Kerry National Runner

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Doncaster, Carlisle and Kempton, while there is a jumps fixture from Uttoxeter.  David runs Kalifourchon in the 2m7f handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter at 2.15pm - he is well-treated on his best form, the trip should suit and he has the ability to outrun his price under David Noonan.  I had better not forget to mention the card at Listowel in Ireland where Dell' Arca competes in the Kerry National for the stable at 4.20pm.  It is an 18 runner handicap chase over 3m and is a fiercely competitive race - unsurprising when you consider that the winner picks up €118,000.  He has been in good form this term, winning on the flat and over hurdles and he is 10lbs lower than his current hurdle mark.  He will like the ground and has each way claims under Tom Scudamore.

Salisbury had to abandon their meeting yesterday because of chafer grubs.  They are the larvae of adult beetles and cause the ground to churn up.  Surely there should have been some insecticide put down that would kill them off...or so I am told.  It is not the first time it has happened with the likes of Bath, Chepstow and Yarmouth all having to abandon fixtures in the last few years.

It is Leger Legends day at Doncaster today and there is an interesting article about Timmy Murphy, who will be competing in the race.  Timmy rode many of David Johnson's best horses and of course, famously landed the Grand National aboard Comply Or Die.  We saw Timmy recently while in Lambourn, riding out for Richard Hannon and looking very well.

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I collected my winnings on England last night as they beat Switzerland 1-0.  I don't think I will be in any hurry to back them against one of the better teams.  They looked very poor to me and I don't think they are as good as that World Cup run will have you believe.

It was a good day all round for England as a sporting nation.  The cricketers won the final test match against India by 118 runs and bowler Jimmy Anderson moved into fourth place on the all-time wicket takers list with 564 wickets - that makes him top fast bowler.

The KLM Open golf gets underway tomorrow in the Netherlands and I will be having a wager on Lee Westwood at 18/1 and Ross Fisher at 40's to give me a bit of an interest while I am watching it on the box...Mrs Barnes will be pleased!

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I went to a far Eastern shindig the other night...it was a Cantonese-up!

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