Uttoxeter Runner

There is a busy day of racing ahead with no less than six meetings taking place.  Five of those of course are on the level with action from Ascot, Thirsk, York, Newmarket and Chepstow, while there is also a jumps fixture from Uttoxeter.  David runs Junior Package (pictured above) in the 3.50pm race, a 2m7f handicap hurdle.  He was a good second in a boys' race at Stratford last time and the winner has come out and won again since.  The step up in trip looks likely to suit and he goes from the same mark of 85 today so a similar level of form should see him go very close under Tom Scudamore.

I have always been of the opinion that when a trainer asks an owner to stump up £75,000 to supplement a horse for a big race it must be really strongly fancied or connections have more money than sense.  I notice that the Queen's Dartmouth has now been added to the King George at Ascot...I had better be careful what I say!

I was amused to read the story behind Definite Future's Worcester success yesterday.  Trainer Kerry Lee contacted the clerk of the course and begged them to stop watering the ground, then when the stewards enquired about the improvement in form, she attributed it to the better ground...make your mind up!  The horse will now go to the sales at Doncaster at the beginning of the month.

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England play Pakistan in the second test starting at 11am today, coverage is on Sky Sports 2.  With England's fast bowlers back from injury this is a match we can surely win?  The weather looks set fair and England are a best priced 10/11 and that looks reasonable enough considering they were long odds-on for the first match.

The FA have to pay £3 million to Sunderland to get 'Big Sam Allardyce' as the next England manager.  Sam does have a clause to get out of his contract so it does look a mere formality.

I see that Italian tennis players Marco Cecchinator, Riccardo Accardi and Antonio Campo have been banned for 18.12 and 4 months respectively for match fixing.  I never thought that tennis was a racket!

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Well it is nearly the end of the week and I appear to be ageing like a fine wine.  I spend most of my time lying down on my side!  Have a nice day...

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