Lady Follows-Up!

The stable enjoyed a nice winner at Worcester yesterday afternoon when Lady Of Longstone followed up her recent course success by bolting up in the 2m4f mares' handicap hurdle by 15 lengths with her head in her chest.  Since David has left the headgear off of her she seems to have found a renewed vigour for her racing and it would be no surprise to see David turn her out again under a penalty before the handicapper gets the chance to reassess her.  It was a great result for her very enthusiastic owners and also popular among staff, not least because Sue bakes a mean cake!  Meanwhile, Skylander finished fourth in the handicap chase and it could be that this slightly slower surface found him out over this longer trip.

Today we have four meetings to look forward to with three jumps cards from Ludlow, Carlisle and Southwell as well as an all-weather flat card from Chelmsford City...a nice balance by the race planners.  Meanwhile, Southwell get away with just £30,000 in prize money for their six race card - it's incredible that so many people are willing to run for that sort of money.  The stable has one runner this afternoon; Impulsive American who goes in the handicap hurdle at 5.15pm.  Our three year old fell at the final hurdle last time out at Huntingdon but which he would have finished in the frame.  He has schooled well since (as you can see from the picture, right) and leading amateur David Noonan takes over on board and he claims a handy 7lbs off his back looks to have each way claims in a trappy little contest.

Over at Carlisle, this season's leading jockey Richard Johnson has a tremendous book of rides and I woudn't be at all surprised to see him boot home four winners.

If you haven't already seen it, David conducted an interview with Mike Vince earlier in the week as a prelude to the new jumps season.  It certainly worth a look and you can see it by clicking here.  We will be releasing a number of other videos with various members of the Pond House staff over the coming weeks and they will all be giving you a horse to follow during the new campaign.

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I had another successful evening punting on the football yesterday although I have to ask, how on earth did Manchester City win 2-1 against Seville?  As far as I could tell they were completely outplayed, yet City managed to score the winner in the 90th minute.  I had them in a double with Wolfsburg who won 2-0, it is fair to say I was sweating on the outcome!

I was saddened to see one of my footballing heroes, Frans Beckenbauer is now unders suspicion of corruption?  Why do we not just scrap FIFA altogether and start a new governing body?  It seems that most people attached to FIFA have something to hide.  How did they manage to get away with it for so long?

There is money around for Swansea boss Gary Monk to be the next Premier manager out of a job.  He is 13/8 with William Hill and that is slightly surprising to me as he looks to have a decent side on his hands.  The 7/4 about Tim Sherwood getting the old pac-a-mac looks far more appealing to me.

Tonight I will be having a little wager on Lazio at 4/9, Florentina at 4/11 and Monaco at 4/9.

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You have to feel sorry for the 30 guests of a Derby hotel who were told to pack their bags when bailiffs arrived and shut the place down during breakfast.  You could say it was a case of 'Inn & Out!'

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