Weekend Jottings

There are only three meetings taking place this afternoon with a jumps card from Uttoxeter and a couple of flat fixtures from Pontefract and Musselburgh.  The big race of the day is the Listed Pomfret Stakes over one mile at Pontefract at 4.10pm.  This looks at the mercy of Regal Reality on his standout second to Kameko in a Group 2 last season and his two starts back from an absence should have put him spot-on but he is plenty short enough in the betting.  Rhoscolyn, a progressive three year old looks a viable threat, but has to be forgiven a below-par effort at Chester last time.

There are no runners from the Pond House team today, although we are back with runners on the flat at Lingfield and over hurdles at Newton Abbot tomorrow.

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The British Open snooker championship is set to return to the calendar for the first time in 17 years at Leicester next month, but the tournament has already been dealt a blow by the withdrawal of six-times world champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan before the draw has even been made.  Organisers will certainly be disappointed as love him or loathe him, O'Sullivan remains the biggest name in the sport.

There is no F1 taking place this weekend, although I would imagine the mechanics at Red Bull are still busy trying to recover parts of Max Verstappen's following his collision with Lewis Hamilton at last week's British Grand Prix.  The damage to the car is estimated to come to £1.3 million which is a considerable chunk of the team's operating budget for the season under the new cap rules.  The next race in this fascinating season comes from Hungary next week.

Manchester United continue to make moves ahead of the new football season.  They signed England midfielder Jadon Sancho on Friday and followed that up yesterday by offering a three year extension to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

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A climber fell off a cliff, and, as he tumbled down, he caught hold of a small branch.
"Help! Is there anybody up there?" he shouted.
A majestic voice boomed through the gorge:
"I will help you, my son, but first you must have faith in me."
"Yes, yes, I trust you!" cried the man.
"Let go of the branch," boomed the voice.
There was a long pause, and the man shouted up again, "Is there anybody else up there?"