4 More Days!

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Sandown, Ayr and Leicester as well as an all-weather flat card from Wolverhampton.  The stable runs Serienschock at Sandown - he finished a good second at Wincanton last time out on soft ground and our seven year old looks to be improving with each run.  Serienschock (pictured above in action on the gallops earlier in the week) is on a mark of 133 which seems high enough considering he is yet to win in this country, although he looks to hold sound claims again under stable jockey Tom Scudamore.  Talking of Tom Scudamore, I did say that he had a couple of good looking rides at Carlisle yesterday and so it proved as he booted home a double aboard Greybougg and Speredek taking him onto the 127 winner mark - just one behind Richard Johnson.

With only four days to go the ground continues to dry out at Cheltenham and it is now officially good/soft (good in places).  I hope they don't put too much water on in the coming days - I know the ground staff at the course do an amazing job, but I would hate it to be false ground.  I would like to know what is wrong with genuine good ground?  Surely nobody should be disadvantaged by good going so why can't the good ground horses be given a chance for a change?

Today is the day that you have all been waiting for!  Following his visit to Pond House earlier in the week I spoke with legendary broadcaster Mike Vince about my fancies for the Cheltenham Festival and you can catch the whole interview below.  Also below, you can listen to what jockey Conor O'Farrell had to say - do try to contain your excitement! 

Conor O'Farrell Cheltenham 2015

Chester Barnes Cheltenham 2015

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I see that Papiss Cisse has owned up for his part in Spit-Gate and he will get a seven match ban, yet Jonny Evans denies any part in the confrontation although the cameras say different!  Personally, I would give Evans a much longer ban.

While we are on the subject of football, I cannot believe that the FA are considering offering England manager Roy Hodgson a new deal.  He is 67 years old and they are talking about giving him a two year extension...how many major championships have England won under Hodgson.  Perhaps if we were to win Euro 2016 I will change my tune, but until that unlikely event occurs he still has plenty to prove.

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Finally, a junior ice hockey match ended in bloodshed when thirty 8 year olds brawled in Kazan, Russia...the little puckers!  Have a nice day...