Funny Old World

20/5/16

As some of you will know, I like Cotai Glory’s chances of running a big race in the Temple Stakes at a big price but he has been doubly declared at Haydock’s two-day meeting as he is also engaged in tonight’s Achilles Stakes (7.30) where top price of 6/1 looks too big to me if they decide to run him in that Listed race rather than tomorrow’s Group 2. Ground conditions and forecast are likely to decide in which race he runs.

I’ve run out of Rule The World posters now and they were sent via Parcelforce’s 48-hour delivery service yesterday so, if you asked for one, it should be arriving very shortly. Whilst waiting for the one member of staff to process 30 parcels thus causing a long queue out the door which lasted 30 minutes (I tried not to look too many of them in the eye), a girl of around ten years of age with her mother (I think) asked me what was in the giant tubes? I replied something along the lines of, “oh, nothing very interesting, just a horse”. “I like horses” she answered so I expanded a little and told her that it was the Grand National winner, though of course still not expecting much of a reaction. The mother then chipped in that the child’s grandfather used to own horses which were trained by Jenny Whatshername. I managed to put two and two together and came up with the right answer (not Candlish) and told her that Jenny Pitman wouldn’t train many bad horses so asked her what was the horse that the ten-year-old’s grandfather owned? Burrough Hill Lad!!! Funny old world. They were rather shocked when I said “ah your grandfather is Stan Riley then?” “Yes Grandad Riley” replied the girl. Her mother then went to say he was a real character but had fallen on hard times so had to sell all his cups including the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Sad old world too.

Talking of my old favourite horses, I see that The Racing Post have been running a rogues feature all week and today it’s on See You Then. See You Then?!! I must have missed something 30 years ago – a three-times Champion Hurdle winner despite being a cripple – rogue? This I gotta read!

Mike Henderson did it again last night at the Premier League Darts Finals Night with two winning selections out of two plus MVG scoring most 180s in the event which he recommended months ago at 15/8. So it was yet another profitable darts event for anyone who followed Mike taking his run to eight winning tournaments out of ten that he has covered for us.

Over the last few days I have started looking at the European Football Championships (aka Euro 2016) and have been doing my homework on Groups A, B and C. I’m trying to knock off one group a day so hopefully I’ll be on top it by the end of next week. The event starts on June 10^th so I’ll upload the first copy in around two weeks’ time. Before then we have the F A Cup Final and Champions League Final to enjoy. For what it’s worth I’ve had a Manchester United-Atletico Madrid double to lift the trophy (not a 90 minutes bet).