Irish Derby Day

There are six meetings taking place this afternoon, but you are out of luck if you are a fan of the jumps.  The action comes on the flat from Newmarket, Windsor, Chester and Doncaster and on the all-weather from Newcastle and Lingfield.  The closest you will get to the jumps today is the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle where a number of trainers better known for their exploits over jumps, field some runners.

There is a competitive twenty runner line-up for this marathon flat handicap at 3.30pm, which is unsurprising given the £81,000 prize money on offer to the winner.  Group 1 winner, Trueshan is the likely  favourite despite the burden of topweight but it will take an almighty performance to succeed from that mark.  Indeed, he has to give 19lbs and upwards to the remainder of his rivals and on balance he looks worth taking on in my humble opinion.

It is Irish Derby Day at the Curragh and there is a fascinating battle of the sexes in prospect with Epsom Derby third Westover, taking on Epsom Oaks winner, Tuesday at 3.45pm.  There is little to choose between them in the market, although Westover met with trouble in running at Epsom and is partnered today by champion jockey Colin Keane.  The time of the Derby was better too and so I would be siding with the Juddmonte colt on this occasion.

There are no runners from the Pond House team today, although we will be back with runners at Cartmel and Uttoxeter tomorrow, so come back then to find out more...

I see that John Gosden and Frankie Dettori have decided to take what has been described as 'a sabbatical' from their riding arrangements.  The trainers has insisted that he will not be appointing a stable jockey, so the bookmakers offering a market on the eventuality would seem somewhat premature.

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There was an entertaining day's play in the cricket as England put themselves firmly back in the match against New Zealand.  It looked to be finely balanced yesterday morning, but the visitors went on to make 329 and when they reduced England to 55-6, the match seemed all but over.  However, another sensational innings from Johnny Bairstow, ably supported by England debutant, Jamie Overton saw the pair put on an English record 209 runs for the seventh innings stand and they are not finished yet.  At the close of play England trailed by 65 runs, but are back well in contention...amazing!

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I have just applied for a job at my local restaurant.  At the interview, I told them I really bring a lot to the table.