Fact First Again!

What an awesome performance from Main Fact to land the Stayers' handicap hurdle at Haydock on Saturday, in the process extending his unbeaten run to an incredible NINE wins.  It looked a hopeless case turning for home as he was pushed very wide on the final bend, but he found his stride in the straight and made his customary late rattle to pick off his rivals one by one until collaring the leader halfway up the run-in under a great ride from conditional jockey Fergus Gillard.  He is a remarkably tough and genuine horse who just doesn't seem to know when he is beaten.  Long may it continue!

Umbrigado ran much better earlier on the card, finishing runner-up in the 2m3½f handicap hurdle.  He wasn't helped by a faller three out or a mistake at the last, but he kept on in good style to finish second.  This was a step in the right direction and there are certainly some nice races to be won with him this term.

At Uttoxeter yesterday afternoon Duc de Beauchene produced a decent seasonal reappearance, finishing second in the three mile handicap hurdle.  He travelled well on his first try at the trip and looked briefly like he might challenge the progressive winner, although he couldn't go with him in the closing stages.  A lovely big horse, he is very much a staying chaser in the making but he should be adding to his tally over hurdles.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Musselburgh, Ludlow and Kempton as well as an all-weather fixture from Chelmsford City.  A couple of Cheltenham Festival winners make their seasonal debuts at Kempton this afternoon; Shishkin and Indefatigable - high quality stuff for a Monday!

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Liverpool produced a very impressive performance to beat Leicester City 3-0 and join Spurs at the head of the Premier League last night, especially as they were missing many of their starting line-up.  It doesn't bode well for their rivals when they return to full strenght.

There was a feeling of deja-vu in Milton Keynes last night as Judd Trump beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final of the Northern Ireland Open for the third consecutive year by the same score line of 9-7.  O'Sullivan may be the most naturally gifted player ever, but Trump is consistently the best in the world at present (and by some margin).

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A guy goes in for a job interview and sits down with the boss.

The boss asks him, “What do you think is your worst quality?”

The man says “I’m probably too honest.”

The boss says, “That’s not a bad thing, I think being honest is a good quality.”

The man replies, “I don’t care about what you think!”

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