Weekend Jottings

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with two jumps cards from Uttoxeter and Cartmel and a flat fixture from Windsor.  The stable will be busy today with six runners at Uttoxeter; Skylander, The Package, Ainsi Fideles, Kalifourchon, Spending Time and Our Chief.  The big race, the John Smiths Summer Cup takes place at 3.35pm and is a Listed handicap chase over 3m2f.  The stable won the race when it was known as the Summer National with Jurancon in 2003 and this year David is represented by Cheltenham Festival winner The Package (pictured above) and Ainsi Fideles, both of whom have 11-9 to carry.  With £33,762 in prize money, it is extremely competitive - let's hope they both run well.

Meanwhile Kalifourchon bids to make it back to back Sunday wins as he turns out again under a penalty.  Despite his welter burden of 12-5 he would be 4lbs higher in future handicaps and looks to hold a sound chance under Tom Scudamore.  The one I am looking forward to seeing though is Our Chief who contests the handicap hurdle at 5.45pm - he finished fourth last time out when not seeming to quite get home and is still open to improvement - the danger could be Conor O'Farrell's mount, the Brain Forsey trained Dropzone.  There will be a big crowd at Uttoxeter so make sure you give yourself plenty of time if you are planning on attending.  Uttoxeter is a great track that always makes you very welcome.

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I was having a look through the betting for next season's Premier League relegation and the three teams that were promoted from the Championship (Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich) are favourites to go straight back down again.  If  you wanted to back the odds-on and can wait the best part of a year to collect, Watford are 7/10 chances with Ladbrokes - I certainly can't see them staying up.

I wonder why none of the top teams have signed QPR striker Charlie Austin?  I would love the Hammers to sign him, but it seems that all of the top teams are only interested in signing foreign players - what's wrong with an English lad I would like to know?

Harry Kane is 5/1 to score 20 or more Premier League goals.  Spurs will always score lots of goals, but they also have an uncanny knack of giving plenty away...I will be having a small interest on Kane at those odds.

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I would love to have a punt on the Aussies for the Ashes but 2/5 is a bit short even for my liking!  The bet could be Steven Smith at 11/4 to be the top Australian run scorer.

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Did you know that in San Francisco it is illegal to use old underwear to clean cars in a car wash?  Sounds like a load of old pants to me!

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