Fakenham Double

What a great day yesterday for the stable with a double at Fakenham courtesy of Rathlin Rose (pictured above) and Twentytwo's Taken (below).  Rathlin Rose never really looked in any danger in the three mile novices' hurdle and he is clearly progressing at a rate of knots.  He is a strong stayer and will make up into a lovely chaser in time.  Meanwhile Twentytwo's Taken also looked like a most promising prospect for the stable when making a winning debut over timber.  She had some very good form in bumpers in Ireland and has clearly translated much of that abililty to hurdles - she was quite keen and when she learns to settle she could turn out to be very useful. 

Unfortunately following an early morning inspection at Huntingdon, they have abandoned the meeting due to frost (I can't say I am surprised!).  That leaves us with a jumps card at Ayr over jumps and on the all-weather at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  We are still waiting on the results of an inspection to decide whether Doncaster goes ahead.  With the abandonment of Huntingdon, the stable has no runners and our next racecourse representatives will come tomorrow on Trials Day at Cheltenham where they have ground covers down at present...what an exciting day that should be.

I was fascinated to read an article about trainer Gaye Kelleway who was explaining her re-location to France.  In a very honest interview she said that all-weather racing "used to be fun, but this year you had Godolphin running lots of horses on the all-weather and we can't beat them."  It seems to me that while the top few trainers under either code continue to flourish, it is becoming harder and harder for the smaller trainers to keep going.  A move to France certainly looks like a smart choice for Gaye Kelleway as the prize money over there is excellent

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The second richest football club in the world Manchester United take on Cambridge United tonight in their FA Cup clash.  The Cambridge manager has told his players not to swap shirts at the end of the match as they cannot afford to buy new ones...how the other half live!  There will be plenty of football widows tonight as they game is covered live on BBCat 7.55pm.  Mrs Barnes is already moaning about the fact that there is no Eastenders on...I wouldn't mind, but she comes from up north!

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Andy Murray has managed to make it through another round of the Australian Open tennis, mind you his opponent was ranked 55 in the world so you would have been very surprised if he had failed to get through.

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There was an excellent ton from England cricketer Ian Bell and he became the highest one day run scorer in English cricket history.  Having said that, the pitch did look ideal for batting and I would have fancied a knock myself!