Farewell To The Package

I see that David announced yesterday that 2015 Cheltenham Festival winner The Package (pictured above) has been retired at the age of twelve following his run in the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter on Sunday.  David has had him for his entire training career and I bet he would like a few more like him - he won five times and was placed in many top handicap chases, picking up £180,000 in prize money.  What a star he has been and he provided one of the most poignant moments of the Festival this year when bringing the colours of the late and very much missed David Johnson into the winners' enclosure after his Kim Muir success - DJ would have loved it!  Anyway, I'm sure you will all join me in wishing me a long and very happy retirement.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon from Hamilton, Brighton and Chepstow on the flat, while there is a National Hunt card from Stratford.  The stable has no runners today although stable jockey Tom Scudamore has managed to pick up a couple of mounts, albeit at big prices.  There is some pretty shocking prize money on offer today and we must give special mention to Chepstow who are offering £28,000 across their seven race card and Brighton who fare little better with £30,000 up for grabs for their seven race fixture - personally I think these tracks are taking the mickey...I could say something stronger although I will leave it at that on this occasion!

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I hope a few of you followed me in and had a little investment on Novak Djokovic to win in three straight sets at 4/6.  He won 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and never looked in any danger of dropping a set.

Can you believe it?  A British player other than Andy Murray has made it through to the second round of Wimbledon...Liam Broady came from two sets down to beat Australian Marinko Matosevic (sounds like a good old fashioned Australian name!) 3-2.  It means that Broady is guaranteed at least £47,000 in prize money but he will lose £2,000 of it for a code violation for swearing on court, although I'm sure after this result he could give a #@!*.  As far as I'm concerned he can swear as much as he likes as long as he keeps winning!

Meanwhile Heather Watson was caught swearing during television coverage of her match.  Naught Miss Watson used the "F bomb" - perhaps she is not the lady we thought she was?!

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Did you know that Australians play with pink balls?  I had better rephrase that...did you know that the next cricket match between Australia and England will be the first day/night match that will be played with a pink cricket ball?  Not long to go now until the start of the Ashes series - I can't wait!  After the first day however, I may well be saying that I can't wait for it to be over!

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Boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya has probably made the smartest decision of his entire career and decided to stay retired.  He was a great fighter and does not need to make a comeback - it would achieve precisely nothing.

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Finally, with it being Wimbledon we should have a rain related fact...did you know that bigger raindrops make brighter rainbows?  Now there's a colourful fact for you!  Have a nice day...

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