3 Runners This Afternoon

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with two cards on the level at Ayr and Wolverhampton as well as two National Hunt cards from Chepstow and Sedgefield.  Once again the jumps meetings carry more prize money than the flat fixture from Wolverhampton!  The stable runs Barton Stacey (pictured above) at Chepstow and our nine year old is the mount of A P McCoy who by happy coincidence has been on board for his last two victories - a mark of 132 will not be easy to overcome but he is in good form having won three of his last four starts so he cannot be discounted.  We also have two runners up at Sedgefield; Decoy and Bengali.  Decoy still looks well treated from a mark of 104 having won from 125 in the past, although you wouldn't be certain that he would his latest effort again today.

Yesterday's runner Northern Bay performed creditably to finish second on his handicap debut in the 2m3f hurdle at Newton Abbot.  He looked the likeliest winner two out but couldn't quicken with the winner Della Sun.  Being French it would not be unreasonable to assume that he might be seen to even better effect on a slightly softer surface and he should be placed to win.

The horses continue to run very well and I see that David is currently appearing on the Racing Post's hot trainers list with 6 winners from his last 18 runners at a strike rate of 33%.  Mind you Charlie Longsdon has a strike rate of 75% at the moment (6 winners from his last 8 runners) - you know what they say about following trainers in form.

I popped into my local betting office in Brixham and I never fail to be amazed at how many people use those awful roulette machines.  I saw a dear old lady do £50 in a few minutes - she fed the money into the machine, put it on automatic and wouldn't even watch the machine!  To me it looks like a thoroughly addictive drug and should be banned from the bookies.  Speaking of which, I always come out in front at Ladbrokes - they give me a free cup of coffee!

*****

There is a good football match to look forward to this evening as Manchester City take on Roma live on ITV at 7.45pm.  I will be doubling City at 7/10 with Schalke at 1/3 to put the bread on the table in the Barnes household this week.

*****

Following his part in Europe's Ryder Cup success over the Americans last weekend, there is a picture of a bare chested Rory McIlroy wearing a kilt in the papers today.  Looking at those images, I bet the Scots are glad he is Irish - a great golfer but not much of a fashion icon!  Stick to the day job Rory...

?