French Champion Day!

There are just two meetings taking place in this country today with action coming from Goodwood on the level and Perth over the sticks.  David is in Paris where he is doubly represented in the big race at Auteuil, the Grand Course Haies d'Autueil (French Champion Hurdle).  He looks to have decent prospects too with Ballynagour (pictured above) and Un Temps Pour Tout both prominent in the market behind Hurricane Fly.  Tom Scudamore is aboard Ballynagour while James Reveley takes the ride on Un Temps Pour Tout.  The race is due off at 3.08pm local time, which is 2.08pm over here.  Let's hope they run to their best and come back safely.

Talk about a well-balanced race programme - there were seven meetings on yesterday while there are only two today.  Surely it wouldn't have been difficult to put one or two of yesterday's meetings on today to give more people the opportunity to go racing?  Championship leader Richard Johnson has travelled all the way to Perth and he certainly looks as though he is going all-out for his first jockeys' title.  Having finished runner-up to McCoy on fifteen occasions, I can't think of a single sportsman who deserves it more (plus, have I mentioned that I have a few quid riding on him?!).

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I enjoy a spot of fishing so was amazed to hear about someone who caught a 104lbs carp in a lake in Hungary earlier this week.  Is it a carp or could it be a whale?!  They tell me that they put cart loads of food into the lake and it sounds as though this one fish has eaten the baulk of it!  I wonder how big the anglers' landing net was?

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It is the Canadian Grand Prix this evening and while there should more overtaking than at the last race in the streets of Monte Carlo I am expecting it to be another procession with the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg looking head and shoulders above the remainder of the grid still.  At least Lewis Hamilton tried to make it a bit more interesting on Friday by driving his car around in the rain while on slick tyres, even if he did end up sticking it in the wall!

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It seems to me that nowadays football clubs are run by the directors.  Not only do they appoint the managers, they choose his back room staff and all the players he is going to use too!  Years ago it was the manager who selected his staff and players...how times have changed!  It makes you wonder why these teams need managers at all!  It seems that Liverpool are heading down this path and I wonder how long it will be until they sell Sterling?