Punchestown Festival

Once again, the action takes place on the level this afternoon with the action coming from Nottingham, Brighton, Yarmouth, Chelmsford City and Newcastle.  Meanwhile, there is a cracking jumps card in Ireland as the first day of the Punchestown Festival gets underway.  There are a few British trainers over there, although it seems to be another Mullins/Elliott benefit with the pair saddling 23 runners between them.  The big race of the day is the Champion Chase at 5.30pm and Min has been put in the odds-on favourite which is hardly surprising given his manner of victory at Aintree last time.  A repeat of that would make him very hard to beat.  David will have a couple of runners at the meeting this week and will head over there tomorrow.

I see that it is flat trainer Tom Dascombe's 46th birthday today.  Not everyone will know that Tom used to be a decent conditional jockey for Martin.  I remember on one occasion he was called into a Stewards Inquiry at Worcester.  I told him, "The less you say, the less trouble you can get in".  When ever I see him he always reminds me of that day at Worcester!  Many happy returns Tom.

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There is some good footballing action tonight as Tottenham Hotspur take on Ajax in the semi-final of the Champions League at 8pm on BT Sport.  Spurs are 13/8 chances and really need to win this first leg to have any chance of reaching the final.  At least Ajax will not be as good as West Ham (I thought I would get that one in)!

I see that cricketer Alex Hales has become involved in a war of words with England having received a 21 day ban for a second positive drugs test.  He said England did a 'U-turn' only when it became public last Friday.  Personally, I think he is a very lucky boy to only get a 21 day ban and I would keep quiet.

Have you seen the new golf buggy?  I say buggy, but it actually looks more like a motorbike and is called the Finn Cycle.  They say it gets around the course in half the time a buggy would take - somehow the golf bag gets balanced on the handlebars.  I'm not sure it will catch on...

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Is the Prime Minister ever going to let that policeman in?  He has been at her door for days!  Keep smiling...

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