Saturday 25 September 2010

C4 THE MORNING LINE 7.55am to 8.55am ORGANISE YOUR AFTERNOONS' RACING ACTION EARLY




LET THE CHANNEL 4 MORNING LINE TEAM GUIDE YOU ...Along an exciting, intriguing and fascinating path into the world of horseracing.




THROUGH THE KEYHOLE THE CLUES ARE THERE. An interesting and entertaining program providing previews of runners and riders racing this afternoon, key current news, review and updates, relevant to this afternoon’s C4 live action coverage from HAYDOCK PARK, CHESTER and MARKET RASEN .




TODAYS MEETINGS COVERED BY THE MORNING LINE TEAM ARE:


HAYDOCK PARK (Flat Turf) 8 races £111k First race 1.30 – 5.30
C4 Show Live 2.05. 2.35. 3.10 and 3.45.




CHESTER (Flat Turf) 7 races £95k First race 2.25 – 5.45
C4 Show Live 3.30.




MARKET RASEN Jumps (Turf) 7 races £125k First race 1.45 – 5.05
C4 Show Live 2.20. 2.50 and 3.20.




C4 TOTESCOOP6 SATURDAY’S BIG TV BET RACES ARE:
Up to £1.5 million to be won, fantastic double rollover up for grabs.
You could be the next racing million for just £2

http://www.tote-betting.net/tote-scoop6-betting.php 

Leg 1 2.05 Haydock.
Leg 2 2.20 Market Rasen
Leg 3 3.10 Haydock
Leg 4 3.20 Market Rasen
Leg 5 3.3o Chester.
Leg 6 3.45 Haydock


£336,808 Win fund rollover
£805,295 Bonus fund rollover.




C4 MORNING LINE HORSERACING TEAM TODAY ARE:


NICK (Lord Snooty) LUCK
Host Presenter/Broadcaster/ Bloodhorse Illiterate




GUEST STAR DR MARWAN KOUKASH
REDFORD’S OWNER, WINNER OF LAST SATURDAY’S AYR GOLD CUP.
Marwan’s local tracks are Haydock Park and Chester he so enjoys going racing, together with
his wife and family. Of last Saturday’s Ayr Gold Cup win with REDFORD he described the thrill of winning with one of his own horses, as unique, fantastic, an out of this world experience. Marwan started owning racehorses three years ago, and hasn’t looked back since.


Marwan runs REDFORD partnered by FRANKIE DETTORI again to-day at ASCOT in the 3.40 totesport.com Challenge Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) Winner £93,465. over 7f 29 down to run. Can he win again?




EMMA SPENCER
Bloodhorse Literate. Form Specialist/Broadcaster/Presenter.



TOM LEE
Form Specialist/Broadcaster/ Up to the minute on line betting stats. Bloodhorse Illiterate
Email Tom: racing@channel4.com

 
STEWART MACHIN
Broadcaster/Presenter/Commentator . Bloodhorse Illiterate




RICHARD HOILES
Broadcaster/Presenter/Commentator . Bloodhorse Illiterate




BARRY (BISMARK) DENNIS
Form Specialist/Bookmaker/ Over the phone Barry names the horse that he believes will not succeed in winning this afternoon. Bloodhorse Illiterate




COUNTDOWN DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: NEWMARKET CAMBRIDGESHIRE MEETING
THURSDAY 30.09.10, FRIDAY 01.10.10 SATURDAY 02.10.10.
The excitement of the outstanding Cambridgeshire Meeting with the tantalizing treat of the East of England Festival of Food and Drink which takes place alongside the racing ... the magical grandeur of Champions’ Day, with its spectacular line-up of world class races making it overall the highest class flat raceday in Britain. http://www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk/autumn/index.html


THE RACING POST’S BREAKING NEWS THIS WEEK has highlighted the hopes and aims for a BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY to take place at Ascot, on Saturday, October 15th 2011. With prize money of £3M. THE RICHEST DAY IN BRITISH HORSERACING HISTORY. TO BRING TO A CLOSE THE SEASONS FLAT RACING ACTION IN THE FUTURE.
At present there are a few snags to iron out, but let’s hope that this can be done., It is a wonderful idea.




