Chepstow Flat Runner

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Hamilton, Brighton and Chepstow while there is also a jumps fixture from Stratford.  David doesn't have any jumpers today, although he does send Willem (pictured above) to Chepstow for the two mile flat handicap.  There can be no doubting his ability - he has some very good placed form over the sticks, he just hasn't consented to win yet.  I am sure he will pop up at some point, although I wouldn't like to say when that will be.  Champion apprentice Tom Marquand is in the saddle.  Talking of Chepstow, can you believe that they are putting up just £28,000 for their seven race card.  If you finish fourth you pick up £168.35 - that won't even cover the expenses unless you live next door to the track.  Chepstow definitely get today's wooden spoon. Meanwhile Tom Scudamore has some decent outside rides at Stratford.

*****

What a shambolic performance from England's football team last night as they were unceremoniously dumped out of the European Cup by Iceland.  Iceland are ranked 34th in the world and don't even have a professional team...England were useless.  I have been saying for quite some time that manager Roy Hodgson doesn't have a clue.  The players didn't seem to know the system they were working in and I don't think the manager knew any better!

It was the worst result by an England team that I can remember.  Most of the players were terrible, the coach had a stinker and Kane and Sterling should not have been playing, in fact they were all useless!  The television pundits were trying to defend them by saying that they were under pressure.  I will tell you what pressure is, it is when you are playing for £50 and you only have £10 left in your pocket - that is pressure and I should know.  These footballers are all millionaire playboys who don't know the meaning of pressure.  Roy Hodgson resigned shortly after...I would have sacked him long ago.  Can you tell I am upset?

*****

Talking about money, did you know that if you lose in the first round of Wimbledon you pick up £30,000?  Some of the people are getting wildcards into the championship - talk about money for nothing!  That is more than the average annual wage of the population of Britain - disgraceful.  When I won the English table tennis championship I won a dart board.  When interviewed, I told the press that I would have to win it again the following year to win the darts for which I was promptly suspended for six months.  I wouldn't know how you would go about getting a six month ban in sport today - I'm sure it would take more than a few poorly chosen words.

*****

Finally, a thought for the day...Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people - W C Fields.

Tweet