Weekend Jottings

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Newton Abbot and Stratford and a flat card from Redcar.  David has runners at both jumps meetings today with Tom Scudamore taking the rides aboard Kalifourchon and Chato at Newton Abbot, while David Noonan heads to Stratford where he gets the leg-up aboard Take The High Road (pictured above).

Kalifourchon contests the 2m5f handicap chase at Newton Abbot at 4.45pm and he has to carry a welter burden, although this does represent a slight drop in grade.  He stayed on in the closing stages over further last time, although the drop in trip should not inconvenience him.  Chato looks to have a sound chance in the 3m2f handicap hurdle at 5.20pm.  He made a sound debut for the stable on his latest start, finishing a close third and the runner-up that day has gone on to win since so a good run is expected.

Over at Stratford, Take The High Road makes his debut for the stable in the 2m2½f handicap hurdle at 2.45pm.  He had some reasonable form on the flat and over hurdles and is certainly open to some improvement.  Let's hope that he can go well - he is still for sale at present and would make an ideal first horse for someone looking to get involved in racehorse ownership on a modest budget.

There is good racing at the Curragh in Ireland today with two Group 2 races on the card.  The second of these is at 3.30pm and the O'Brien family are responsible for six of the seven runner field.  I wonder what the rest of the Irish trainers think about it?

I see that Adam Kirby was stood down after a couple of rides at Haydock because of dehydration.  Mrs Barnes is always telling me to drink more water...perhaps she should pass her good advice on to Adam.  Also at the meeting, racegoers were asked to use an 'honesty box' where they were asked to deposit any drugs they were carrying.  I wonder if anyone left anything?

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Boxers Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker have been ramping up the insults ahead of their clash at London's O2 Arena on Saturday.  Whyte referred to Parker as a coward...it certainly helps to sell tickets.  I think the only way I would trade insults with these guys is over the phone (and I would be a long way away!).

Olympic steeplechase champion Ruth Jebet is one of 109 people facing a doping inquiry.  If found guilty a lifetime ban should be handed out.

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I went to the opticians the other day and was asked to read the bottom line.  "Made in China" I replied.  I passed the eye exam!...

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