Tricky Start To Goodwood

It looks to be a tricky start to Glorious Goodwood for punters this afternoon with three Group races and some wide-open big field handicaps to look forward to.  Over at Worcester the stable has three runners, with champion jockey A P McCoy booked for a couple of them, while over at Galway we will be having a few runners later in the week.

Let's hope that Frankie Dettori is fit to ride at Goodwood this afternoon - he was left with a swollen toe after parting company with the fatally injured Rewilding in the King George at Ascot on Saturday.  He has been struggling to get his racing boots on and the big meetings just wouldn't be the same without Frankie, he is still one of our brightest stars.  What is it with all of these people suffering with their toes?  First it was David Haye, then it was Frankie...I was watching my mate Roger Hall try to hit a golf ball through a small gap in the trees the other day - needless to say, the ball hit the tree, bounced back, hit and broke his big toe!  I couldn't stop laughing, although in fairness, it does look very sore and swollen.

*****

I hope that a few of you took my advice and backed England to win the Test match at Lords yesterday.  The 11/8 proved to be a steal as India never really looked likely to hold on all day - it is one thing when a team is on top, but when batsmen are just trying to occupy the crease with no prospect of winning, suddenly things seem to get much more difficult.  Even so, I don't think I will be rushing out to take the 4/11 about England to win the series - that looks plenty skinny enough to me as I am sure that the Indians will come alive sooner or later!