Dy-namic Duo

  
There are six meetings taking place this afternoon and the main fixture of the day is obviously the third day of the Royal meeting from Ascot.  There are four other flat cards from Chelmsford City, Ripon, Leicester and Lingfield as well as a jumps meeting from Ffos Las.  David has two runners at the Welsh track; Houston Dynimo and Western Diva.  Houston Dynimo (pictured above) has run two sound races recently to finish fourth and looks as though this slight drop back in trip will suit him well.  Tom Scudamore is aboard both of our runners today.

I thought the runners from the yard performed creditably yesterday without managing to get their heads in front.  Susie Sheep ran a good race on her chasing debut to finish runner-up having looked the likeliest winner and showed more than enough promise to suggest that a similar race is well within her compass.  Our Chief travelled well for much of his race although he didn't look as though he quite got home over this longer trip and a drop back in distance might be on the cards next time.  Pigrims Bay also ran a better race when finishing third in the bumper and looked a lot happier without the hood he wore at Plumpton.  They all look capable of winning similar races in due course.

My mate at Royal Ascot told me that two year old winner Acapulco looked more like a three mile chaser than a juvenile filly and it is clear to see why Wesley Ward makes the trip across with his precocious youngsters.  I didn't have the best of days yesterday as I did my hard-earned on Always Smile who was beaten a nose in the Sandringham.  I may be talking through my pocket, but I can't help feeling that she would have won had she stayed straight.  Just to rub it in, then I had to watch the usual Frankie Dettori celebrations!

Many happy returns to great character Brod Munro-Wilson who is 70 today.  Brod used to ride a good horse by the name of The Drunken Duck - it was an aptly named beast as his jockey always used to look like he was drunk the way he rode!

*****

There was a thrilling end to the latest in the one-day cricket series between England and New Zealand with England reaching their target of 350 for the loss of only three wickets.  Captain Eoin Morgan scored a great 113, while Root piled in with 106 not out.  They are now level in the series and it makes me wonder why the team are not more positive like this when they play in Test matches instead of prodding around?

*****

I see that cyclist Lizzie Armiststead has been removed from the Aviva womens' tour after hitting a spectator following her victory.  The spectator was race director Mike Bennett and some photographers.  Imagine cycling all that way without incident only to get into trouble after you have won the race!

*****

The US Open golf starts today so no prizes for guessing where I will be.  Hold all my calls...

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