REVIEW OF HORSES IN ACTION LAST SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18th 2010.




2.30 NEWBURY’S DUBAI DUTY FREE MILL REEF STAKES 6f. 7 ran


WINNER: TEMPLE MEADS partner RICHARD MULLEN 2-9-1 minder /presenter/ ELIZABETH GEORGE 4/1
trainer E S McMahon for J C Fretwell. Breeder Whitsbury Manor Stud. A creditable win unchallenged, with the added advantage of his usual jockey settling him early on in a calming rhythm, to come through untroubled to win this on what was in fact this colt’s fourth public appearance this year as a two year old. TEMPLE MEADS form now reads 1141


 An unpleasant incident occurred pending the start of this race for KIEREN FALLON
partnering THE PADDYMAN (W J Haggas for owners Mr and Mrs Scott) in the Starting Stalls, due to the starter (Stated to be either S Avis or V W Jordan) failing to see or even to bother to take notice that KIEREN FALLON had needed to dismount from THE PADDYMAN whilst waiting in his stall due to insurmountable problems suffered therein. Whilst waiting for the gates to open and the race to start.


 The British Horseracing Authority parties, and the Racecourse parties show scant regard for dangerous problems as this. Because their duties do not place them in the firing line and open to likely severe injury or death each and every day, to include the horses. All punters involved should most definitely get their stake money back. All the other twaddle at present stated in the rules needs crossing out.






3.20 WILLIAM HILL AYR GOLD CUP HANDICAP 6f . 26 ran.


WINNER: REDFORD (IRE) partner FRANKIE DETTORI 5.9-2 minder/presenter BEVERLEY KENDALL 14/1 trainer David (Dandy) Nicholls for Dr Marwan Koukash. Breeder T J Rooney. REDFORD’S form now reads 49200931.


DAVID (Dandy) NICHOLLS AND HIS TEAM FIND THE KEY TO UNLOCKING REDFORD’S TALENTS. FRANKIE DETTORI only just managed to get to AYR in time to partner REDFORD.


DANDY’ AND HIS TEAM HAVE WON THIS RACE SIX TIMES IN THE LAST ELEVEN YEARS. DANDY LETS THE HORSES DO THE TALKING.




PAUSE FOR THOUGHT THE TOTE


TONY SMURTHWAITE RACING POST COMMENT ((16.09.2010)


“If potential bidders for the Tote have been revving on the grid since the announcement in June that its future was to be resolved within 12 months, the question now is whether they should speed to the first bend.




“Yesterday’s announcement (15.09.10) certainly raised the pulse among those who want the Tote, but calmer inspection suggests it would be unwise for bidders to do anything other than switch off their engines and save fuel.




“The government has given more than a hint but has not yet actually confirmed that the Tote is for sale, preferring to “launch an open market process.”




“That might simply be Sir Humphrey Appleby speaking, saying in his inimitable way that, yes, “it’s for sale”.




“Then again, this might be the Treasury’s route to assess in a recession the Tote’s revised price tag before deciding whether there is true merit in it’s ‘sale’ , or whether to reorganise the business, maintaining its corporation tax payments, its role as a substantial employer and its steady if unspectacular return to racing through profits, levy and race sponsorships.




“It’s a confusing state of affairs for the long list of interested parties. There’s no prospectus, no financials, no suggestions of whether the Tote could be split up and sold to more than one bidder. The wait goes on.






COMMENT THE TOTE J MARGARET CLARKE FOR TURFCALL:


HOW CAN GOVERNMENT, ANY GOVERNMENT BELIEVE THEY CAN ASSUME THE RIGHT TO SELL THE TOTE WHEN THEY DO NOT OWN THE TOTE?


As Smurthwaite points out: “It’s a confusing state of affairs for the long list of interested parties. There’s no prospectus, no financials, no suggestions of whether the Tote could be split up and sold to more than one bidder. The wait goes on.”




