Summer Sabbatical Day 4

Day four of our summer sabbatical and there are five flat cards taking place on these shores today.  The action comes from Brighton, Redcar, Yarmouth, Sandown and Doncaster.  There are no all-weather cards today, which is a bit unusual.  Over in Ireland there is a jumps card from Sligo, but the best of the action today comes from Leopardstown where they have a Group 3 contest on the card.  The 1m4f Ballyroan Stakes takes place at 5.20pm and features the reappearance of Tarnawa who has been absent since winning the Breeders Cup Turf in November of last year.  He is far superior to anything else in the race but he clearly has not had a perfect preparation and will be very short odds here.

We were right to take on the odds-on favourite at Pontefract yesterday, but sadly could not find the right one to beat him...must try harder!

David was busy adding more strength to the team yesterday, purchasing bumper winning four year old gelding Ocean Heights.  He was a winner at Stratford in June and looks a nice prospect.

*****

It is day thirteen of the Olympic games today and Team GB are already in the medals with a bronze in the kayaking, whilst there will be a gold or silver in the boxing with Galal Yafai through to the featherweight final.  The team now have 15 golds, 18 silver and 16 bronze making 49 medals in total...a great achievement when you think about the size of the competing nations.

Whilst Manchester City are yet to get their man, Harry Kane, they are close to signing Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish.  As if the reigning Premiership champions weren't strong enough already, the additions of Kane and Grealish would make them a formidable force.

Yesterday marked day one of England's Test match cricket series against India at Trent Bridge.  It was not a good start with England falling to 183 all out.  It would have been a complete disaster without skipper Joe Root, who offered the only meaningful resistance with an innings of 64.  India were 21-0 at the close of play.

*****

Brendan, Sean and Paddy entered a weekly pub raffle.  To their delight, each won a prize.  Brendan won first prize - a case of Guinness.  Sean won second prize - a joint of beef.  Paddy won third prize - a toilet brush.  When they met up again in the pub the following week, Paddy asked the others how they were enjoying their prizes.
"The Guinness was beautiful," said Brendan.
"So was the beef," echoed Sean.  "And how's your toilet brush, Paddy?"
"Not so good," frowned Paddy.  "I think I'll go back to toilet paper."