Out Of Luck At Windsor

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat action from Hamilton, Carlisle and Leicester and an all-weather flat card from Wolverhampton.  It has to be said, it's not exactly inspiring stuff, with the pick of the action a twelve runner 0-90 handicap at Hamilton.  There are plenty of previous winners in the line-up but it could go to progressive three-year-old Legendary Day who was a good third at Newmarket last time, whilst the winner was sent off a short-priced favourite for the valuable Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood next time.  This looks easier and he looks a worthy favourite.

We were out of luck last night at Windsor with Lady Reset finishing unplaced in the 1m2f handicap.  She has been in great form this summer, winning twice on the flat and once over hurdles so it was a little disappointing she couldn't do better.  In a race where it paid to be handy, she was given plenty to do and whilst staying on, she was never getting on terms with the leaders.  A game and genuine filly, there will be other days for her.

There are no runners from the Pond House team today, although we will be back with four runners at Worcester tomorrow, so come back then to get the latest news on those.

York gets underway tomorrow but there has already been a disappointing piece of news as ante-post favourite for the Juddmonte International tomorrow, St Mark's Basilica has met with a setback and will not run.  Aidan O'Brien still has a strong hand in the race with Love a more than able deputy.

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Somehow England managed to lose the second test against India at Lord's despite getting themselves in a position to win the match.  By allowing tailenders who have averaged 2 runs and 8 balls respectively to put on a stand of 89 for the eighth wicket, they effectively put the game out of reach.  Needing 271 for an unlikely victory, the hosts collapsed to 120 all out with only three of our batsmen making double figures in an embarrassing display that meant England fell to a 151 run defeat.

The British Open snooker has returned to the calendar for the first time in 17 years and there were some interesting matches yesterday.  None more so than Mark Allen versus his former partner Reanne Evans.  It was awkward from beginning to end with an opening fist-bump snub from Evans.  The match went to a deciding frame with Allen prevailing 3-2.  I am sure they won't want to be facing each other too often.  Meanwhile, Judd Trump scraped through his opening match and John Higgins looked in good nick as he recorded his twelfth maximum 147 break to surpass Stephen Hendry's total.

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Did you hear about the cartoonist who was found dead in his home?  Details are a little sketchy!