Out Of Luck In France

There is a busy day ahead with six meetings taking place this afternoon.  Five of them are on the level with fixtrures at Doncaster, Wolverhampton, Newcastle, Newmarket and Chester, while there is jumping action from Cartmel.  The stable had one runner over in France yesterday with Katkeau finishing fifth in the Listed 2m3 1/2f Prix Dawn Run Hurdle.  He ran okay but a mistake at the last didn't really help his cause and he weakened from that point - there will be other days for him.

Martin Cruddace, an owner at Pond House is on the front page of today's Racing Post with his daughter Amelie and recent Worcester winner Kalifourchon.  He is to take over as Chief Executive at racecourse operator Arena Racing Company.  Congratulations on your appointment Martin - we wish you every success.

There is a great article in the Racing Post today about the historic Newcastle handicap, The Northumberland Plate.  It features 1999 hero Far Cry who was trained by Martin here at Pond House.  Far Cry finished second in the Ascot Stakes, won the Doncaster Cup and finished second in both the Goodwood and Ascot Gold Cup's.  He was beaten only a head by Kayf Tara at Royal Ascot and I remain convinced to this day that he was an unlucky loser.  He was a great horse who cost just(!) £35,000 from Sir Mark Prescott's yard - you would love a few more like him at that sort of price.

As David is making ever more increasing raids in France, I see that Gordon Elliott has sent a five-strong raiding party to these shores.  He has current championship leader Richard Johnson aboard all five with three of them forecast favourite according to the Racing Post.  He does love his English trips and I'm fairly confident he won't be leaving empty handed.

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I see that Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has put his house up for sale.  That is normally a fairly good indication that you do not wish to stick around.  It looks to me like he will get his wish and go to his home town club Real Madrid - his departure would be a massive loss for United.

It looks like former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer agrees with me that Premiership riches makes kids think that they are better than they are - I have been saying as much for ages.  A top class Premiership manager once said to me how can you have a go at a youngster who is a millionaire?  He has a point.  Wayne Rooney says that Manchester United are just two players away from winning the title - I don't think Wayne's maths is up to much...they need at least three defenders to start with and probably a new goalkeeper!

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I spoke to soon about British lady tennis player Johanna Konta yesterday.  No sooner had I praised her for being the first British lady to win three in a row at Eastbourne since Jo Durie, she goes and loses to an 18 year old Swiss kid...I may be wrong but I don't think victor Belinda Bencic is any Martina Hingis.

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Did you know that in Florida, men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown?...seems queer to me!

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