Sad Passing Of David Johnson

There is terribly sad news following the sad passing of owner and friend David Johnson from cancer on Saturday.  David was an East-end lad and a West Ham supporter and one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.  He was a fearless punter and never complained, even if the good things managed to get beaten.  I always enjoyed our chats about the Hammers and how they would one day win the league.  He was MCP's biggest and most successful owner for a number of years and we will all miss him.  Our thoughts are with his widow Shirley and children, Lisa and Stephen...we have lost a good one.

Above: David Johnson with his retired 2008 Grand National hero Comply Or Die

There is terribly sad news following the sad passing of owner and friend David Johnson from cancer on Saturday.  David was an East-end lad and a West Ham supporter and one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.  He was a fearless punter and never complained, even if the good things managed to get beaten.  I always enjoyed our chats about the Hammers and how they would one day win the league.  He was MCP's biggest and most successful owner for a number of years and we will all miss him.  Our thoughts are with his widow Shirley and children, Lisa and Stephen...we have lost a good one.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon - three on the flat at Ripon, Windsor and Ayr as well as a National Hunt fixture at Newton Abbot.  The stable has four runners at our local track - Bad Girls, Royal Peak, Massannie and Kusadasi.  Massannie has appeared to be a big improver since joining the team at Pond House, winning both her starts in impressive fashion while Kusadasi won last time out over hurdles and now goes chasing from a lower mark - his jockey, Kieron Edgar also takes a useful 8lbs off his back.

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What an amazing performance from Andy Murray to win the men's Wimbledon championships yesterday.  He became the first British man to lift the title since Fred Perry back in 1936.  It was a great final played in seering heat and the calibre of tennis was of the highest standard.  He now holds two of the four Grand Slam titles and while I may not always have been Murray's biggest advocate, you have to hand it to him, his tennis really does seem to have reached another level.  I didn't realise that Victoria Beckham was a tennis fan...maybe Wimbledon is just the place to be seen?...or maybe I am just being nasty!

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There was a great win too from 'Super Mac' as Graham McDowell won the French Open.  He looked the complete professional and won in some style.  This looks like a good course for the Ryder Cup as the Americans will certainly not like the long rough just off the fairways!