Two Warwick Runners

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with flat fixtures from Ayr, Lingfield and Kempton, while there is jumps action from Warwick and Southwell.  We have two runners at Warwick - Tom Scudamore is aboard Bella who goes in the valuable four year old fillies' handicap hurdle, while Weather Babe (pictured above) tries to follow-up her recent success in the 3m1f handicap hurdle.  Conor O'Farrell takes the ride on Weather Babe while Taj Badalandabad is now a non-runner in the same race.

Warwick are to be applauded for the great prize money they have managed to put on for today's meeting.  The fillies' race has attracted just 5 runners and if you finish last you will pick up £924.  Is there a shortage of four year old fillies?  It is a terrible turn out really and Warwick must be wondering why they bothered to put on almost £10,000 more than any other venue today.  They certainly deserved better.

Keeping an eye on the jockeys' championship through these early weeks of the season, Richard Johnson is setting a scorching pace at the head of the table - he is currently seven winners clear of Harry Skelton, Nick Scholfield and Brian Hughes.  It sounds like I have had a wager on Johnson - I hope Oliver in the yard doesn't go missing!  Guess who I have had a wager with...

I see that recently retired champion jockey A P McCoy has really been shovelling the food in - he reckons he weighs 11-7 now and has eaten more food in the last three weeks than he has done in the last 20 years.  How can I ever be lighter than AP?!  I wonder what he does with his old suits?  Actually, thinking about it - I have seen the style of them so will probably give them a swerve!

Former champion conditional jockey and Pond House schooling master Jonothan Lower is 48 today.  Jon spent his entire riding career at Pond House and rode some great horses including Sondrio and Kissair to Cheltenham Festival glory.  Many happy returns Jon.

There is an interesting football match on today between Arsenal and Sunderland.  It wouldn't normally be that fascinating but Sunderland are trying to stay up and to them it would be like an FA Cup Final.  There have been some strange results in the Premier League lately and I wonder if this could be another?

England take on New Zealand in the first Test cricket match starting tomorrow and the Kiwis are 21/10 to win the two match series 2-0.  How on earth do the bookies make England favourites?

Finally, did you know that the Loch Ness monster is a protected animal under Scottish law?  Who on earth is going to kill it?!

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