Arise Sir Anthony McCoy

The big news of the day is that A P McCoy has been awarded a Knighthood in the Queen's New Years Honours List.  He will now become known as Sir Anthony McCoy - I am still going to be calling him "A P" as it would be difficult to call him sir when I have seen him with his trousers around his ankles and a pair of ladies tights on!  I wonder how many other 'sirs' have been dressed like that?!  On a serious note though, we are all delighted for AP - this is the ultimate acknowledgement of all that he has achieved in racing and he is thoroughly deserving of all the plaudits.  Not only is he the finest jockey we have ever witnessed, he has also been a wonderful ambassador for our sport and an incredible role model for any aspiring jockeys or people wanting to get involved in the sport.

Today there are three meetings taking place with action over the sticks from Uttoxeter and Warwick after both meetings passed inspections this morning, while the all-weather flat fixture from Lingfield goes ahead without a problem.  Mind you, they are only offering a miserly £30,000 across their seven race card so would anyone really miss it if there was a problem?!  I see that stable jockey Tom Scudamore is hoping to ride at both jumps fixtures today - he is jocked up aboard Solomn Grundy at Uttoxeter for David before he heads off to Warwick for the mount aboard Princesse for his brother Michael.

Hopefully Willie Mullins' successful visit to Taunton yesterday is not a prelude of things to come!  He won the Listed mares' hurdle at the Somerset venue when Myska won well in the hands of Ruby Walsh, taking £11,500 back to Ireland.  Our only runner yesterday, Ballywilliam finished third at Haydock and while he didn't look the most straight forward, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he would prefer a slightly sounder surface.

I see that it is Bob Wheatley's 74th birthday today.  Bob owned MCP's first Cheltenham Festival winner, Baron Blakeney who won the Triumph Hurdle in 1981.  Many happy returns Bob, we hope you have a great day.

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Liverpool walked away with the points as they beat Sunderland 1-0 last night and I have to say that I think Sunderland deserved a point.  Meanwhile, Aston Villa look doomed to relegation while the other relegation places look to be between Sunderland, Newcastle, Swansea and Bournemouth.  It is a very open Premier League at both ends and the January transfer window will be fascinating with some stupid amounts of money being thrown at sides trying to win the title and equally stupid amounts being thrown at sides trying to stay up.

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There was a great result for England's cricketers as they beat South Africa in the first Test and I must admit that I did have a few quid on our side.  I cannot see how South Africa are currently ranked the number one side in the world.

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What do you call a female plumber with two toilets on her head?  Lulu!  Oh dear...

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