Of an illogical rule. Is what Mr Bittar and his merry men have come up with. Which is a step in the right direction. And announced far enough ahead of the Cheltenham Festival for there to be a reasonable "bedding in" period. A lukewarm response from across the industry. But at least something has been done. An admission that the rules as they stood yesterday morning were plainly wrong and should never have been implicated. Let us see what happens......
Andy Luckhurst and Ian Fitzpatrick (owners of the 2-year-old Lawman colt, Lucky Blackstar) here with us late morning yesterday morning. Which was a nice surprise. Because we were expecting them today. Our diary error. Thankfully, we were here. Because Andy and Ian had travelled south from Birmingham. Which would have been a long way to come to find an empty house......
Andy runs the Financial Services company BBT who have been massive supporters from Day One. Our stable sponsor from Day One. A crucial and integral part of our business. And sponsors also of European Tour Professional Robert Rock who has taken a huge step forward in recent months. Winner of the Italian Open last year, and then in Dubai recently. And about to line up against Adam Scott in the World Matchplay that starts today......
England "white-washing" the Pakistanis in the Cricket One Day series. Winning the one dayers 4-0. Losing the Test Matches 3-0. A strange tour. Played out in front of empty, cavernous Grandstands. The atmosphere surreal. At best. Pakistan possessing some match winning players. And for as long as Dubai is the venue for their "home" Test Matches, they will be very difficult to beat.....
But the overriding impression will be of the total lack of crowds. A County Championship crowd for Test Match cricket. A little odd. And subdued.....
The West Indies and South Africa coming here this summer. The West Indies struggling, sadly, to be competitive. How their supporters must yearn for the glory days of Richards, Holding, Garner, Roberts, Croft, Marshall et al.....
But South Africa a very potent opposition. Just a shame that the demands of television and the shortened version of the game have restricted the length of Test Match series. England v South Africa should be a 5 Test series. But, apart from the Ashes, 5 Test tours seem to have disappeared under a frenzy of floodlights and 20/20 chaos.....
The children home from school for the night. Barney has a new (to him) Horseracing Game for his X Box. He trains and rides the horses. He has already passed us by, training Group 1 winners for fun. Although his use of the whip would not be looked upon very favourably, in any jurisdiction.....
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