Rathlin Third

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Chepstow and Ayr and an all-weather flat card fixture from Wolverhampton.  David has one runner today as Ghost Serge competes on the 1m1½f flat handicap at Wolverhampton at 6.15pm.  He certainly possesses plenty of ability but is not entirely straight forward as he has refused to race on his most recent outings over the jumps.  He makes his debut on Wolverhampton's tapeta surface and Finley Marsh is in the saddle.  He claims a handy 3lbs off his back.

Rathlin Rose ran an absolute cracker in the Sussex National at Plumpton yesterday afternoon to finish a close third, beaten only 3½ lengths and belie his odds of 50/1.  He had every chance in the straight and kept on well under Tom Scudamore to run his best race for some time.  Now a twelve year old, he has been a wonderful servant and retains all of his enthusiasm.

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FC Fylde played sensationally well in their third round FA CUp tie against Premier side Sheffield United.  The non-league club certainly had Sheffield fans concerned as they gave them everything they could handle despite being 104 places below them in the standings.  There were no such concerns for Liverpool who beat Merseyside rivals Everton 1-0 despite the reds manager making nine changes to the side that competed in Premier League action earlier in the week.

I see that Aussie cricketing legend Shane Warne is going to auction his baggy green cap which he wore throughout his 145 Test match career.  It is expected to raise over £160,00 to aid the battle against the awful bush fires that are currently ravaging Australia...an excellent gesture I am sure you will agree.

I thoroughly enjoyed the NFL action over the weekend, not least because my beloved Minnesota Vikings pulled off the upset to beat the New Orleans Saints.  I did say that the reigning champions the New England Patriots had a tough test against the Tennessee Titans and so it proved.  With the Seahawks beating the Eagles as well, it was a good weekend's viewing.  There will be a new name on the Lombardi trophy this year.

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What do you have when a politician is buried up to his neck in sand?  Not enough sand!

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