Willem So Close!

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon but I'm afraid you are out of luck if you are a fan of the jumps as there are just four flat fixtures from Ayr, Leicester, Windsor and Carlisle.  Unsurprisingly, David does not have any runners today.  I thought that David was going to be among the winners yesterday when Willem came to the last in front in the novices' handicap chase at Fakenham only to get caught close home.  He was conceding 15lbs to the winner Salto Chisco and I thought that if he jumped the last cleanly he would have won.  He is proving difficult to win with, although there is no doubting that there is plenty of ability there and this was another sound effort.

Meanwhile over in France Ballynagour finished seventh in the Prix la Barka at Auteuil on Saturday and picked up some prize money, while Gevrey Chambertin was pulled up.

There was a shock in Ireland as Jet Setting won the Irish 1,000 Guineas - she was bought from Richard Hannon's yard as recently as October for the bargain price of 12,000 guineas, that has to be one of the bargains of the century.  Meanwhile, favourite Minding sustained a nasty cut to her head leaving the starting stalls which probably did not do her chances much good.

*****

Don't tell anybody but I think that Jose Mourinho will be named manager for Manchester United at some point!  Why on earth don't they just come out and tell the whole world?  Poor old Louis Van Gaal won the FA Cup and finished fifth in the league with a very moderate side - that sets the bar pretty high, but you will have to do better than that if you want to keep your job at Old Trafford...mind you he did spend £210 million to get those results.  As far as I can see United need at least six new players - good luck to Mourinho, he should last a couple of years before he upsets all the players.

There was a great result for England as they beat Turkey 2-1.  We seem to have completely run out of ideas...why do we look so poor?

The golf was a bit more positive with Rory McIlroy putting his bad run of form in the Irish Open behind him by winning by three shots.  His shot at the last is one of the finest I have ever seen - this was a great performance.  Meanwhile, believe it or not Sergio Garcia won in America - his first win since I can't remember!

*****

I was wondering what Mrs Barnes was doing the other day when she applied lipstick to her forehead, then it occurred to me - she was trying to make up her mind!  It is only Monday...

Tweet