Katchmore Our Only Runner

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon, three on the flat at Leicester, Yarmouth and Redcar and a jumps card at Ffos Las.  The stable has one runner at Ffos Las this afternoon as Katchmore (pictured above) takes in the handicap hurdle under young Tom Bellamy.  Our five year old fell last time out at Newton Abbot but had previously won his first two starts since joining us at Pond House.

Our only runner yesterday at Cartmel, Cabora finished runner-up in the hurdle behind Bollin Dolly.  She looked the likeliest winner for much of the way and it is surely only a matter of time before she wins a race, although she would not necessarily be my idea of a betting proposition.

Sometimes I do wonder how our sport keeps going when you consider the amount of prizemoney on offer despite rising costs for the poor owners.  Just take a look at the Zetland Gold Cup...20 years ago the race was worth £21,930 to the winner - yesterday the winning horse, Dandana collected £16,172.  So that's what you call progress?!

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I was watching the golfing action from Muirfield yesterday and was astounded by the shot that Tiger Woods played on the 16th hole.  There was plenty of water behind the green and if he had caught the ball a bit hard, it would have ended up in the drink for sure.  Nonetheless he took a full swing and played one of the finest shots I have ever seen.  It just goes to show that on any given day the man still has it - the US Open starts in nine days and Hills reacted by cutting him from 12/1 to 6/1 to land the trophy, although that does look to be a bit of an over-reaction to me.

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How can new England manager Roy Hodgson not have picked Rio Ferdinand for the European Championships?  You cannot seriously tell me that there are half a dozen centre backs in England that are better than him.  To my mind he has dropped a right clanger there - especially now that there are so many injuries.

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I was watching the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert last night on television and there was a truly great line-up of talent.  I absolutely love Kylie, although I would rather have seen her in those gold hotpants!  What about Rolf Harris?  With all of those stars backstage, I thought it was bit mean getting the old boy to do his rendition of Two Little Boys - I could have told him exactly what to do with his didgeridoo!