Unlucky Bladoun

How unlucky was Bladoun at Chepstow yesterday afternoon?  Our grey son of Smadoun had made every yard of the running and had jumped well on his hurdling debut until he stepped and fell at the last flight while looking the likeliest winner.  With the odds-on favourite beaten at the time of our departure, I am sure that Bladoun would have gone on to win but at least he got up following what looked a nasty tumble.  So long as his confidence is not affected I am sure that compensation awaits and he looks to be a nice recruit for stable sponsors Wayne and Sarah Clifford of Bathwick Tyres.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon, two on the flat at Lingfield and Wolverhampton and two jumps cards at Musselburgh and Towcester although the stable doesn't have any runners.  There is a decent £10,000 hurdle taking place at Musselburgh, in fact the prize money on offer in Scotland today looks very good by our standards with every race worth at least £4,000...perhaps the other courses in Britain should be taking notes?

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There was a picture of A P McCoy following his fall last week with twenty stitches in his face and some teeth missing.  It was horrendous, yet the champ still managed to get himself passed fit by the doctors to ride the next day.  Luckily he was never going to be a model!

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I have to eat some humble pie this morning - having berated the state of Scottish football yesterday, what happens?  Celtic go out and beat the world's best club side,  Barcelona 2-1 in the Champions League!  Young substitute Tony Watt handed Celtic the victory with his goal - it truly was a great performance.

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There was a great tennis match yesterday between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovich.  The Serb won on this occasion, 7-5 in the decider.  There isn't much to chose between these two great players.  What is wrong with me this morning?  Have I had a bang to the head?  I seem to be praising the Scots left, right and centre...oh well, credit where it is due!