Promise From Buster

We were out of luck yesterday at Fontwell with Buster Edwards faring best of our runners when a close third in the 3m2f novices' handicap chase.  He jumped superbly for a first attempt over fences under David Noonan to be beaten little over a length.  He jumps well and stays forever so he should certainly be winning his share of races and could easily develop into a type for the regional Nationals.  Meanwhile, Northern Madrik was disappointing in the juvenile hurdle, not jumping with the fluency that he had shown at home.  He is certainly better than he was able to demonstrate here.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Leicester, Lingfield and Windsor, whilst there is a jumps fixture at Perth.  There are no runner from the stable today.

There was a turn-up for the books at Churchill Downs last night as easy Belmont Stakes winner Tiz The Law was beaten in the Kentucky Derby at odds-on so hopes of the Triple Crown were dashed.  Talking of which, I see there is an article in today's Post asking the question, will the feat ever be achieved on these shores again?  The last to do it was Nijinsky, fifty years ago in 1970, although Oh So Sharp completed the fillies' equivalent in 1985.  It would seem unlikely that it will ever be achieved again with breeders looking for more and more speed and sires whose progeny stay distances of 1m6f just not commercially attractive.

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There was an exciting finish to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza yesterday (hard to believe I know!) with the race providing a first time winner in Pierre Gasly in his Alpha Tauri.  Lewis Hamilton was heading for a nice Sunday afternoon jaunt but he was rudely interrupted by race stewards who penalised him for entering the pitlane when closed after Kevin Magnussen parked his stricken Haas on the side of the slip lane entering the pits (why the car could not be pushed backwards a few feet to safety I have no idea, but that is another matter!)  The penalty meant that Hamilton dropped to the back of the field but still came through to finish just two places behind his team-mate with a point for fastest lap to boot, so very little has altered in the championship.  Even so, it was a breath of fresh air to see some new faces on the podium.

England produced another good performance to beat the Aussie's in the T20 cricket in Southampton.  Jos Buttler produced a great innings of 77 to steer the hosts to a six wicket victory and secure the series win.

Novak Djokovic hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons yesterday after hitting a line-judge in the throat with a tennis ball.  The Serb had just had his serve broken and hit a ball from his pocket behind him without looking, striking the umpire.  He was subsequently disqualified from the tournament for his conduct.

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I am pleased to reveal the three unwritten rules of life...
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