Weekend Jottings

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Stratford, Wetherby and Wincanton. With the ground currently riding good/firm at Wincanton there are unsurprisingly some very small fields and if I were looking to go racing today I would be heading up to Stratford where at least they have some competitive racing to enjoy.  You would think that in this day and age somebody would have come up with a better watering system to keep the ground safe.  It wasn't so long ago that there was jump racing on the all-weather - perhaps the surface could be improved so that it was viable once again.  It would certainly help to improve field sizes, so long as it is safe.  Anyway, I digress - David does not have any runners today.

I know there is a more serious underlying issue about racecourse security, but I couldn't help but smile when I saw the picture of Newbury Chief Executive Julian Thick escorting a racegoer (there on a stag party) dressed as a jockey from the paddock.  It was an authentic outfit, right down to the sponsors logos and whip!

I see that one of Martin's former retained jockeys, Richard Dunwoody has walked halfway across Japan while also carrying his tent to sleep in when there is no accommodation available.  I think it is fair to say that I didn't always see eye to eye with Mr Dunwoody, but if fairness he does seem to raise a lot of money for charity and he should be applauded for that.  This latest challenge is in aid of the bone and soft tissue cancer charity Sarcoma.  If you would like to support this excellent cause you can donate via Richard's Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Japan4SarcomaUK

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It is a quiet day on the football front with just two Premier League matches today.  Liverpool look likely to beat Crystal Palace at odds of 1/2 while I think Manchester United will get the better of Burnley - they can be backed at odds of 7/10 so I will be having a little double.  There are worries for United however, let's hope that it is not the end of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic's season.  Just think, without him who is going to score all the goals for United?  He would certainly be a big loss.

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The past, present and future walk into a bar...it was tense!
What is brown and sticky?  A stick!
What did the green grape say to the purple grape?  Breathe!  Keep smiling...

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