Great Day's Racing

It's good to have Tom Scu back in the saddle this afternoon following a couple of weeks on the sidelines after a nasty fall at Sandown left him with an injured kidney.  Tom has five booked rides at Ascot this afternoon and his return certainly helps with riding arrangements - we have plenty of runners this afternoon even allowing for the fact that Haydock has been abandoned due to the overnight frost.  It remains to be seen whether the course will make arrangements to save the Peter Marsh Chase that Madison du Berlais was due to participate in (remember we won the race last year with the now retired old favourite Our Vic).

Following an 8.30am inspection, Wincanton have decided to hold a further inspection at 10am.  They are 90% raceable at present so let's hope it get's the go-ahead, especially as we have five intended runners there.

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I see that it's Barry Dennis' last "bismarck" on the Morning Line this morning.  Last week he put up Kauto Star and I bet that today he will be opposing Master Minded - I can't believe how much influence his views have on the market.  Although retiring, Barry will still be shouting the odds at Lingfield - he is 70 on Monday, so many happy returns Barry!

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It occurred to me that with Manchester United's Rafael de Silva suspended, Sir Alex Ferguson could still play him and tell officials that the other player was his twin brother Fabio!  I wonder if there has ever been a "ringer" in a football match before?  Sir Alex says that no-one would be able to tell them apart, and having seen pictures I can quite believe they would be able fool most referees...however it wouldn't take a lot!