Batavir 2nd At Catterick

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Ayr and Fontwell as well as an all-weather flat card from Newcastle.  There is some good money on the all-weather today with £115,000 up for grabs.  I am usually quick enough to criticise when they offer a pittance so kudos to Newcastle on a job well done today.  Stable jockey Tom Scudamore travels all the way up to Ayr for just one mount today so the prospects of Mountain King must be taken very seriously - let's hope it is worth Tom's while.

Batavir ran a solid race at Catterick yesterday afternoon, finishing second in the novices' limited handicap chase under the welter burden of 12-4.  He was trying to concede 16lbs to the winner and kept on all the way to the line.  His jumping still has a little room for improvement but based on this evidence, he should be well up to winning over fences.

I see that Sir Anthony McCoy is getting some stick over the lady riders' allowance that is now in operation in France.  He believes that it will help the girls get more chances and I don't see how it can do them any harm - even so, one or two of them have taken offense.  I think I would rather agree with AP than some of the people who are up in arms about the prospect.

Cheltenham racecourse are set to close the bars in the complimentary hospitality areas as soon as the last race gets underway at this year's Cheltenham Festival.  They obviously think that it is only the people in the free bars who get drunk!  They have a Guinness grandstand for goodness sake, I am not sure that this is going to stop the boozey brigade, do you?

Many happy returns to Allan Stennett who has been a successful owner at Pond House for many years, we hope you have a great day Allan!

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What a surprise that Joe Root has been named as the new England cricket skipper.  How on earth did they manage to keep that quiet for so long?!  I hope they keep Alistair Cook as the side is desperately short on world class batsmen.

Manchester City won with a bit in hand against Bournemouth last night, winning by 2-0 although it could quite easily have been 4-0.  City are still 8 points behind Chelsea so they need to rely in Chelsea losing a couple to be in with any chance of the Premiership and I can't see that happening any time soon.  Bournemouth should be okay with Eddie Howe having done a good job with his side.

Talking of football, I have just thought of a good fight - Mark Hughes versus Tony Pullis.  The two Welshmen would certainly sell out a stadium.  I am not sure who would win, although I would probably side with Hughsie who was a real handful during his playing days as centre forward!

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Patient: Doctor Doctor, I have Irish voices coming out of my tummy...
Doctor:  You have a stomach Ulster!

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