Weekend Jottings

There are two meetings taking place this afternoon (weather permitting!).  Exeter have to pass an early morning inspection, so hopefully they will get the thumbs up, otherwise we are left with just an all-weather flat fixture at Southwell to look forward to.  Haven't I always said what a good idea these flat meetings are?!  Anyway, the ground at Exeter must be pretty testing as they have altered the card to make it an all-hurdle meeting.  One thing is for sure, the horses competing are going to need to be thorough stayers, Exeter is one of the stiffest tracks in the country even before allowing for heavy ground as well.  The stable has three runners there this afternoon.

Smiles For Miles is engaged in the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle at 1.55pm, while we run two (Broadway Buffalo and Top Gamble) in the 2m7f Pertemps handicap hurdle qualifier at 2.55pm.  They will be ridden by Conor O'Farrell and Tom Scudamore respectively.  The first eight home will be eligible to take in the final of the series at the Cheltenham Festival next month.  It is good to see that our jockeys Conor, Tom Bellamy and Kieron Edgar have also managed to pick up a few useful outside rides at the meeting.

There is a very good meeting taking place over in Ireland today with their meeting at Leopardstown.  It features four Grade One races including the Irish Hennessy and will be covered by Attheraces.

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I must say something about Nemanha Vidic leaving Manchester United and going to finish his career abroad.  I wonder how much of it was to do with United not offering him a new contract?  It looks like Rio Ferdinand will also be on his way...for a while these were the two best centre backs in the country and will be very difficult for them to replace.

Even though I am a West Ham supporter, I thought that Chico Flores overdid the rolling about and holding his face.  Carroll actually caught him on top of the head!  It's time that players like this were banned from the sport.

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I see that sacked England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has received a £300,000 pay off, even though team bosses will not say why he was given the boot.  Nevermind, I'm sure Pietersen's book about his England career will tell all and will make him plenty of money in the process.  He isn't going to go without as he will be earning around £1.5million for playing in the Indian Premier League