Ayr Inspect

There are just two meetings (hopefully) taking place this afternoon.  I say hopefully as Ayr have to pass an 8.30am inspection before they can host their jumps card, meanwhile there is also an all-weather flat card from Newcastle.  Tom Scu has one outside ride booked at Ayr so I am not sure if he will be wanting the meeting to go ahead or not!

Our first runners of the new year yielded a second and third placing at Exeter yesterday.  Friday Night Light finished runner-up in the novices' hurdle behind old adversary Show On The Road.  They look like a pair of decent prospects and Friday Light Night can certainly go one better before long.  Mrs Miggins produced a decent first effort on her racecourse debut in the bumper - she is certainly entitled to improve for the experience and this run will have done her the world of good.  Meanwhile, It's Obvious finished fourth in the maiden hurdle and looks as though he will be suited by more of a test of stamina.

I see that jockey Adam Wedge was hit with a 21 day ban at Exeter yesterday after bypassing a fence on 'winner' Report To Base.  I'm afraid there are no excuses for this sort of mistake - it was a serious error to make.  The main beneficiary was Tom Scu who was well beaten aboard Valhalla, but was awarded the race.

It wasn't a great New Year's Day for jockey Tom Bellamy either.  He was stood down from riding at Cheltenham after failing a breath test.  He says he only had two or three drinks - it sounds as though he should have had more!  He now faces the BHA to see what sort of ban he is going to get.

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Rob Cross won the World Darts championship last night beating Phil Taylor 7-2 in the final.  Phil Taylor has been a great champion down the years, although he hasn't done himself that many favours recently.  He says that he will now retire...how many times have I heard that in the past?

There are some important football matches tonight as my beloved West Ham take on West Brom.  Both sides are lingering in the bottom three and the Hammers former manager is now in charge of West Brom so he is sure to get a warm welcome...said nobody in the world, ever!  Bottom team Swansea play Spurs, while Crystal Palace who are four from the bottom are away to Southampton.  It will be a good night for some of these managers.  I will be having a little wager on Reading at evens, Wolves at 7/10 and West Ham at 19/20.

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The night before my wedding I had my hair cut into the shape of a deer...it was a stag-do!

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