Ascot, Uttoxeter Runners

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with two over the sticks at Ascot and Uttoxeter supported by a couple of all-weather flat cards from Southwell and Wolverhampton.  The stable has runners at both jumps meetings - Qalinas and All Force Majeure at Uttoxeter and Batavir at Ascot.  Conditional jockey Michael Heard is aboard Qalinas for his seasonal debut, while Tom Scudamore rides Worcester bumper winner All Force Majeure (pictured above).  Meanwhile Batavir is partnered by a certain A P McCoy - I am sure I have heard of him somewhere before!  A P's strike rate for the yard is quite impressive - it currently stands at 50%, so let's hope he can improve on that again today.  Having finished third over the minimum trip at Leicester on his debut for the stable, Batavir takes a step up in trip which looks sure to suit.

A P will be off to Olympia after Ascot today as he is competing in a flat versus jump jockeys showjumping challenge this evening.  Surely the jumps boys - Francome, Twiston-Davies and Thomas should be favourites to beat flat jockeys Hughes, Turner, Crowley and Kirby?  It all takes place for a good cause, the Injured Jockeys Fund.  While it is only meant to be a bit of fun, these jockeys are so competitive that A P and co will not hear the end of it if their flat counterparts show them how it is done!

I was interested to read James Pyman's theories in today's Racing Post on trainers to follow over the Christmas period.  David is one of them with a 22% strike rate - apparently you need to keep an eye on his horses that hold multiple handicap entries and look well-treated...you have been told!

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It occurred to me while watching the darts players yesterday, why don't they have a best turned out award like they do for the horses at the races?!  They could even do one for the crowd.  I think Peter Wright would be favourite to win - his hair is never the same colour twice!  I must be honest, I still find it hard to categorize darts as a sport - where else do you see a sportsman swilling pints of lager?  Even though, it always draws a big crowd and they all seem to have a good time.

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Finally, I see that Labour MP Ed Balls has passed his piano exam, I am sure the government will make a note of that!