One At Cheltenham Today

Considering it is only midweek there is some excellent action to look forward to this afternoon with jumping from Cheltenham as well as flat action from Newmarket, Ripon and Chelmsford City.  The stable has just the one runner at Cheltenham today; Twentytwo's Taken competes in the Listed mares' race at 2.05pm - she will be ridden by stable jockey Tom Scudamore.  Our seven year old has won twice this season and gives the impression that there will be better still to come when she settles fully in her races.  The drop back in trip could suit her, while this will be the fastest ground she has encountered in some time.

Alternatif ran creditably to finish runner-up at Cheltenham yesterday afternoon behind a very well handicapped horse.  The winner looks like he will be taking a fair hike in the weights so it would be no surprise to see him turned out again some time next week.

Tom Scu Watch...146.  Following the victory of Anay Turge at Cheltenham yesterday afternoon, Scu is now only four winners away from his maiden 150.

I see that you can bid for signed original A P McCoy artwork that depicts seven of the outgoing champion jockeys' seven favourite victories, one of which is Make A Stand in the 1997 Champion Hurdle.  They will be auctioned at Garden Walk, London this evening.

I was mildly amused to see trainer Tom George enjoy his first winner at Cheltenham for 878 days yesterday only to bemoan the £4750 prize money his charge had just won.  It is something that I have been going on about for some time - he is just lucky that he doesn't train flat horses on the all-weather!

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You may recall me saying a while ago that Manchester City manager Pellegrini appeared to be on borrowed time and it looks as though his replacement will be Jurgen Klopp who will step down as manager of Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season.  He was shortened to 10/11 from 10/1 by sports traders Betfair, but what I would like to know is what is wrong with the Bournemouth manager?  Are there no suitable English managers around?

How much do Liverpool miss Luis Suarez?  The Uruguayan scored twice for Barcelona yesterday as his side secured a 3-1 win away at PSG.  You cannot replace players like Suarez as Liverpool have found out.

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As I said yesterday, the Test match between West Indies and England looks like fizzling out into a draw.  Captain Cook was out for only 13 in England's second innings, while Trott made only 4.  I am not sure either one of them looks up to Test class at the moment and if I were a selector, I would be giving them a rest.  Unfortunately neither country really looks up to Test class either...

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Apparently a water leak that was first spotted in Thundersley, Essex is about to be repaired FIFTEEN YEARS after it was first spotted...you could say that the work is in the pipeline!

Finally, a useless piece of information to be going on with...did you know that bats only ever exit a cave to the left?  You learn something new every day!

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