Cabora's Debut

It's a very busy day for a Tuesday with no fewer than five meetings taking place - two on the flat at Beverley and Kempton and three over the sticks at Wincanton, Hereford and Southwell.  The stable only has one runner at Wincanton, Cabora, a new French recruit who was successful last time at big odds at Auteuil.  Our four year old filly is partnered this afternoon by Timmy Murphy for his boss David Johnson.

Martial Law was unable to take advantage of his old handicap mark last night when finishing runner-up in the two mile handicap hurdle at Towcester.  He is due to go up 11lbs in future handicaps and that will make life much more difficult - hopefully the handicapper might accept that such a rise was perhaps an over-reaction, afterall if he can't win from 106 what chance does he have from 117?  I guess we will find out in due course, but I'm willing to bet that he doesn't drop by 11lbs next week!

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Can anyone tell me what has happened to Sir Michael Stoute?  He is having another poor start to the season and hasn't had many winners at all - it doesn't seem too long ago that his was the yard to beat.  I wonder if he is down on numbers following a disappointing campaign last season?  Good trainers normally bounce back - just take a look at Sir Henry Cecil who following a few years in the doldrums has plenty of talent at his disposal including the world's best racehorse, Frankel.

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I see that Paul Scholes might make a return to the England football squad.  Remember that Scholes retired from the game before Sir Alex Ferguson convinced him to play again and he has subsequently produced some of the finest football of his career.  Scholes has already signed another year's contract at Old Trafford for next season - what a story if he could get an England recall!

I am confused!  Why would Roberto Martinez want to leave Wigan and go to Aston Villa?  Wigan finished above Villa in the Premiership last season so why would he want to jump ship?  The trouble with all of these teams - the supporters all think that they are better than they actually are - West Ham in Europe next season...do you see what I mean?!