AND as Smurthwaite points out: “Then again, this might be the Treasury’s route to assess in a recession the Tote’s revised price tag before deciding whether there is true merit in it’s ‘sale’ , or whether to reorganise the business, maintaining its corporation tax payments, its role as a substantial employer and its steady if unspectacular return to racing through profits, levy and race sponsorships.”




Successive governments have over decades helped themselves each and every year to huge revenue from British horseracing, in preference to ensuring that all the young ones choosing a career in horseracing get the true tuition, career path direction and financial reward accordingly. Bloodhorse Illiteracy rampant within government parties have over decades been directly responsible for Ripping Off all young ones starting out in British horseracing, ignoring all their rights and all their needs.




Government Parties and British Horseracing Authorities who are in fact Bloodhorse Illiterate do not recognise there are any skills required or needed in handling and riding out thoroughbred horses in training. Bloodhorse Literate parties entwined within a charity, not allowed a fair wage. As neither are they to be allowed a true career structure with financial reward accountable to skills achieved.




All government parties, together with BHA parties, going back over decades have got away with Ripping Off all those who work at the dangerous sharp end of British horseracing. Plus all the young ones just starting out in the real world, why would privileged MP’S be doing such things as this in the first place to deliberately destroy peoples lives?




These present Bloodhorse Illiterate government parties now angling to see if they can get away with robbing British horseracing yet again, by assuming ownership of the Tote themselves, IF they can actually get away with this, they will be abusing their position of power to do what they will, with the Tote. The appropriate quote that immediately springs to mind is: “ You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time”.






The reason why the Tote was originally founded in 1929 remains to be the same today as it was then, to financially support British horseracing. That the Tote has not been used to fully fund British horseracing has been the case for far too long. The Tote now needs to take up its responsibilities fully and provide all the funding that British horseracing now needs, and will need in the future to enable it to put its house back in order and put a stop to Ripping People Off.


The gross yearly Tote income, together with the gross yearly financial profit income from the
use of ‘ Live Picture Rights’ Which also belong by right to all those who work at the dangerous sharp end of British horseracing to include the horses, each and every day, without which the horseracing stage would be an empty one.




ONGOING BRITISH HORSERACING AND RELATED SCANDALS
The European Court Of Justice found in favour of William Hill in preference to the BHB a few years back now. All parties who dealt with that case were ‘Bloodhorse Illiterate.’ So the outcome must surely still remain questionable to this day.




THE TOTE SCANDAL


THE RICH GET RICHER AND THE POOR GET POORER SCANDAL


DUTY OF CARE THE BRITISH HORSERACING AUTHORITY BLOODHORSE ILLITERACY SCANDALS


DUTY OF CARE THE RCA BLOODHORSE ILLITERACY SCANDALS


THE MP’S EXPENCES SCANDAL
DUTY OF CARE THE GOVERNMENT SCANDALS


THE INLAND REVENUE SCANDALS
Effecting in access of 6 million people.


THE DUTY OF CARE BEAUROCRACY COUNTY COUNCIL SCANDALS


DUTY OF CARE THE NATIONAL HEALTH SCANDALS


WHERE EXACTLY DOES ‘DUTY OF CARE’ ACTUALLY KICK IN REGARDING ANIMALS?
HORSES NEEDS AND RIGHTS, CATS NEEDS AND RIGHTS, DOGS NEEDS AND RIGHTS. TO NAME ONLY A FEW HERE. WHERE ARE ALL THE VETERINARY PRACTICE PARTIES, AT, IN THIS REGARD? OR ARE THEY ALL STUCK IN ‘ THE RIP OFF BRITAIN MODE’ AS WELL?




DUTY OF CARE GUIDANCE HELP FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE, SCANDALS
DUTY OF CARE HELP FOR OLDER PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO COPE SCANDALS

 
THE LATE MOTHER TERESA’S WORK
Picking up the dying from the gutters of Calcutta.

