Friday's Four Flat Cards

As you can see from the picture above, we have had a few misty starts to the day this week.  Nevertheless, I managed to get a few pictures of the horses in action and I thought you might be interested to see old favourite Mamlook as he builds up towards a crack at next month's Cesarewitch at Newmarket - a race that he has finished placed in twice previously.  He has been absent for a little while, but he is back looking well and it is good to see him on the gallops, pictured here with exciting winning point-to-pointer Vazaro Delafayette.

Above: (l-r) Vazaro Delafayette and Mamlook on the Pond House gallops

As you can see from the picture above, we have had a few misty starts to the day.  Nevertheless, I managed to get a few pictures of the horses in action and I thought you might be interested to see old favourite Mamlook as he builds up towards a crack at next months Cesarewitch at Newmarket - a race that he has finished placed in twice before.  He has been absent for a little while, but he is back looking well and it is good to see him on the gallops, pictured here with exciting winning point-to-pointer Vazaro Delafayette.

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This afternoon there are four meetings taking place, all on the level at Haydock, Newcastle, Chepstow and Kempton.  Typically the most prize money on offer today is at the jumping card at Kilbeggan in Ireland although it is not exactly much to shout home about when you consider that Chepstow are offering a paltry £22,000 across their seven race card.  I know I keep going on about prize money but when tracks are offering incentives like that, it makes me wonder how they can get away with it and why owners and trainers continue to support these meetings?  Even the bumper in Ireland is worth £4,830 - how do they do it?

I see the BHA have given the green light for racing to go-ahead on good Friday despite the trainers voicing their concerns.  Amazingly Arena have suggested a £1million fixture on the all-weather at Lingfield - I will believe it when I see it, afterall Arena also own Chepstow...£1million is quite far removed from £22,000.  If they have money to burn why don't they try investing in the fixtures they do have and improving the quality of those?!

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I see that A P McCoy was conducting a questions and answers session in London a couple of days ago when the meeting was ended abruptly as three people fell asleep while the champ was talking!  Actually a few people collapsed with suspected food poisoning, but at the time it was feared to be a chemical attack.  McCoy said 'I noticed one or two people nodding off, I thought they must be bored.'  After hospital treatment it was found that AP was right, they were bored!  Only joking champ...

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Orange presenter Matt Chapman has been asked to ride in a charity camel race.  Why can't they hold a charity lion or tiger race instead?!  We love you really Matt...

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Looking to tomorrow's fixture list, I notice that it is Ladies' Day at Kempton.  There is also a fixture taking place at Ascot - these tracks are only 13 miles apart.  Yet another victory for race planning!

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I have just seen the England football team for the match against Moldova.  Fortunately for us Moldova look useless, but we do have a poor looking England team.
Meanwhile Wales manager Chris Coleman could be trying to tell us something as he forgot his passport!  Macedonia look the bet to me at 13/10 with Hills!

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Finally, the picture above shows what the staff at Pond House really get up to!  I’m only joking of course – the four hard working lads (l-r) David Noonan, Patrick Mulligan, Gerry Supple and Anthony Fox all helped MCP after work yesterday and were rewarded with a refreshing beer and a dip in the pool (and not the equine one either)!  Judging by the picture of Patrick, I now know what they mean by the term ‘beer goggles’!  Have a nice day…