Four At Newton

Today we have four meetings taking place and for a pleasant change there is balance to the calendar with two flat fixtures from Ayr and Newbury accompanied by two jumps cards from Newton Abbot and Hexham.  The stable has four runners at Newton Abbot; Lilbourne Legacy, Prince Of Poets, Perspicace and Skylander.  Lilbourne Legacy was placed in Irish points but needs to improve on what he has shown thus far, while Prince Of Poets has shown flashes of ability and drops into selling company for the first time this afternoon.  Perspicace and Skylander (pictured above) both contest the 4.40pm race and look to hold solid each way claims.  It is a tricky afternoon, but at least we go racing with some chances.

There was some sad news yesterday as Lady Hilda Clarke passed away at the age of 86.  Wife of the late Sir Stanley Clarke, they have had some wonderful horses at Pond House down the years including the likes of Rolling Ball, Lord Relic and Honest Word to name just three of them.  She was a lovely lady who always made time to speak to you and I had a lovely chat with her the last time I went to Uttoxeter.

I see that it is former England goalkeeper and racehorse owner Peter Shilton's 66th birthday today.  Peter had some good horses at Pond House including Catch The Cross and Wingspan.  I remember MCP once asking him how many goals he scored for England?  Martin was not a football fan!

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Talking of football, I see that there is controversy surrounding how many English players started in the European League.  Manchester United played three English players at the weekend, while City fielded only two!  I thought I sorted this one out a few weeks ago...there should be no more than three or four overseas players allowed in any one Premiership side.  It is only going to get worse as far as I can tell with foreign managers bringing in foreign players.

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It's the start of that tournament with the funny shaped ball tonight as home team England play Fiji in the Rugby World Cup - it is covered live on ITV from 8pm.  Mrs Barnes was watching a rugby match the other day and when all the players got down in the scrum, she asked me what they were all talking about...I kid you not!  Anyway, rugby is not a big sport in the Barnes household.

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Why couldn't the shepherd see his dog?  He was collie blind!  Sorry, they don't get any better do they?!

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