Runners Far & Wide!

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Sandown, Ffos Las and Wetherby supported by an all-weather card from Lingfield.  It is a busy day for the Pond House team with the stable having runners at all three jumps cards.  Fingertips (pictured above) goes back to Sandown, the scene of his latest victory - there are only five runners but it does look like a competitive little contest and Daryl Jacob takes the ride.  Meanwhile Tom Scudamore heads north for the ride aboard Katkeau in the handicap chase - he is unbeaten in both of his starts since switching to fences so let's hope he can maintain that record this afternoon.  David Noonan takes the mount aboard the talented but enigmatic Gevrey Chambertin at Ffos Las (who have to survive a 9am inspection) - he is more than capable on his day and David claims a handy 5lbs off his back which could prove crucial on a day when conditions are certain to be testing.  Our box drivers will be kept busy this weekend.

I see that Martin features in the Racing Post's fun quiz of the day today.  They ask in which year did Martin Pipe win his last jumps trainers' title?  I wonder if you can get it?

Many happy returns to former jockey turned riding coach Rodi Greene who is 46 today.  Rodi rode for us at Pond House for several seasons and scored a Cheltenham Festival success aboard Ilnamar in the Coral Cup.  He was a real grafter and would give anything a ride.

There is a good card over in Ireland from Leopardstown as well this afternoon and the big race of the day there is the Irish Gold Cup which takes place at 3.40pm.  Amazingly, according to the bookmakers early prices, the winner may even come from a stable other than the Mullins yard!

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I will be glued to the box this weekend (I'm certainly not venturing out in all this rain!) as there are some interesting football matches taking place which have some serious relegation implications.  Aston Villa take on Norwich and Newcastle play West Brom.  As far as I am concerned, Aston Villa are already doomed, while the other two places for the drop would appear to be between Sunderland, Newcastle, West Brom and Norwich.

There is a game with a funny shaped ball on BBC1 this afternoon at 4.50pm that features Scotland and England.  The BBC get all the best sports and the licence fee is the best £145 I will ever spend!

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I see that a woman in New Orleans, USA was arrested for attacking her husband because he was too tired to play Monopoly...she went straight to jail!  Have a nice weekend and remember to keep smiling!

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