Vodka Just Beaten At Donny

Shotavodka proved to be the best of the stable's runners yesterday when just getting run out of the bumper at Doncaster in the final strides to be beaten the minimum distance of a nose by Hi George.  He showed a good turn of foot entering the straight and while it is agonising to be beaten in such circumstances, it was clearly a decent performance trying to concede 19lbs to the winner and he should be more than capable of winning similar and looks a sure-fire winner when switched to obstacles.

The stable has two runners this afternoon including the favourite, Shaking Hands (ridden by Tom Scudamore) in the North Yorkshire Grand National handicap chase.  Shaking Hands (pictured right) was narrowly beaten over 4 miles at Exeter on his reappearance so the marathon trip of 3m6f should hold no fears for him.  Incidentally, it is nearly five years since the stable has had a runner at Catterick so let's hope the journey is worthwhile.  Our other runner, Waterunder participates at Fontwell in the concluding bumper and is ridden by Johnny Farrelly.  He is the winner of a point-to-point and that sort of experience can prove extremely valuable in a National Hunt flat race.

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Can you believe that television presenter and racehorse owner Des O'Connor is 80 years old today?  Des owned good hurdler Clifton Beat a few years ago and he even used to ride out in his younger days - I hope they don't decide to give him the bumps as 80 times might be a bit much for him.  Des still looks amazing for his age, although I wonder if he is still orange - he was always a similar tone to Attheraces presenter Matt Chapman!  Does that make Des a young looking 80, or does Matt look much older than he is?!

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I hope that the Met Office have got it wrong when they say that we can expect low temperatures this weekend.  Wetherby (Saturday) and Keslo (Sunday) could be in jeopardy if they are right.  The weather in the west country remains unseasonably mild - long may it continue!

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Manchester City lost at home again last night, this time against Liverpool in the Carling Cup.  City certainly look like they have lost their way a bit in the last couple of weeks - the pressures of too many matches and trying to turn out a fully fit team seems to be troubling them.  I think they need to sell Tevez and spend the money on some quality defenders.  Stefan Savic looks shakey at the back and gave away the penalty that cost them the match.  Surely they won't be so bad in the second match at Anfield?