Unplaced At Auteuil

The stable drew a blank over the weekend.  Despite finishing 15th in the Cesarewitch, Low Key was only beaten a touch over six lengths.  Sadly he didn't pick up in the same manner as when victorious in the trial last month although I am sure there will be other days for him.  There was plenty of money around for Alternatif in the Irish version yesterday although he never really threatened and is clearly better than this.  Meanwhile Dynaste was ninth in the Grade 3 hurdle at Auteuil over a trip possibly a little shy of his best these days.  Even so, he was staying on in the closing stages and was beaten only nine lengths by some very decent horses - he is fully entitled to come on for this first outing since January.

Today we have three meetings with action on the flat from Salisbury and Windsor as well as a jumps fixture from Sedgefield.  Our amateur jockey David Noonan makes the long journey north to ride Ashcott Boy for trainer Neil Mulholland having won aboard the gelding at Worcester last week.  He carries a 7lbs penalty this afternoon but the manner of his previous victory would suggest that will not be enough to stop him from following-up here.

Air Force Blue ran out the very impressive winner of the Dewhurst at Newmarket on Saturday and I am informed that they think this is the best two year old they have ever had at Ballydoyle.  The way he was backed before the race would suggest that part-owner Michael Tabor shares that opinion...I wonder how much my fellow West Ham supporter had on?!

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England are in action this evening in another Euro Qualifier as they take on Lithuanian tonight at 7.45pm on ITV.  Even the England reserve team should be good enough to beat Lithuania - I don't think it is going to make for compulsive viewing.  The bookies make England 2/5 chances and I suppose you could double them up with Russia at 1/3.

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What a great first win for 21 year old Matt Fitzpatrick in the British Masters golf at Woburn.  He looks a lot younger than 21 and when he made his winners speech he sounded a lot younger too!  With this win under his belt he can only increase in confidence and go on to much bigger and better things.

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That game with the funny shaped ball is still going on and ruining my wife's television schedule.  Of course I am talking about the Rugby World Cup and there was a good result for the Irish as they beat the French 24-9.  I would love to know why the English are so bad at rugby all of a sudden?  I thought they were supposed to have a real live chance on their home soil?

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What do you call a boomerang that doesn't come back?  A stick!  Have a nice day...

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