Ludlow Runners Today

Today there are four meetings taking place with two jumps fixtures from Ludlow and Catterick as well as a couple of flat cards from Lingfield and Kempton.  The stable has three runners at Ludlow this afternoon; Bella, Skylander and My Brother Sylvest.  All are forecast to go off at relatively long odds although Bella won a £25,000 contest earlier in the season and is only 1lb higher than for that effort - she has a couple of disappointing efforts to overcome.  Skylander has won his share of races this term including over fences at Hexham and this step up in trip should suit him.  Meanwhile man of the moment David Noonan is aboard My Brother Sylvest and takes 5lbs off his back - he is an admirable horse, although all six of his wins have come on good ground or faster and he remains 5lbs higher than his best winning mark.

I was a little disappointed that Mozo couldn't follow-up last season's bumper win on her first start over hurdles at Lingfield yesterday although she probably bumped into quite a useful rival in Sunshine Corner.  Somebody said to me that heavy ground in May is very different to heavy ground in December and I reckon he could have a point.  A longer trip may also suit our filly and she should be more than capable of winning her share of races.

The powers-that-be have decided to go ahead with putting the start of the Grand National back to 5.15pm following discussion with broadcaster Channel 4 in a bid to increase viewing figures.  I will be shocked and surprised if this does not have the opposite effect.  Why not go the whole hog and put it on late at night on the all-weather, that way they could attract all of the drunks as well!  The Grand National used to boss the Saturday sports agenda - now it chases it.  I think the whole thing is going to prove a massive turn-off for spectators...after a (probably extended) edition of the Morning Line the afternoon coverage will likely start earlier than usual and then the once a year viewers will have to sit through more overly-complex analysis as well as more supporting races.  Not only that, I reckon quite a few of the younger audience that racing is trying to attract is going to be busy getting ready to give it large on a Saturday night out - I don't see this experiment ending well I'm afraid...I hope I am wrong.

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So many footballers are picking up injuries - could it be the surfaces they are playing on?  Remember, 50% of the pitches are not grass but an artificial surface.  Do you recall the old Derby pitch?  It was just a mud pit - you never see Premier League pitches like that anymore.

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World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has said "I'm like Ali".  He went on to add "As great as Ali was, people only started respecting him when he was finished".  I think Fury must have had a bang on the head...how can he compare himself to Ali or have I had a bang on the head?  I remember seeing Ali fight Bugner years ago and his pre-fight training routine was something I will never forget...it was certainly better than turning up in a Batman suit!

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I see that thirty birds have been stolen from a farm in Timperley, Greater Manchester...sounds like a birdglary!

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Message from David...

So you thought Chester Barnes was at Pond House making himself useful?  Think again!  I have discovered the real reason why he spends his mornings here these days as the photographic evidence proves...despite having to watch his diet, Chester is obviously still rather partial to a Great British fry-up.  Don't worry though Jane, he assures me that it was brown bread!  I reckon Chester is going to be 'brown bread' when Mrs Barnes sees this...

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