The Freeze Continues!

Following another bout of freezing temperatures overnight there are just two all-weather flat meetings surviving this afternoon from Chelmsford City and Kempton.  Consequently the stable has no runners and there are inspections today ahead of tomorrow's jump meetings at Doncasater and Huntingdon.  There is light at the end of the tunnel however as there is no inspection planned at our local track Taunton - it must be something to do with their own little micro-climate or being in the Gulf Stream or such like!

If you are ever tempted to have a bet on the amateur riders' races there is only one vital piece of advice that you need to consider.  Always look to see what Serena Brotherton is riding...I do not know much about her and I couldn't tell you how old she is, but she seems to have been riding winners for years.  Yesterday she was aboard winner Amazing Blue Sky at Southwell - if you follow her in these races you will not go far wrong.

Another to impress on the all-weather yesterday was Gabrial The Duke who ran out a facile twelve length winner at Southwell - I see he has entries at Wolverhampton later in the week.  He will have to run again under a penalty before the handicapper can have his say after such an easy win.  You won't get rich backing him, but it would be a big surprise should he fail to follow-up.

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I was shocked to learn that Harry Redknapp had resigned as manager of QPR due to bad knees.  Highlighting his professionalism, Harry was still trying to convince players to join the club well into the last hour of the transfer window so he clearly wasn't thinking of packing it in then.  Hopefully he will be back - the sport needs characters like 'Arry, he is football through and through.

I am not sure that I buy into Aaron Lennon's comments when he says that he was delighted to get a call from Everton.  He is a true London boy and I bet he is gutted to be leaving the capital...you can see by the expression on his face in the pictures in the daily papers.

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Apparently the Royal and Ancient have signed a lucrative £75 million deal with Sky for them to cover the British Open Golf tournament at Royal Birkdale exclusively live for five years from 2017.  Chief Peter Danson said, "we think this is the best deal for the Open and golf."  I am sure there are at least 75 million reasons why they gave the gig to Sky!  I suppose at least we will have some decent commentators.

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Finally, I see that Paul McCartney's childhood house in Liverpool is going to be on sale next month with a guide price of £100,000 - That'll be the day!