enough the one with the most prize money has attracted the fewest runners.  The conditions stakes could end up with just three participants, while the three 51-65 handicaps have attracted a combined total of 38 runners - it would seem obvious that trainers do not want these conditions races.

I see that trainer David Bridgwater received a £2,000 fine for his remarks about the Ludlow officials.  Despite this being the entry point for this sort of offence, it is really going to hurt Bridgy as he doesn't like spending his money.  I remember when he was stable jockey to MCP he would put his motorway sweet bill on my account...and I am not joking!

Great Choice finished third for the stable at Wincanton yesterday and to me, despite being a winning pointer in Ireland it looked as though he didn't quite get home over this longer 2m6f trip on the testing ground.  He went up 8lbs for his latest run when second at Cheltenham in November and that was plenty enough too.  I am sure he will be winning races before too long, especially over a slightly shorter trip.

Watching the racing from Market Rasen yesterday, I was very impressed by the performance of Kilcrea Vale who won the novices' hurdle by 25 lengths.  The runner-up, Novirak had some decent form in the book already so it will certainly be interesting to see what the handicapper does to the winner.

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Former Brazlian football star Ronaldo has been coaxed out of retirement to play in the second tier of US football at Fort Lauderdale.  I was watching his press conference yesterday and I remember thinking that he always looked overweight for a professional athlete.  Now it is a case of 'who ate all the pies?!' perhaps he is getting lots of money to get the weekly groceries in?!

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Rory McIlroy seems in pretty good nick on his return to the golf tour.  He played a great shot yesterday to escape from the top of a bunker and land with fifteen feet on the hole - he then went on to make the putt.  However, Englishman Tom Lewis pulled off the shot of the day when making a hole in one, winning himself a £60,000 Cadillac in the process.

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How can pneumatic star Katie Price be paid £500,000 to appear in Celebrity Big Brother?  Her only talent came from a surgeon's knife...I for one will not be tuning in to see the 'Pricey'.

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Finally, a 27 year old man was arrested after posting a birthday card containing heroine to a pal in prison in Suffolk.  Sounds like a bit of a dope to me!  Have a nice day...