Two To Haydock

Today we have four meetings taking place with two jumps cards at Haydock and Warwick as well as all-weather flat action from Chelmsford City and Kempton.  David has two runners at Haydock this afternoon as both Street Entertainer (Conor O'Farrell) and Purple 'N Gold (pictured above, Kieron Edgar) compete in the handicap hurdle at 2.10pm - the bookies go 4/1 the field so that tells you all you need to know about this wide open looking handicap.

A Hairy Koala ran his best race to date yesterday afternoon as he finished runner-up at Exeter.  He was trying to concede 21lbs to the winner Black Narcissus who was ridden by our own Conor O'Farrell who said he would also have won on the runner-up!  I can see him spending a few hours walking around the sand ring today!

If you needed convincing that bookmakers will bet on just about anything then try this...the layers are now offering prices on what sort of race the Festival's 28th contest will be.  Joint favourites at 6/4 are a mares novices' hurdle or a mares chase while a ladies race is 25/1 so you can rule that one out.  I always think it is risky betting on anything where someone will know the result in advance...I just wish I knew who that someone was!

I guess the bookies need to offer a comprehensive manner of bets to try to keep trade levels up.  I can see in the not too distant future there will be no bookmakers left on the High Street as people use telephone accounts or on-line services and apps.  There used to be five bookies in Brixham and now there is only one and I would be willing to bet that that is being funded by the roulette machines they have in there.  The only thing that seems to be growing in Brixham are charity shops - there are now no fewer than eight in our small High Street.

Many happy returns to Swiss ice hockey star Adrian Wichser (pictured right).  Adrian has been an enthusiastic owner at Pond House with us for a few years now and he will be in this country for the Grand National meeting at Aintree next month.  We hope you have a great day and look forward to seeing you soon.

*****

Despite beating Monaco 2-0 last night, Arsenal were dumped out of the Champions League after losing 3-3 on aggregate with away goals being the determining factor.  It is the fifth consecutive season in which The Gunners have gone out of the competition at the last sixteen stage.  Manchester City take on Barcelona tonight and they look to face an impossible task trying to overcome a 2-1 defecit.

It would appear that everyone wants West Ham manager 'Big Sam' Allardyce except West Ham!  Aston Villa, Sunderland and even Nigeria have approached him - what a great job football management must be...you don't win anything, get another job and in most cases collect a big pay off!

*****

Finally an Italian lorry driver was jailed for twelve years after being caught smuggling cocaine with a value of £12 million into Dover among a shipment of Tulips and Daffodils.  He was scent straight to prison!  Keep smiling...

Tweet