Third At Hereford

Today we have four meetings taking place with the first day of the Cesarewitch fixture at Newmarket, while there is also action on the level from York and Newcastle and a jumps card at Newton Abbot.  Once again Newcastle should be embarrassed about offering only £39,000 for their eight race card, while Newton Abbot have over £100,000 in prize money for their seven race...well done to everybody at Newton Abbot, once again a fine example of how a small track should be run.

Of our runners yesterday Daklondike fared best when finishing third in the novices' hurdle at Hereford behind a couple of useful rivals.  A former Irish point-to-point winner, he already looks as though he wants further and should be winning before too long.  Houston Dynimo ran his usual honest race to finish fourth in the three mile handicap chase at Exeter - at the age of eleven he isn't getting any better but he retains his enthusiasm and could pop up in a similar contest.

There was a good turnout at Hereford yesterday with over 4,000 spectators there to see the return of National Hunt racing almost four years after the track was closed.  I have three quick stories of why I like Hereford so much...I remember David riding Passed Pawn to victory for the Martin Pipe Racing Club (he must have been a good horse!).  During my days as an owner, I only ever had the pleasure of two winners - one of those was Manrico who scorched to victory at Hereford!  My favourite story though is my gamble on Sondrio - he was a Stakes winner in America and subsequently went on to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, anyway, I had backed him in quite a few betting shops and not on course so he won at quite a tasty price...happy days indeed.  So as you can tell, I have quite a soft spot for Hereford...let's hope they can make a go of it now.

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I hope David doesn't decide to send any of his staff for judo lessons.  England rugby boss Eddie Jones and the RFU had a judo session this week and Wasps flanker Sam Jones, 24 broke his right leg and won't play again until December.  Wasps have received £80,000 in compensation...and I thought that rugby was supposed to be a tough sport!

Disgraced former England football manager Sam Allardyce is now being probed by the police.  Fancy paying him £1 million in compensation - I would probe the FA!

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Mrs Barnes said to me the other day, "When we go to Egypt, can we go on a camel?"  I tried to explain to her that it would take ages to get there on a camel.  Keep smiling...

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