Ranco Runs At Ludlow

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with a jumps card from Ludlow, flat meetings from Brighton and Windsor and an all-weather flat fixture from Wolverhampton.  David has one runner today as Ranco contests the novices' handicap hurdle at Ludlow at 1.10pm.  An improved performer on the flat this spring, he was a winner at Windsor from a mark of 72 on his penultimate start.  He certainly seemed to appreciate the better ground on the level and may not want too much rain falling at Ludlow.  A mark of 97 looks feasible given his flat form and he looks a decent each-way bet under Tom Scudamore.

There is a nice touch at the track today as Ludlow will be comemorating the life of amateur jockey Lorna Brooke who tragically died following a fall at Taunton last month.  Ludlow is based only 30 miles from the family home and Lorna enjoyed more success there than any other track.  A fitting and moving tribute indeed.

There was more bad news yesterday when it was announced that racing legend Barney Curley had passed away.  Curley, a self-made man has long courted controversy with some of his epic gambles, but few can argue that he was a very brave and astute character.  Sadly, his passing is another loss to our sport.  Characters such as him are all too rare in any sports nowadays and he will be very much missed.

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Liverpool clinched a Champions' League spot with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace and actually finished third in the Premiership with both Chelsea and Leicester losing their final matches.  Meanwhile, West Ham, who finished sixth have earned themselves a spot in the Europa League and I'm sure our dear friend Chester will be looking on and chuckling...it is the Hammers highest placing since '99 and their first European action since 2016.

Max Verstappen took the lead of the world drivers' championship with victory in Monaco yesterday afternoon.  On a day when Lewis Hamilton could finish only seventh in his Mercedes, Verstappen seldom looked in danger of losing, coming home clear of Carlos Sainz in his Ferrari and Brit Lando Norris who was third for McLaren.  Verstappen's cause was made much easier when pole-sitter Charles Leclerc had engine trouble on the way to the grid following his accident in qualifying, meaning that he could not start the race.  Red Bull also took over at the head of the constructors' championship.  It will be very different in two weeks at Azerbaijan and you get the impression that Mercedes still have marginally the best car, but Red Bull and Verstappen look a clear and present danger.

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How do you know that carrots are good for your eyesight?  Have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses?!