Dearth Of Quality Today!

I was amused to see former jump jockey turned television pundit Mick Fitzgerald finish runner-up on Celebrity Mastermind on Saturday.  It was a good effort from Fitzy who picked up £3,000 for the Injured Jockeys' Fund and then promptly nominated Tom Scudamore as somebody else who would do well on the show.  I must be missing something with Tom...I will be throwing a few questions his way the next time I see him!

In the absence of jumping from Ayr there are just two all-weather meetings taking place this afternoon.  Furthermore with just £61,000 in prize money divided up among thirteen races, quality is a little bit thin on the ground as well!

What a slog it was through the Chepstow mud for the Welsh National runners on Saturday and what a tremendous performance from Mountainous to recapture the race.  There were some great pictures of the brave horse with jockey Jamie Moore splattered in mud.  It was a great success to for Kerry Lee - she is certainly more attractive than her father Richard - and she has more to say too!  It looks as though the winner could be heading to Aintree now for the Grand National - the trouble is I have never seen ground at Aintree like it was at Chepstow.

There is an interesting article in the Racing Post about the whip rules and the best ways to enforce them to ensure that none of the jockeys are in breach in future.  The Post asks if the owners, trainers and jockeys should all lose their prize money percentages?  It would certainly act as quite a deterrent although I don't see why the owner and trainer should lose out because the jockey broke the rules.  If a footballer gets sent off during a match, the manager doesn't get punished - I think the sport would lose a few owners if the rule was bought in.  It's a difficult one and I'm not sure what the answer is...perhaps it should have been a question for Mick Fitzgerald  on Celebrity Mastermind?!

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What a great result for Oxford as they beat Premier League side Swansea in their FA Cup tie.  Meanwhile, Leicester were desperately unlucky as they drew 2-2 with Spurs yesterday.  Tottenham were awarded a penalty in the 89th minute and I am with all eight of the pundits who say that it was clearly not a penalty.  I wonder what the referee said when he saw a replay?  It would certainly make for interesting viewing.

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I see that the International Association of Athletics Federations lost three more leading figures last week when they were awarded lifetime bans.  As anybody who regularly reads me blog will know, I am totally against drugs cheats and if you get caught using drugs or fixing matches you should receive a lifetime ban from the sport.

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What kind of snake would you use on your windscreen?  A viper!  Give me a break, it is Monday...

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