Scu Heads North

Today we have four meetings taking place with National Hunt action coming from Ayr and Catterick (subject to an early morning inspection), while there are all-weather flat cards at Lingfield and Kempton.  Looking at the all-weather tracks it seems they could do with one in the north of England to balance them out a bit.  There is no shortage of tracks wanting to add an all-weather surface for some reason, so I guess it will happen before too long.  The yard has no runners this afternoon although stable jockey Tom Scudamore makes the long trip north to Ayr for a couple of rides for his brother - let's hope they perform, otherwise it is going to be a very long trip home!

Indeed, Scu's mounts, Streets Of Promise and No Through Road are both forecast favourite and look to hold sound chances.  Tom is currently on the hot jockeys list, although he didn't look all that hot on our gallops the other morning - in fairness to him though, it was 0°c!  It should make for interesting viewing with Lucinda Russell opposing in each race (Peter Scudamore of course is assistant trainer).  Lucinda had a nice winner at Wetherby yesterday when Clondaw Knight won on his first try over three miles.  The seven year old won with any amount in hand and Peter said he thinks there is further improvement to come - keep on the right side of this one as Scu is sometimes right!

I know I keep banging on about the format of the championships these days, but just take a look for yourselves and I am sure that you will agree that having the jockeys and trainers championships decided in different ways makes very little sense.  David is currently leading the trainers' table numerically, yet is behind the leader by £1miilion - I am not sure that prize money makes you the best trainer.  Just look at the jockeys A P McCoy is 84 winners ahead of Sam Twiston-Davies but is trailing in prize money won...I rest my case!

Following news that Joanna Morgan is the latest trainer to call it a day, you have to be worried about how some of these people make a living.  There was a real shock when Charlie Swann announced his retirement from training last week.  Charlie used to stay at MCP's when he was riding for him and you couldn't wish to meet a nicer guy - if the former Irish champion jockey cannot make it pay, there have to be serious concerns about the state of the sport.

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I have been watching the World Indoor Bowls at Potters Holiday Centre in Hopton with interest as my mate Mark Brewer is events manager on the site.  I always thought that bowls players were old and was shocked by how many young players there are these days.  I still remember the days of David Bryant and Willie Wood - they were old!

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Finally, a couple needed rescuing after the parked car they were having sex in rolled into a lake in Florida.  I understand they needed a tow job!  Have a nice day...