Derby Day

    Impulsive American runs on the flat

It is a busy day on the racing front with seven meetings around the country.  There are flat cards at Epsom, Musselburgh, Doncaster, Newcastle and Lingfield plus jumps cards at Hexham and Worcester.  David has two runners at Worcester, Purple N Gold and Castlemorris King.  Castlemorris King won a claiming hurdle on this track last month and David claimed him.  He won with a lot in hand that day and he has won off higher marks than today's 122 in the past.  The Racing Post have him at 4/1 and he looks to have a good chance.  Purple N Gold has won twice at Worcester and was running well there last time before a mistake at the second last fence cost him any chance of winning.  There is good prize money on offer so there is a competitive field as you would expect but hopefully he should run well again.  Tom Scu is on board both horses.  David also has a runner on the flat at Musselburgh today.  Impulsive American runs in the last, an apprentice 1m6f handicap with Adam McNamara in the saddle.  He has been in good form of late over hurdles and we are hoping for a good run - especially as it is owner Josie Tracey's birthday today - Happy Birthday!

What a performance Minding put up yesterday to win the Oaks.  She got into all sorts of trouble and it even looked like she got hit over the head!  She is as good as mare as we have seen in recent years and Ryan Moore must be thankful she had such a good turn of foot which got them out of trouble.  Today it is of course Derby day at Epsom.  The biggest race in the World on the worst track!  Who ever designed Epsom must have been drunk!  Aidan O'Brien only has the five runners but I think John Gosden's Wings of Desire could be the one.  What about one of our old members of staff, Owen Burrows who is having his first runner in the Derby and it is only a 16/1 chance.  Good luck to him!

There was also the sad news of Mohammed Ali passing away overnight.  To people of a certain age he was the greatest.  I saw Ali fight once in the States.  The training in Ali's hotel was better than the fight, it was pure entertainment.  When I think of the heavy weight boxers of today there is no comparison.  Ali was the greatest.

The heavy weight ladies tennis player Serena Williams plays in the final of the French Open tennis at 2pm today.  I did have a few quid on her at 5/2 before the tournament started so you can guess who I will be cheering on!

The US Internal Revenue Service has rejected a claim for $5.2 million tax refund from J P McManus on winnings from a backgammon game with a billionaire in 2012.  It makes my game with match sticks look a bit sad!  Have a nice day.