Drama At The Eclipse

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Ayr, Windsor, Ripon and Wolverhampton while there is a jumps fixture at Worcester.  There are no runners from the yard today, although stable jockeys Tom Scudamore and David Noonan have picked up a few spare rides between them at Worcester.

The Coral Eclipse at Sandown produced a thrilling finish with Roaring Lion edging out Saxon Warrior close home.  I thought that the Steward Inquiry was most interesting with both Oisin Murphy and Donnacha O'Brien speaking very well.  It took a long while for them to sort out and I know that Coral's PR man Simon Clare was not amused it took so long to give the result.  I can understand his point of view, but from a viewer's perspective it certainly helped to heighten the drama.

I see that jockeys Wayne Hutchinson, Richard Johnson, Tom Scudamore and Sam Twiston-Davies have vowed to come back in 2019 to Banbury Horse Trials to regain the JCB Champion's Challenge Crown which they lost on Saturday.  Twiston-Davies said, "the eventer's stole a march on us and nicked all the best horses".  Sounds like sour grapes to me!

Fairyhouse were coming up with inventive new ways of getting people through the turnstiles.  They were giving away free ice creams to all children attending their meeting yesterday.

Meanwhile, picture above is Percy Street in action on the gallops.  He ran well for a very long way at Royal Ascot in the Ascot Stakes and could return there this Friday where he is engaged in another flat contest, this time over the slightly shorter trip of 1m6f.  He will also be entered for a 2m contest at York on Saturday.

*****

What a great result for England as they beat Sweden 2-0 in the World Cup on Saturday to set up a semi-final clash against Croatia on Wednesday.  I watched the match and I thought that the star was England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who made 3 world class saves.  Even so, it was a good overall performance from England and sooner or later Raheem Sterling will have to score.  England are 11/8 to beat Croatia on Wednesday and 11/4 to win the World Cup...if they beat Croatia that price will contract again.

Lewis Hamilton could finish only second in the British Grand Prix at the weekend and quickly accused Ferrari of dirty tricks.  A ridiculous statement when you consider that Kimi Raikkonen is out of contract with the Italian outfit at the end of the season and is most likely heading for the exit - I certainly don't see him risking life or limb by doing something like that intentionally.  Sounds like more sour grapes to me!  Meanwhile Sebastian Vettel won the race and extended his championship lead to 8 points.

*****

What is two thirds of 99?  The ice cream man's profit!  Have a nice day...

Tweet