Two at Newton

There are four meeting on around the country today, three on the flat and plus a local jumps card at Newton Abbot this evening.  The stable has a couple of runners there, Dandyvic in the maiden hurdle and Kusadasi in the handicap hurdle.  Dandyvic is having her first run for David having won an Irish point to point so it will be interesting to see how she gets on.  Kusadasi has not shown much in two starts for the stable and needs to find some improvement to have a chance of winning.  The track had 2mm of rain overnight which has not altered the going, it is still heavy, soft in places.  I hear there was not a big crowd at Newton Abbot's fixture last week, perhaps due to it being on the same night that England played.  There is usually a good turn out so I am sure there will be lots of people there this evening and there are some good races to look forward to.

The England manager Roy Hodgson has said since thier match against Italy that England are good defensively but could improve on their attacking side.  Did he not set the team up to be defensive?!  His idea was to get every player behind the ball, having said that I think he did okay with a fairly moderate bunch of players!  He also said that Wayne Rooney was fit.  He did not look match fit to me and certainly looked tired in the match against the Italians.

I know its hard to believe but we had a lady tennis player win at Wimbledon yesterday.  Heather Watson won on centre court yesterday and she was the first English girl player to play on centre court since Jo Purie in 1985, it has only taken 27 years!  It has only cost about £50 million pounds as well, about the amount the LTA has wasted on their coaching ideas!  Surely it is time for Venus Williams to call it a day.  The five time Wimbledon champion lost in the first round to Elena Vesnina yesterday and I think it is sad when great champions are on their way down.  You have got to know when it is time to retire.  Meanwhile today we have Andy Murray kicking off his tournament.  He has a tough first match but fingers crossed he should win.  Have a nice day.