American Fourth At Ffos

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Salisbury, Haydock, Chelmsford City and Carlisle, whilst there is a jumps fixture from Sedgefield.  There are no runners from Pond House today although stable jockey Tom Scudamore has picked up a couple of outside rides at Sedgefield and he looks likely to be among the winners - let's hope so for his sake, otherwise it is going to be a long drive home!

I thought that Impulsive American ran a decent race on the level at Ffos Las last night, finishing a close fourth.  That was his first start on the level in almost two years, although he has been competing over hurdles and he looks like he would not be inconvenienced by a bit further than 1m6f.

If you are thinking of going to the race meeting at Laytown in Ireland, don't forget to take your bucket and spade!  The unique fixture takes part on the beach at low-tide.  Jamie Osborne has seven runners on the card and I bet he will be sinking a pint or two of Guinness!

I see that it is flat jockey Oisin Murphy's birthday today.  He has reached the ripe old age of 23 and is one of the most polite young lads I have ever met.  Perhaps it was because we were in a pub and he told his colleague to take his hat off while he was talking to Mr Barnes!  Anyway, happy birthday Oisin...hope you are among the winners.

There will be no more flat racing at Chepstow this season.  The final two fixtures have been transferred to Ffos Las and Lingfield so the next meeting at the course will take place on 13th October over the sticks.

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Wales take on Ireland tonight in the Nations League football.  It is on Sky at 7.45pm and while Wales are a strange price at 97/100 they could be worth an interest with Gareth Bale in the line-up.

I bet Alistair Cook will get a standing ovation when he walks to the crease at the Oval tomorrow.  It will be his final first class match for England.  He says that he will not be performing a retirement U-turn or answering any England S.O.S's.  I agree with him...if you retire it should be a permanent thing.

I see that snooker legend Stephen Hendry has said that it was the yips that forced him to retire from the game in 2017.  I never knew that snooker players suffered from the yips, although I remember darts player, the late Eric Bristow suffering from them - at one point he was having trouble letting go of the darts.  I would have thought it was a bit different in snooker, you don't throw your cue do you?!

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In 2002 the Queen had been on the throne for 50 years...would jubilee vit?

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