Diamond's Day (Again!)

We are off the mark for the new season thanks to Diamond's Return's success at Exeter in the 2m1f handicap hurdle yesterday.  Conor O'Farrell's mount won with the minimum of fuss, completing a quick-fire hat-trick.  While he clearly handles a stiff track and this softer ground, I would imagine that David will be hoping for a sounder surface for him this weekend (he holds further entries for Friday) if he is to bid to extend his winning sequence to four - he still looks to be well ahead of the handicapper to me.  In the same race I thought that our other runner, Qalinas also produced an improved performance to finish fourth.  He hadn't shown much in three runs last season, but had shown smart form prior to that - this was definitely a step back in the right direction and he looks to be well capable of winning in the coming months.

There are five race meetings taking place this afternoon - not bad when it looked like all turf cards were going to be lost earlier in the week due to the rainfall.  There are jump meetings at Cheltenham, Kelso and Southwell, as well as the rescheduled Ascot meeting at Kempton and Pontefract on the level.  The card at Cheltenham is a Hunter Chase meeting and I am one of the few people who thinks that these races should be for trainers that do not compete under rules...it is a bit like Sir Alex Ferguson bringing his team to play you local amateur football league.

If you are going to Kempton this afternoon you will be treated to the two Listed races and a Group 3 contest.  What is more, you will get to see them for nothing as there is free admission this afternoon!  If you are in the area, get yourself down to Kempton this afternoon and show your support for the initiative shown in getting this fixture transferred from Ascot.

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I see the bookmakers place about as much faith in new England manager Roy Hodgson as I do, with most firms pushing England out to 12/1 shots for Euro 2012.  Surely the Hodgson cannot be that bad - it is still the players that have to perform.  The question is can he inspire them?  Afterall, would he inspire you?

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What is the world coming to?  I have just heard about two Welsh tourists who decided to steal a penguin (a real one, not a chocolate one!) from an aquarium while visiting Australia!  They were quite rightly fined $1000 and given a firm slap on the wrist, but the question I find myself asking is why would you steal a penguin?!  When they sobered up they finally set him free in a canal.