Weekend Jottings

There are two jumps cards from Fontwell and Hereford this afternoon, but first they both have to survive early morning inspections. Should they get the go-ahead David will have two runners at Hereford; Max Do Brazil and Timeforben. Recent purchase Max Do Brazil makes his Pond House debut in the handicap hurdle at 2.50pm having shown some smart form in France. The £9,000 prize money has attracted a decent field but he still looks to have a very good chance in the hands of Tom Scudamore. Meanwhile, Timeforben goes in the mares' bumper at 4.20pm and David Noonan takes the ride - she has won her only start in a point-to-point and there are winners to have come out of that race so hopefully she too has sound claims. Let's hope the action goes ahead!

Jockeys are notoriously bad tipsters so we will see if Sam Twiston-Davies is an exception to the rule. He says that he would be mad to miss the mount aboard Bise d'Estruval when she makes her chase debut for his father at Ludlow on Wednesday...we shall see!

Poor old Andrew Thornton is facing a spell of four months on the sidelines having just ridden his 1,000th career winner. He is undergoing anterior cruciate ligament surgery on his knee on Tuesday - the trouble is, the older you get, the longer it takes to heal and Andrew Thornton seems to have been around forever!

*****

There are just three football matches this afternoon and there are some short prices on offer at your friendly bookies. Arsenal are 2/9 to see off Burnley, Chelsea are 1/5 to beat Hull and Southampton are 17/20 against Leicester. I will be having a little treble to keep me switching between channels.

I see that sailor Alex Thomson has just finished runner-up in the Round The World Yacht Race - it took him 75 days and he claims that he was not lonely. I go fishing off Berry Head for five hours and I am lonely...especially if the fish aren't biting! I can't even begin to imagine 75 days on my own. Having said that, 75 days without Mrs Barnes...at least I wouldn't have a headache!

*****

Thought for the day...you know you are ugly when you are the one that always gets asked to take the photograph! Have a nice weekend...

Tweet