Racing Club Visit

Today we are welcoming members of the David Pipe Racing Club to Pond House for their annual stable visit.  About 120 people are coming to the yard this morning to see our equine stars, in the stables and on the gallops.  They will see a horse swim and in the loose school, followed by some horses parading and refreshments.

There are five flat meetings today at Haydock, Ascot, Kempton, Thirsk and Wolverhampton.  There is jumps racing at Stratford later this afternoon and in Ireland on the flat at Navan.  The stable does not have any runners.  Yesterday at Bangor, Old Bridge was disappointing.  He led early but then was overtaken for the lead with over a circuit to go and he never really looked happy after this.  He kept galloping to the line and was not far behind the placed horses but it was not as good as we had hoped for.  He seems fine this morning and we know he is better than this.

There is Group 1 Sprint action today at Haydock.  Lazzat is the short priced favourite for the 6F sprint at 3.35pm and I think he will take all the beating under James Doyle.  He won at Royal Ascot in June and ran well again at Deauville last time.  

Best of luck to Rian Corcoran this afternoon who his having his first ride as a professional at Stratford. He rides, The Padster in the 4.45pm maiden hurdle for trainer Joe Tickle who he rides out for one day a week.  I am not sure he will be making a winning debut but you never know and it will be good to get this experience under his belt.

Last night in the football, Scotland drew 0-0.  England are in World Cup Qualifying action this afternoon and they play Andorra at 5pm.  The Republic of Ireland play at home against Hungary at 7.45pm this evening.  

In the cricket Vitality Blast competition, there are two quarter final matches.  The Lancashire Lightening play the Kent Spitfires at 2.30pm and I am looking forward to going to watch Somerset play the Warwickshire Bears this evening at 6.30pm.  The Hampshire Hawks were the second team through to the Finals Day last night, beating Durham.   

We have the next group matches in the Women's rugby World Cup today and England play Australia at 5pm.  Wales and Scotland are also in action a bit earlier in the day.

It is the women's US Open tennis semi-final today between Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova which is due to start at 9pm British time.  We also know the men's finalists with Carlos Alcaraz beating Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner winning his semi-final in four sets.   

Going down to Blockbuster, perusing the shelves, picking a movie, renting it and buying snacks was still quicker than finding a film on Netflix!

Have a great Saturday