Friday Again!

I am not sure where this week has gone but we are back to Friday already!  There are two jumps meetings today at Fontwell and Hexham but the stable does not have any runners.  There are two flat fixtures at Ascot and Southwell and in Ireland there is a jumps card at Gowran Park and the flat action comes from Dundalk this evening.

Rian Corcoran travelled to Southwell yesterday for just his second ride since turning professional and finished fifth on board Zoffalee in the final race of the day.  He rode a nice race and wasn't beaten that far so it was good for him to get some more experience under his belt.

There was drama at Salisbury yesterday when a runner in the 2.42pm race, Brockelsby Bill escaped the stalls at the start of the 7F race and managed to then escape the course entirely and was eventually caught by a dog walker a few miles away!  The juvenile colt was named after the trainer's late father, Bill Turner and she and the owners could only watch on has the colt took off through the brambles out into neighbouring field before getting onto a footpath.  Jockey Ben Ffrench Davis, the trainers son Ryan and vet Martin Peaty were all following the horse who was eventually captured safely.  

We now know the final field for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday and two horses dominate the betting.  Minnie Hauk is the favourite for the Ballydoyle team and Christophe Soumillion, she is drawn in stall one and will be attempting to be the first horse to win from this draw since Zarkava in 2008. Aventure is second best in the betting and is returning to race having finished second to Bluestocking twelve months ago.  She was successful over course and distance on her latest start and has drawn stall twelve on Sunday.  There was a field of 18 horses declared for the race but we are already down by one runner after the Cheveley Park owned, Estranged was made a non-runner last night because of a dirty scope.  This was a huge blow for the David O'Meara team.  They bet 10/1 the field after the leading pair of horses.  I am a big Minnie Hauk fan but I do not think it is just a two horse race and am looking forward to watching at 3.05pm on Sunday afternoon. 

Last night in the Europa League football, there was a win for Aston Villa but Nottingham Forrest lost at home and I believe there were calls for their manager to be sacked, who would want to be a football manager!  Tonight there is one Premiership game, Bournemouth are at home to Fulham at 8pm.

Yesterday's answer: A River (What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps?)

If you drop me I'm sure I'll crack, but give me a smile and I'll always smile back.  Who am I?

Happy Friday!