A Couple Of Places

I thought that yesterday's runners performed creditably enough.  American Art finished runner-up under Conor O'Farrell in a race that was quite hot for the grade.  The two mile trip looked as though it was on the sharp side for him and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he were to win something similar over a bit further next time.  Katchmore was a fair third in the competitive handicap hurdle under joint top-weight - the significant rain just before racing that eased the ground certainly wouldn't have been in his favour.  He is a great big, scopey sort and I cannot wait to see him jumping fences in the future.

Champion jockey A P McCoy was in brilliant form (as you have come to expect) all afternoon and he was at his strongest as he completed a treble aboard Red Not Blue.

I wonder why the 4.55pm race at Uttoxeter (featuring Katchmore) was off almost a full minute early?  It certainly caught out the television crew on Attheraces as they were still on a commercial break when the field were allowed to go.  Not so very long ago, if a race was allowed to start early the whole result was deemed to be null and void.  It looks as though the starter should put a new watch on his Christmas list to Santa!

I saw two great finishes at Doncaster yesterday afternoon with Johnny Murtagh coming from last to first aboard Sole Power - the jockey was at his most confident aboard the five year old in the Listed Scarborough Stakes.  I'm sure that Paddy's (Power the bookmaker) mum, who owns Sole Power would have thrilled!  However, the highlight of the day for me was watching Mick Kinane land the Legends race in a driving finish from George Duffield - I bet there is a few years between that pair.  Mick Kinane has lost none of his style or strength and is now unbeaten in these races, although admittedly he is only two from two.

There are four meetings taking place on the level this afternoon as we embark on another ten day break from jump racing.  The St Leger meeting continues at Doncaster, while Chepstow, Epsom and Wolverhampton (all-weather) host the other cards.  As you would expect, Doncaster is the main meeting of the day with two Group races taking place, as well as the £300,000 Weatherbys Insurance Stakes for two year olds.  There are some huge prizes available to some of these youngsters that have been through the sales ring - even the 10th home today picks up £10,000!

*****

It is the start of the British Women's Open Golf tournament today.  The event takes place near Liverpool so I am going to have to tell my Scouse mate that the golf ball is not lost until it has stopped rolling!