THE POPE’S WORK AND HIS RECENT VISIT TO UK
What opulence inside and outside around the Vatican where the Pope lives and works.

THE HUGE GULF BETWEEN MOTHER TERESA’S WORK, AND POPE BENEDICT XV1 WORK.

PRINCESS DIANA IN HER LIFETIME UNDERSTOOD HER DUTY OF CARE .

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE IN HER LIFETIME UNDERSTOOD HER DUTY OF CARE.


HOW ARE PEOPLES MINDSETS EXPECTED TO BRIDGE THE HUGE GULF BETWEEN MOTHER TERESA WORK, AND POPE BENEDICT XVI WORK?

THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ARE FLOUNDERING ABOUT IN A SEA OF BEAUROCRACY. CONFUSED ABOUT THE TRUE MEANING OF THE WORDS  ‘DUTY OF CARE’  UNCERTAIN AS TO WHAT THESE THREE WORDS ACTUALLY DO MEAN.





END

Saturday 18 September 2010

THE MORNING LINE SPECIAL GUEST RT HON ALEX SALMOND MSP



THE MORNING LINE SPECIAL GUEST ALEX SALMOND PICKS UP THE BATON FOR BRITISH HORSERACING AT AYR TODAY THROUGH HIS PASSION FOR HORSERACING. (Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP ) ORGANIZE your afternoons’ racing action early, let the CHANNEL 4 MORNING LINE TEAM guide you along an exciting, intriguing and fascinating path into the world of horseracing.



THROUGH THE KEYHOLE THE CLUES ARE THERE. An interesting and entertaining program providing previews of runners and riders racing this afternoon, key current news, review and updates, relevant to this afternoon’s C4 live action coverage from AYR, NEWBURY, and NEWMARKET.



TODAYS MEETINGS COVERED BY THE MORNING LINE TEAM ARE:

AYR Flat (Turf good to firm) 8 races £390 k First race 1.40 - 5.35.
C4 show live 2.15. 2.45. 3.20 William Hill (Ayr) Gold Cup Winner £93, 465



NEWBURY Flat (Turf good to firm in places) 8 races £269k First race 1.30 – 5.25
C4 Show Live 2.00. 2.30 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes 6f for 2 year-olds. 3.05 and 3.40.



NEWMARKET (Flat Turf good) 8 races £300k. First race 1.45 – 5.50.
C4 Show Live 3.30 Investic Cesarewitch Trial (Handicap) (Class 2) Winner £22,666
2m 5f Row.




TODAY’S C4 TOTE SCOOP6 SATURDAY’S BIG TV BET RACES:
Go for gold to win over 1 million . Could you be the next Scoop6 millionaire?
Win fund rollover £220,525 Bonus fund rollover £755, 460.

Leg 1 2.00 Newbury
Leg 2 2.15 Ayr
Leg 3 3.05 Newbury
Leg 4 3.20 Ayr
Leg 5 3.30 Newmarket
Leg 6 3.40 Newbury





C4 MORNING LINE HORSERACING TEAM TODAY ARE:

LESLEY (Posh Bird) GRAHAM
Hostess Presenter Broadcaster/Bloodhorse Illiterate.


SPECIAL GUEST Rt HON ALEX SALMOND MSP.
Please see history below.


DEREK (Tommo) THOMPSON
‘Bloodhorse Literate’ Presenter, Broadcaster, Form Specialist.


TANYA (Tanz/Tipbits) STEVENSON
Form Specialist/Broadcaster. Up to the minute on line betting stats.
Bloodhorse Illiterate. Email Tanya: racing@channel4.com


EMMA (M’s) SPENCER
Bloodhorse Literate, Specialist/Broadcaster/Presenter.



