Weekend Jottings!

If you are coming back to the Westcountry by train from London tonight, be on the lookout for a fairly well-oiled Irishman and a tall racehorse trainer.  I won't tell you who they are, but they will be travelling back from the Derby Awards in London.  Both of them are guests of legendary broadcaster Mike Vince...you might want to book an open ticket so you can change trains!

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I have just been informed that fishmonger Barrie Cope is not very well.  Barrie supplies first class fish to several racecourses in the South of England and he was always our first port of call at the courses to get some seafood.  Get well soon, Barrie from all of us at Pond House.

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I was intrigued by the job advertisements in the Racing Post yesterday - I can understand rider/groom in Norfolk or even stable staff in West Berkshire, but midvives in Australia?  The Australian job sounds okay, but you could be dropped at anytime!  What a strange position to advertise in a racing publication.

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Can you believe that someone forked out £32,000 for Lee Westwood's Ryder Cup golf bag?  My wife said, "for that sort of money, he could have bought a new one!"...that's enough said on that subject!

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Following on from the draw, England look to have a good chance of qualifying in Euro 2012.  France could be tricky opposition but we should beat Sweden and the Ukraine (although Sweden have often given us a headache in the past).  At odds of 9/5 I think England look a fair price to win the group.