Some Things Do Change!

According to the bookmakers, Richard Johnson may not finish runner-up to A P McCoy in this season's jump jockeys' championship.  While McCoy has been an imovable force at the top of the table (currently set for an incredible seventeeth successive championship), Johnson has been the perennial bridesmaid, finishing runner-up on no less than fourteen occasions.  That could all be different this time around however as Jason Maguire is challenging for the runner-up spot and has the powerful Donald McCain yard behind him.  I must admit, I do feel a little bit sorry for Richard Johnson (not that for one minute he would want my pity) - can you imagine the acclaim he would have been receiving if McCoy had been around in a different era?  Johnson has ridden more winners than any other jockey in British jump racing history!

According to the bookmakers, Richard Johnson may not finish runner-up to A P McCoy in this season's jump jockeys' championship.  While McCoy has been an imovable force at the top of the table (currently set for an incredible seventeeth successive championship), Johnson has been the perennial bridesmaid, finishing runner-up on no less than fourteen occasions.  That could all be different this time around however as Jason Maguire is challenging for the runner-up spot and has the powerful Donald McCain yard behind him.  I must admit, I do feel a little bit sorry for Richard Johnson (not that for one minute he would want my pity) - can you imagine the acclaim he would have been receiving if McCoy had been around in a different era?  Johnson has ridden more winners than any other jockey in British jump racing history!

Morning exercise at Pond House (image courtesy of Bill Selwyn)

It is a quiet day with the only jumping taking place at Towcester this afternoon, while there is an all-weather meeting at Lingfield.  We have no runners today, although the horses still need to be exercised and above we have another nice picture courtesy of Bill Selwyn of the horses during morning exercise.

I see there is a notable jockey booking on the all-weather as former champion Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh makes the journey across the Irish Sea for one ride for Jeremy Noseda aboard Valbchek.  The last time he rode on this track was in 2004, so the signs are that this one is well fancied.  I will watch the race with interest.

*****

I must admit that I had Tiger Woods completely wrong...I did doubt his ability to put four good rounds of golf together, but the great man managed it with another great success in America.  With August coming up, could he bag another Major?  The way he is playing I would have to say yes, although I am still not 100% sure about his ability to string four good rounds together on a consistent basis.  It would be great for the sport if he could...just like racing, we do need our superstars.

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Just think, for a cool £100,000 you could enjoy dinner with the Prime Minister.  Alternatively, £15 will buy you two steaks and a bottle of wine at just about any Weatherspoons pub and you would probably learn more about the average British person than having dinner at Downing Street...oh, and you would also have the small matter of the best part of £100,000 to spend on something worthwhile!