No Luck For Law

How unlucky was Martial Law at Ffos Las last night?  Our runner was clear coming to the last, jumped the hurdle well and just knuckled on landing.  There is no doubt that he would have run out a convincing winner and can certainly go down as the unluckiest loser of the season so far.  It must have been a long drive home for colourful owner Stuart Mercer who has had so many good horses at Pond House through the years.  Hopefully the handicapper wasn't watching!  We had a runner in the concluding bumper, Regal County who finished fourth, but by the last race I don't think that I have ever seen ground so heavy.  The winner was owned by Derek Smith, Michael Tabor and Mrs John Magnier - I bet they weren't present to lead in their winner!

How unlucky was Martial Law at Ffos Las last night?  Our runner was clear coming to the last, jumped the hurdle well and just knuckled on landing.  There is no doubt that he would have run out a convincing winner and can certainly go down as the unluckiest loser of the season so far.  It must have been a long drive home for colourful owner Stuart Mercer who has had so many good horses at Pond House through the years.  Hopefully the handicapper wasn't watching!  We had a runner in the concluding bumper, Regal County who finished fourth, but by the last race I don't think that I have ever seen ground so heavy.  The winner was owned by Derek Smith, Michael Tabor and Mrs John Magnier - I bet they weren't present to lead in their winner!

Weekend Millionair is one of two runners at Wincanton this evening

There are three meetings on this afternoon at Chester, Kelso and Wincanton.  Wincanton passed an 8am inspection this morning, but the ground (officially described as heavy, soft in places) is going to be very testing.  Goodwood was not so lucky and course officials abandoned the meeting earlier this morning.  We have a couple of runners at Wincanton this evening - Weekend Millionair and Shallow Bay.  Weekend Millionair seemed to handle the softer ground well in a competitive handicap hurdle at Punchestown last time out, and returned to novices' company he should go well tonight.

It was pretty miserable weather for the opening day of the Chester Cup meeting and there wasn't too much for Manchester United football star Wayne Rooney to cheer about either.  His first venture into racehorse ownership ended in disappointment as his runner Pippy missed the break and finished last - I am sure he must be better than that, maybe Wayne scared him in the paddock?!

*****

I see that boxer Lamont Peterson has failed a drugs test and his scheduled fight with Amir Khan is now off.  Personally I think that Peterson should be stripped of his two World Title belts.  All drugs cheats should be banned for life - I sound like Judge Jeffreys!

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Did you see the video of the Morris Dancers in the Culm Valley pub in yesterday's column?  I knew a Morris Dancer once...unfortunately he broke his ankle when he fell off the bonnet!  Not one of my best - keep smiling!