Second Again

  Old Photo but the Colours Finished Second
      in the Melbourne Cup this Morning!

There is just one jumps meeting today at Warwick but the stable does not have any runners.  There are three flat meetings at Lingfield, Wolverhampton and Redcar and in Ireland they have a jumps fixture at Fairyhouse.  Yesterday, Old Bridge ran well enough to be second at Hereford, I say well enough as I think he did just get his nose in front but a rival fought back to beat him in a close finish.  That does not tell the full story however, with the probable winner falling at the final flight of hurdles, this changed the complexion of the race and we were then given a fighting chance of winning, so close but yet so far!  This was a good run from our four year old and he was given a nice ride by Rian Corcoran on his first ride back since suffering concussion.  This was Old Bridge's fourth second place since joining us and he surely deserves to get his head in front soon.

I am not sure if anyone was up early this morning to watch the Melbourne Cup at 4am?  Not me, but the more familiar jumping colours of JP McManus were seen finishing second, carried by Goodie Too Shoes who was ridden by Wayne Lordan and who is trained by Joseph O'Brien.  She was a first runner in the race for JP and was the first home of the six British and Irish trained runners.  The race was won by Australian horse Half Yours who was ridden by Jamie Melham and the jockey has made history by becoming the first female riders to complete the Caufield Cup-Melbourne Cup double.  Al Riffa was considered to be the best chance of the winners from this side of the World finished seventh while Absurde finished eighth for Breeders Cup winning trainer Willie Mullins.  

The life of a young jockey, Billy Loughnane...he rode at the Breeders Cup at Del Mar on Saturday evening and was then back riding at Wolverhampton on Monday evening, less than 48 hours later1  The 19 year old rode a winner on the card and this was his 100th at the track and has now ridden an incredible 179 winners this year.  He rode his first ever winner at the course and had his first double, treble and four timer there as well, what a record! 

Last night in the football, there was a 1-1 draw between Sunderland and Everton while this evening we have the return of Champions League Action.  Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs all play and there looks a tasty clash between PSG and Bayern Munich as well.  Liverpool have a tough game at home to Real Madrid.

You know you are over 40 when you have "upstairs ibuprofen" and "downstairs ibuprofen"!

Have a good day!