Weekend Jottings

There are just two meetings taking place this afternoon with action over the sticks from Carlisle and Huntingdon.  We travel all the way to Carlisle to run Shotavodka in the 2m4f handicap hurdle and he will be partnered by conditional jockey Kieron Edgar who takes 3lbs off his back.  Shotavodka (pictured above) is making his seasonal reappearance and he should appreciate this stiff track while the ground should also suit.  He would have sound claims on the pick of his form so let's hope for the best.

I see that A P McCoy has signed up to join the Channel 4 Racing presentation team prior to the Paddy Power meeting in a couple of weeks' time and he will be appearing at all of their major fixtures including the Cheltenham Festival, Grand National, Derby and Royal Ascot.  At least A P has a bit of character about him as well as his obvious expertise so he should help with their dwindling viewing figures.  Perhaps they will pair him with Gok Wan as their fashion correspondent?  Now that would be worth tuning in for!  As I keep saying, the coverage has become too technical and it is about time they bought some colourful people back who are not afraid to speak their minds...A P could be the man.

I had to laugh when I read the comments of owner Billy Parish who had a winner earlier in the week.  He said that his horse Mobsta was named after his trainer Mick Channon...I wonder what on earth he could mean?

Without wishing to impune her, it is going to be very difficult for Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton to win the Foxhunters at the Cheltenham Festival.  She took a nasty fall earlier in the week when her mount Satanic Beat took a false step in a flat race at Newbury.  She will find the big fences at Cheltenham a completely different kettle of fish.  In fairness to her, she is far braver than I am - I fell off jumping a pole that was only a foot above the ground...MCP says that it was six inches!

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There is a good football match to look forward to this afternoon and I will be having a wager on Everton to beat Sunderland at odds of 8/15.  I didn't think Sunderland deserved to beat Newcastle last week (even though the scoreline was 3-0).  I will be doubling the Toffees with Southampton at 4/7 - the wheels have come off at Bournemouth so I would be very surprised if the Saints were not more than good enough to beat them.

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I see that Shane Warne has been offering advice to our spin bowlers.  It would be fantastic if the best spinner of all time were able to sort them out.  Meanwhile, we could do with a volunteer to sort out our middle order with a lesson or two!

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Mrs Barnes spent five hours at the beauty salon yesterday...and that was just to get a quote!  I hope she doesn't read this, otherwise it is rations for me this weekend!

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