Weekend Jottings

There are just two meetings taking place this afternoon with flat action from Doncaster and Salisbury.  The first race at Salisbury is certainly a strange one...it is an apprentices' handicap where whips shall be carried but not used).  It must be a real temptation if you are in a driving finish to use your whip...I will be watching with great interest to see how they get on.  As usual,  both Irish meetings carry better prize money than the cards over here.

Royal Ascot is just a couple of days away now and there are plenty of horses in the Ascot Stakes.  David runs Percy Street who ran with credit in the race last year, showing up well for a long way.  Finley Marsh will ride this year and he claims a handy 3lbs off his back.  Looking through the list of trainers with runners in the race, you would be forgiven for thinking that it was a jumps race.  Mind you, 2½ miles around Ascot on soft ground  and the finish will resemble a jumps race with the field well strung out by the closing stages.

Talking of the Royal meeting, I see that the Queen has had 23 Royal Ascot winners, the first was Choir Boy in 1953 with Doug Smith on board.  She has a fantastic record at the meeting - let's hope that she is lucky again this year.  Martin and Carol were fortunate enough to be in one of the carriages for the Royal procession.  They had previously enjoyed lunch at Windsor Castle...what an experience the day must have been!

*****

Frank Lampard is to take over as the new Chelsea boss.  It is a huge job for such an inexperienced manager and I think that he is on a hiding to nothing.  He has to win a trophy of some description otherwise he is going to be considered a failure.  At least he can call on the assistance of one of his relatives...I am talking about my old mate 'Arry Redknapp.

The latest cricketers on the injured list are Eoin Morgan and Jason Roy.  They are both having scans.  Mind you, it's not just the players who should be wearing helmets, one England fan had a ball land on his head - it did look a bit of a mess.  I remember facing West Indian fast bowler, the late Keith Boyce without a helmet on.  Mind you, it was only for two balls and that marked the end of my cricketing career.

*****

I have a hearing aid for sale...give me a shout if you are interested!

Tweet