Summer Cup Runner-Up

There are four meetings taking place on the flat this afternoon with the action coming from Pontefract, Wolverhampton, Musselburgh and Windsor. The prize money for three of those meetings comes to just over £105,000 - it sounds like a lot of money but by the time you divide it among the total number of races it doesn't work out very much at all, especially when you take into account all the owners expenses. I can't believe that owners and trainers want to compete for that sort of cash, but so long as they do I can't see the courses stumping up any more prize money.

Ballynagour (pictured above) ran a cracker yesterday to finish runner-up in the valuable Summer Cup at Uttoxeter. He was only beaten two lengths and was trying to concede 8lbs to the winner - he still picked up just shy of £17,000 for finishing second. He will probably go up a few pounds for this effort although on this form there are still some nice races in him. Meanwhile Awesome Tunes shaped okay on his hurdling debut and he looks to be crying out for fences and further, while Ennistown should also improve when stepped up in trip.

Minding was extremely impressive in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh at the weekend. The 1,000 Guineas and Oaks heroine won as she pleased and is clearly an outstanding filly. I thought that Colm O'Donoghue gave 85/1 outsider Bocca Baciata a great ride to finish second and pick up £47,000 in prize money. He rode Kevin Manning, Jamie Spencer and Frederik Tylicki to sleep.

*****

I nicked a few quid on Wales in the European Championships over the weekend although I have to confess that I was possibly a little lucky. Tonight England take on the supermarket team as we face Iceland at 8pm. England are 4/7 chances and I must be mad but I will playing up my winnings on England. World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua could face Wladimir Klitschko if Tyson Fury is found to be guilty of taking the banned steroid Nandralone. To me Fury doesn't look like a sportsman, nevermind a world champion! I think Joshua would knock either one of them out...just don't tell them I said so!

*****

I took Mrs Barnes' family out for tea and biscuits on Saturday. They weren't too happy about having to give blood though! Have a nice day...

Tweet