Weekend Jottings!

Well, Royal Ascot is behind us for another year and there are three race meetings taking place this afternoon with a flat card at Pontefract and two jump meetings at Hereford and Hexham.  There has been plenty of rain up north with localised flooding and the ground is being described as heavy at Hexham.  Hexham is a stiff track at the best of times, but when the ground comes up very soft, it can become a real slog for the horses.

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I would imagine that all English eyes will be on the football tonight as England take on Italy in the quarter finals of Euro 2012.  The Italians are a good side, but they do not have the strength in depth that they used to have so England are no forlorn hope.  Both teams are quite strong defensively and as such do not give many goals away - there may not be too many chances and I would imagine that it will be a tight match.  I just hope that Wayne Rooney can keep his head - I am sure the Italians will be trying to wind him up, and I'm sure you will remember that it does not take much.  It could go to penalties and I see that goalkeeper Joe Hart wants to take the first one...the saying goes that you have to be mad to be a goalie and I guess they are right!

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Terry Venables has managed to land a bit of a touch by getting five former international players to come out of retirement for his non-league side for next season's FA Cup.  Graeme Le Saux, Ray Parlour, Martin Keown, Claudio Caniggia and Brian McBride will turn out for Wembley FC - I wonder how much their sponsors Budweiser have had to do with it?!