JOHN (Mac) McCRIRICK THE PUNTERS CHAMPION. HOORAY MAC IS BACK THIS MORNING. We’ve missed you Mac. Bloodhorse Illiterate



SIMON HOLT
Commentator/Specialist Presenter/Broadcaster/Bloodhorse Illiterate



BARRY (BISMARK) DENNIS
Form Specialist/Bookmaker/ Over the phone Barry names the horse that he believes will not succeed in winning this afternoon. Bloodhorse Illiterate




RACING REVIEW LAST SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11th 2010 DONCASTER ST LEGER FESTIVAL MEETING.

ST LEGER WINNER: ARCTIC COSMOS partner WILLIAM BUICK trainer John Gosden for Rachel Hood and Robin Geffen. Breeder Sheridan & Iadora Farm. Gosden’s team member, presenting and minding ARCTIC COSMOS handler/rider Ismail Muhammad. Distance 1 and three quarters of a length, nose. At 12/1.


TRAINER JOHN GOSDEN REPORTS:
"We've had one dream come true today, not bad for a horse no one wanted, and who had to go into my wife's Christmas stocking. (Rachel Hood)


“ARCTIC COSMOS wore blinkers for the first time, we decided to put the headgear on him after his third in his trial at Goodwood. It's not that he is ungenuine, he's still just a big baby and we thought they'd help him concentrate."

BUICK said "ARCTIC COSMOS travelled with the blinkers today and the race panned out perfectly. It was very straight forward."

GOSDEN said: “This colt is likely to drop back in distance for his next assignment, which may be the Breeders' Cup Turf in Kentucky in November." (St Leger for 3 year
olds, distance1 mile 6 furlongs 132 yards)


On ARCTIC COSMOS partner WILLIAM BUICK Gosden said, “I spent a lot of time in the States around some great jockeys, SHOEMAKER, DALAHOUSSAYE, McCARRON, CORDERO, STEVENS, all those great, great riders and I'd like to think I know a good one when I see one.

"I've been watching WILLIAM BUICK'S qualities from when he was a little kid - he's got judgement as a jockey and great balance as a horseman, beautiful hands. He came up in the best academy possible in this modern era at Kingsclere. Good family - you could just see equilibrium. He’s a very talented young man.


"We live in a world of celebrity froth which can be destructive to a young athlete, but BUICK has had a proper grounding and upbringing. He's not going to lose his head."


BUICK went on to achieved two more winners for his stable that day, scoring on BUTHELEZI and SENATE.


ARCTIC COSMOS is Gosden’s third St Leger win. He won it in 1996 with SHANTOU partner F. DETTORI for Sheikh Mohammed at 8/1, and in 2007 with LUCARNO partner J. FORTUNE for G. Strawbridge at 7/2.




DATE FOR YOUR DIARY


WAR HORSE

http://www.londonwestendtheatrebreaks.com/


Venue: New London

Address: Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5PW. Show Details
Running Time: 2 hrs. 40 mins.
Opening: 4/3/2009
Closing: Open Run



THE POIGNANT STORY OF WAR HORSE IS SET DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR.

The poignant story of War Horse is set during the First World War and revolves around a young boy, Albert and his beloved horse, Joey. Joey is being sold to cavalry and has been shipped far away, to France. But, the young boy gets trapped in some mess, which results in trip to an extraordinary voyage. Nick Stafford's creative adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's War Horse has captured the imagination of theatre viewers fully at the National Theatre.


Albert feels lonely in the absence of Joey and decides to embark on a journey to bring his horse back. New London Theatre has finely staged this ambitious project with life size horse puppets.


Watching the classic War Horse show would be an enthralling experience for your family, as it features some great humor finely entwined with heart stirring emotions. If you want to enjoy this touching saga of love and emotions fully then order War Horse Theatre Tickets now! You can order London theatre tickets for War Horse playing at New London Theatre from official theatre and show experts London Westend Theatre Tickets.


