Festival Fever

      Warthog runs at Cheltenham today

There are four meetings today but if you are a jumps fan like me then these are the best four days of the year.  There is nothing quite like Cheltenham.  The roar, the atmosphere, the action on the track and seeing so many familiar faces.  We are once again hosting our marquee at Cheltenham and some people have been coming for many years and it is great to have a nice catch up and see them all.  David has one runner today, Warthog in the concluding race, the 4 mile National Hunt chase for amateur riders at 5.30pm.  There are 18 runners and Warthog is one of the outsiders but we think he will appreciate the step up in distance.  One of the top amateur jockeys, Richard Deegan is on board and although he would have to run to his absolute best form to have any chance, stranger things have happened!!  He has lots of ability, won't mind any rain and we shall just keep our fingers crossed.

The other meetings are Sedgefield over jumps and two flat cards at Southwell and Wolverhampton.  I have been told today that the best bet is Apple's Jade in the Champion hurdle for Gordon Elliott.  Come on the girls!  It looks like the weather is going to be fairly wet and windy at Cheltenham.  It will be nice and dry in the marquee!!

I was at Taunton yesterday and Champion jockey Richard Johnson was fortunate to escape serious injury just 24 hours before Cheltenham.  He took a heavy fall in the first race on Sandy Boy and it took a little while for him to get up.  He had a nasty gash on his forehead which needed stitches before he left the course but they say he will be okay for today.  He is tough!!

Manchester City play Schalke tonight in the Champions League.  City are 6/1 on so no bet.  Sheffield United look a bet at 21/20 and Luton at 4/5.

In the tennis at Indian Wells my mate tells me to back Elina Svitolina against Ashleigh Barry in there last 16 clash.  Svitolina is 4-0 up in there head to head clashes.  I have not had a tennis bet for years, Rod Laver was my last one and that is a few years ago!! I spent some time with Rod in the sixties in Nigeria.

Where do ghosts play golf?  At the golf corpse.  Have a good day everyone, enjoy Cheltenham!!