Just Past Ipswich!

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon - two over jumps at Fakenham and Folkestone as well as a flat card on the all-weather at Southwell.  I have only ever visited Fakenham the once, many years ago.  To be honest, I wasn't even sure where Fakenham was until Martin told me that it was just past Ipswich...I soon found out that it was quite a long way past Ipswich!  Martin never was very good at directions!  Fakenham is quite a tight left-handed track with a friendly atmosphere - we were made to feel most welcome and I would recommend it to anyone planning a visit.

What about the two jockeys that were caught fighting in the weighing room?  Henry Brooke and Harry Haynes had a disagreement and a few punches were thrown.  Brooke ended up with a split lip - it sounds like there was more action than you would get at an Audley Harrison fight!  I have an idea - why don't they put on a set of gloves and sort it out in the ring in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund?  Being such light weights, I wonder what weight category they would come under?...maybe paperweight?!  Both jockeys shook hands afterwards, although it didn't stop each of them receiving a five day ban.

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Well the football between West Ham and Stoke ended in a draw last night.  Stoke looked to have the better of the first half while the Hammers seemed to be the better side in the second half, so I guess it was the right result.  There is Champions League action on this evening as Chelsea take on Juventus on ITV at 7.45pm - Chelsea are a best priced 7/2 although that still looks to be plenty short enough to me.  You can back the home team at 10/11 and that looks more tempting to me.

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Surely it is time that the England cricket selectors included Monty Panesar in the next test match against India.  It seems that all of the pitches are (unsurprisingly) set up for spin bowlers.  I guess at least we don't have to face the likes of Shane Warne - I reckon our players would have had real problems connecting bat with ball!

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Harry Redknapp was presenting the betting shop manager of the year award yesterday to Barbara Berki of William Hill - well done to her.  I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Harry managing around West London himself in the near future!