Five At Ffos Las!

It looks like being an entertaining day's racing with six meetings taking place - four of them on the flat at Haydock, Goodwood, York and Chester as well as two jumps cards at Cartmel and Ffos Las.  David is going to be kept busy tonight at Ffos Las when he saddles five runners at the Welsh track, Third Of The Third, Waterunder, Franklin Roosevelt, Kid Wizzard and Lola Galli.  Third Of The Third looks interesting to me - the six year old has run four good races and made an encouraging debut for the yard last time out and should appreciate this good ground.  He is owned by Walters Plant Hire Ltd and Dai certainly enjoys a winner on his own track.  It will also be interesting to see how our bumper runners Lola Galli and Kid Wizzard get on on their first start for the yard.

It looks like being an entertaining day's racing with six meetings taking place - four of them on the flat at Haydock, Goodwood, York and Chester as well as two jumps cards at Cartmel and Ffos Las.  David is going to be kept busy tonight at Ffos Las when he saddles five runners at the Welsh track, Third Of The Third, Waterunder, Franklin Roosevelt, Kid Wizzard and Lola Galli.  Third Of The Third looks interesting to me - the six year old has run four good races and made an encouraging debut for the yard last time out and should appreciate this good ground.  He is owned by Walters Plant Hire Ltd and Dai certainly enjoys a winner on his own track.  It will also be interesting to see how our bumper runners Lola Galli and Kid Wizzard get on on their first start for the yard.

Above: His Excellency (left) and Top Wood (right) enjoy some summer grass

We brought you a picture of Shaking Hands and Master Overseer enjoying their summer break yesterday and we have another nice shot of a couple of inmates on their holidays to share with you.  They are His Excellency and Top Wood (pictured above) - few can argue that His Excellency deserves his rest following a busy season in which he proved a real money-spinner for the stable.  He didn't run a bad race all season long and finished a great third in the Arkle Chase behind Simonsig at the Cheltenham Festival.

Many happy returns to another of our former jockeys.  Today it is the birthday of Rod Millman who is 56 - Rod could talk for England after each race, telling the owner all about the horse he had just ridden!  Anyway, happy birthday Rod.

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Most of our top jockeys are riding in Ireland this afternoon as it is Irish 2,000 Guineas day at the Curragh.  The big race takes place at 3.20pm and champion jockey Richard Hughes has a fancied mount in Van Der Neer for guv'nor Richard Hannon.

Talking of Richard Hannon, the trainer was very bullish about Ligeia who finished runner-up to stablemate Our Queenie at Goodwood yesterday afternoon.  Hannon said of his two year old filly, 'she will win next time'.  I will certainly be keeping an eye out for her - I don't suppose you will be getting any fancy prices but you heard it straight from the horses' mouth.

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There should be a fascinating match for the final of the Champion's League at Wembley tonight.  It is an all German affair as Borussia Dortmund take on Bayern Munich at 7.45pm.  Bayern Munich are 4/5 favourites having finished 25 points ahead of Dortmund in the Bundesliga.  At that sort of price they look like a value bet to me and I might just be tempted to have a little interest.