5 Days To Go!

Today we have a jumps card from Carlisle as well as two all-weather flat meetings from Southwell and Chelmsford.  The stable has no runners today, although stable jockey Tom Scudamore travels up to Carlisle for three rides - he looks to have a couple of decent chances too.  The big news that broke yesterday was that of another impending retirement, this time of champion flat jockey Richard Hughes.  Hughsie, who has won the flat championship for the past three years will retire at the end of the coming flat season and will take up training in 2016.  He may be 42 but he is riding as well as ever and is probably the most stylish jockey riding today - he said you can't go on forever as a jockey, but you can as a trainer.

Fittingly, I see that Cheltenham have decided to rename the last race of the Festival, The Grand Annual after retiring jumps champion A P McCoy.  I wonder how many times a jockey has ever ridden in a race named after him?  What an honour for the champ and wouldn't it be a fitting end to his Cheltenham career if he were to win it?!

There is a good piece in today's Racing Post featuring Tom Scudamore called "Ten Questions".  It says that Tom rode his first Cheltenham Festival winner aboard An Accordion for the late Brian Kilpatrick.  Tom's father Peter won loads of races for Brian including the great Sabin du Loir.  Tom says in the article that if he could choose one outside ride at this year's Festival it would be aboard Sire de Grugy in the Champion Chase - not long to go now to find out if he is a good judge or not!

It is the six day stage for the Wednesday of the Cheltenham Festival this morning and we will be confirming Moon Racer (pictured above, nearside) for the Champion Bumper.  As you can see, he is looking well and moved nicely while working with Alternatif earlier in the week.

We have a couple more videos from around the yard to bring you this morning following Mike Vince's visit earlier this week.  Today we bring you Tony Lowman and Ashley Farrant - Tony, who is a spritely 84 years young, looks after the grounds around Pond House - what is more, he is undoubtedly the best judge in the yard as he always seems to be backing winners.  Ashley, the former champion point-to-point jockey needs little introduction and he too gives his views in the interview below. 

Tony Lowman Cheltenham 2015

Ashley Farrant Cheltenham 2015

We still have interviews to bring you from the trainer himself, jockeys Tom Scudamore, Kieron Edgar, Conor O'Farrell and David Noonan and of course the one everyone wants to see - mine!  Make sure to keep checking back for all the latest from Pond House in the final countdown to Cheltenham 2015.

*****

I did say that there were a number of 'good things' in the football last night and so it proved.  Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea all won and I hope you did too!

There were fun and games last night with Manchester United and Newcastle players Jonny Evans and Papise Cisse spitting at each other on the field.  Personally I think they should be dealt hefty suspensions - these three or four match bans are no good to anybody.  This would also put a stop to the elbowing and diving epidemic that is currently engulfing football.  Stop their wages and hit them where it hurts...in the wallet.  Judge Judy Barnes has spoken!

*****

I see that tennis expert Adrian Humphries is backing Great Britain to win the Davis Cup at 33/1.  In fact, what he means is that he is backing Andy Murray to win the cup.  It is hard to name any other players in the men's game from GB - I would be wanting 200/1 before I was remotely interested.

*****

Apparently newsagent Mohammed Atif has become the UK's top supplier of camel milk in Moss Side, Manchester...I suppose he must be a milk sheikh!