Lady at Plumpton

    Lady of Longstone runs at Plumpton
David has one runner today, Lady of Longstone in the last race of the day at Plumpton.  Kieron Edgar rides our mare in the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle.  She has had a winter break and is having her first run for 117 days.  She should like the quick conditions and hopefully our bumper winner can run well.  As well as Plumpton we also have a jumps card at Sedgefield and a flat card at Musselburgh.  I see AP has gone to ride at Fairyhouse where he has three rides.  I am sure he will win on at least one of them and I wonder how many extra people will go racing just because he is there?

Just looking ahead to the first day of Aintree, David has eight horses entered up.  Not that we know for definte what is running yet we look to have a fairly strong team going to Liverpool this time and I am looking forward to my three days up there.  Did you know the Grand National attracts three times as many bets as any other race during the year?  Bookie Jeff Banks says it is the bookmakers' Christmas!  I wonder if he will still say that if AP wins?  They certainly will be shutting their doors!  I see Soll is a 20/1 chance while The Package is 33/1 for the big race.  You need luck in running but the fences are smaller than they used to be 20 years ago.  They are talking about watering.  I just wish they would leave the ground alone.  All watering does is make the ground dead, why not give the good ground horses a chance?!

What a football derby today, Sunderland versus Newcastle at 4pm.  I thought Sunderland played well at West Ham while Newcastle are struggling without a few injuries.  At 13/8 Sunderland could win this derby, mind you I can't understand what either set of fans are shouting out!

My betting shop mates are arguing if it is right for bookmakers to sponsor jockeys.  Most betting shop punters think that most things are crooked so it is just more ammunition for them.  Opinions are divided!