Runners At 4 Meetings

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with flat fixtures from Sandown, Haydock and Lingfield and jumps action from Worcester and Wetherby.  David casts his net far and wide today with two runners on the flat - one each at Sandown and Haydock, while he also has two jumpers at Worcester and Wetherby.  Mikey Ennis, who won the Midlands National for the stable aboard Big Occasion in 2013 before concentrating on a flat career rides both Beijing Star and Rathealy.  He has to perform something of a 'Challenge Anneka' to dash from riding Beijing Star in the 1.50pm at Haydock to partner Rathealy in the 6.00pm at Sandown...David is certainly making him earn his riding fee!  Meanwhile, Tom Scudamore is taking it much easier with a couple of rides at Wetherby including forecast favourite Rathlin Rose (pictured above) for the stable.  Our seven year old gelding was an Irish point-to-point winner so we know he can jumpa and he was the best of these over timber and looks to have a good chance of getting off the mark at the first attempt in the novices' chase.  Multimedia is our other runner today at Worcester where he will be partnered by Kieron Edgar - he ran better last time at Warwick and a reproduction of that effort would give him a squeak.

I thought that Alternatif ran a creditable race at Cartmel yesterday on his chasing debut even though he found one too good for him.  Of course, it is always disappointing when an odds-on chance is beaten, although this was quite a decent little contest.  People forget that the winner was rated 4lbs superior to Alternatif over hurdles, while the horses behind also boasted some useful form.  He jumped well on the whole yesterday and travelled like the winner for much of the races, so I am sure that David will be placing him to go one better before long.

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I see that there has been further controversy surrounding football's governing body FIFA after seven officials including the vice president were arrested on bribery charges. Corruption...who would have thought it?!  Even so, 79 year old President Sepp Blatter remains an overwhelming favourite to keep his job ahead of challenger Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein.  Why on earth does this organisation exist?  It is archaic and out of touch as are the people making the decisions.  Surely there has never been a better time to create a breakaway authority?

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The French Open tennis is currently underway and British number one's Andy Murray and Heather Watson play their third round matches today at Roland Garros.  Murray was a losing semi-finalist last year, but has been in good form lately and he is a 1/25 chance to progress to the next round today as he faces the world number 50 Joao Sousa.  Incidentally the courts are situated right next door to Auteuil racecourse and the finals coincide with French Champion Hurdle day at the neighbouring track.  David hopes to be over there next weekend with Ballynagour and Un Temps Pour Tout - I wonder if he will get a chance to catch some of the tennis?!

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Much as I love them , I have often questioned the wisdom of our American cousins.  Did you know that in 2013 the taxpayer lost $100 million dollars because it cost almost twice as much to produce their nickels and pennys as they were worth?!  I guess that is where the expression "cost a mint" came from!  Have a nice day...

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