Vieux Lion Okay

It has been a cold and wet start to the morning, although there isn't enough rain to make a noticeable difference to the ground, although I'm sure it will be coming!  Following on from the Grand National meeting of last week, there are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Huntingdon and flat fixtures from Windsor and Redcar and an all-weather card from Wolverhampton.  There are no runners from the Pond House team today, although we will be back with runners at Newton Abbot tomorrow.

What a performance from Rachael Blackmore and Minella Times to win the Aintree Grand National on Saturday.  She gave her mount a great ride, having him in exactly the right place throughout.  It really has been Rachael's season and this success was just the icing on the cake and is fantastic for the sport.  Congratulations to her, Henry de Bromhead and owner JP McManus on a fantastic victory.  Rachael Blackmore's success shows that anyone can compete if they have the drive and talent.  She has transcended the sport, taking it from the front pages of the trade press and putting the sport on the front pages of newspapers everywhere.  She is certainly one of our biggest assets, providing a timely and positive boost.

Vieux Lion Rouge was in the process of running another mighty race before taking an uncharacteristic tumble at the 20th fence.  That is where his record of 242 National fences jumped without incident came to an end.  Conor O'Farrell had him in a lovely position at that point and he had jumped beautifully until then.  The main thing is that both Conor and Vieux Lion Rouge has returned home safe and well and for that we are extremely grateful.

The O'Brien battalions were well beaten in the Guineas Trials at Leopardstown yesterday, although it would come as no surprise if they were to pop up come the big day.  Instead there was a real boil-over in the 1,000 Guineas Trial as Keeper Of Time held on in a photo finish to win at odds of 80/1 for trainer John James Feane and rider Ronan Whelan.  Previously the winner only of a two year old maiden, perhaps she was benefitting from a previous run at the end of March (where she was beaten in a handicap from a mark of 93!).

*****

Hideki Matsuyama held on by one shot to become the first Japanese man to win a major golfing title.  He led at the end of the third round by four shots and just did enough to hold on for victory at 10 under par.  England's Justin Rose, who led for the first two rounds faded to finish seventh at -5.

*****

A man walked into a bar carrying a crocodile and a chicken.  He put them down on a barstool and said to the bartender: "I'll have a Scotch and soda."
And the crocodile added, "And I'll have a Whiskey Sour."
The bartended was amazed.  "That's incredible," he gasped, "I've never seen a crocodile that could talk!"
"He can't," said the man.  "The chicken's a ventriloquist."