Nice Thoughts At Warwick

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Warwick, Hexham and Fontwell, while there is also an all-weather flat card from Newcastle.  David has one runner today as Nice Thoughts goes in the two mile handicap hurdle at Warwick at 2.35pm.  Nice Thoughts did finish a good second at Ffos Las last season, form which would give him a good chance here although his most recent efforts have been a little disappointing.  A repeat of his earlier form would make him worth a little each way interest at likely odds of around 10/1.   Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.  Meanwhile, the prevailing fast ground at Fontwell means that they only have 33 runners across their six race card - we need some rain and a lot of it.

La Vaticane ran a solid race to finish runner-up in the Listed mares' chase at Market Rasen  yesterday afternoon.  She did not get the best of luck in running and was badly impeded when the winner jumped across her at the last fence.  A similar effort will see her winning again before long.  Recent Uttoxeter winner Mr Burgees could not follow-up - he was a little too free over this longer trip and a bad mistake at the penultimate fence sealed his fate.  I am sure there will be other days for him.

I had to chuckle when I heard about the controversy at Newbury.  Traditionally the Hennessy winning trainer has the number one spot in the car park so by right it should have been Alan King's but his good pal Oliver Sherwood was caught red-handed screwing his Many Clouds sign from the previous year to the parking space!

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It was a poor display from Manchester United last night as they were beaten by Fernerbahce in Turkey.  Mourinho ripped into his team and I think he is just beginning to realise what he has taken on.  The team needs to be completely rebuilt and I reckon he has big problems.  There was an excellent result for Southampton as they beat Inter Milan 2-1.  Antonio Candreva should have been sent off for elbowing Sam McQueen in the face - the referee did not have a good game.

The weigh-in's for boxing matches regularly seem to be more exciting than the actual fights these days.  Yesterday Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora faced-off and had to be seperated by security staff.  It is good publicity and helps to sell more tickets - let's just hope the fight can live up to expectations.

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Mrs Barnes tells me that I talk in my sleep.  I have to admit I am a bit sceptical about it - nobody at work has ever mentioned it before!

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