(XMAS CHANGES: Times from Mon 20 Dec 2010 to Mon 3 Dec 2011 inclusive: Mon 7.30pm; Tues, Wed & Thu at 2pm & 7pm; Fri 2pm; Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm - No perf Sat 25 Dec)


Credits:

Author: Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford
Director: Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris
Producer: National Theatre/Handspring Puppet Company
Designer: Rae Smith
Lighting: Paule Constable
Sound By: Christopher Shutt

Show times
Evenings:
Monday, Wednesday to Saturday 7.30
Tuesday 7.00
Matinees:
Thursday & Saturday 2.30


Cast Includes: Jacob Anderson (Billy), Matthew Aubrey (Albert Narracott), James Barriscale (Chapman Carter/Colonel Strauss/ Sgt. Fine), Nigel Betts (Arthur Narracott/Sgt. Thunder), Andrew Bridgmont (Alternate Songman/Greig/Schmidtt), Matthew Burgess (Joey heart, Schweyk), Emily Cooper (Joey and Topthorn hind/ensemble), Vanessa Faye-Stanley (Baby Joey/Ensemble), Matthew Forbes (Ensemble), Ross Green (Joey and Topthorn heart/ensemble), David Grewcock (Joey and Topthorn head/ensemble), Robin Guiver (Joey and Topthorn heart/Geordie), Stephen Harper (Topthorn head/Geordie), Nicolas Karimi (Topthorn heart), Sarah Mardel (Baby Joey/Emilie), Jess Murphy (Paulette/Baby Joey), Eamonn O'Dwyer (Songman), Toby OIie (Joey and Topthorn head/Goose), David Ononokpono (Captain Stewart), Ian Piears (Joey hind/Heine), Malcolm Ridley (Sgt. Allan, Schnabel, Manfred), Ruth Rogers (Joey head), William Rycroft (Bone/Rudi/Callaghan), Abdul Salis (David Taylor), Rachel Sanders (Rose/Sentry Shaw), Anthony Shuster (Vet Martin), Perri Snowden (Captain Nicholls), Ben Thompson (Joey and Topthorn hind/Ludwig /Goose), Zubin Varla (Friedrich Muller), Andy Williams (Ted Narracott), Thomas Wilton (ensemble).




PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
Rt HON ALEX SALMOND MSP SPECIAL GUEST, MORNING LINE.

Early life and career
Salmond was born in Linlithgow, a town in West Lothian, Scotland on 31 December, (Hogmanay) 1954. He is the second of four children born to Robert Fyfe Findlay Salmond and Mary Stewart Salmond (née Milne), both of whom were civil servants Salmond attended the local Linlithgow Academy before studying at the University of St Andrews, where he graduated with a Joint Honours MA in economics and history.


In 1978 he entered the Government Economic Service as an Assistant Economist in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, part of the now defunct Scottish Office. Two years later he joined the Royal Bank of Scotland where he worked for seven years: first as an Assistant Economist before being appointed Oil Economist in 1982, and from 1984 combining that role with duties as a bank economist. While with the Royal Bank, he wrote and broadcast extensively for both domestic and international outlets. He also contributed regularly to oil and energy conferences. In 1983 Salmond created a "Royal Bank/BBC oil index" that is still used.


Early political career
Salmond became active in the SNP when he joined the Federation of Student Nationalists at St Andrews University in 1973 while a student at St Andrews. As a left-winger at the time he joined, he had considerable doubts as to whether or not the Labour Government would legislate for a devolved Scottish Assembly.


Salmond started his political life as a committed left-winger inside the SNP and was a leading member of the socialist republican organisation within it, the 79 Group. He was, along with other group leaders, suspended from membership of the SNP when the 79 Group was banned within the larger party. In 1981, he married Moira French McGlashan, then a senior civil servant with the Scottish Office.


Following the SNP's National Council narrowly voting to uphold the expulsion, Salmond and the others were allowed back into the party a month later, and in 1985 he was elected as the SNP's Vice Convener for Publicity.


In 1987 he stood for Parliament in Banff and Buchan and defeated the incumbent Conservative MP, Albert McQuarrie. Later that year Salmond became Senior Vice Convener (Deputy Leader) of the SNP. He was at this time still viewed as being firmly on the left of the party and had become a key ally of Jim Sillars, who joined him in the British House of Commons when he won a by-election for the seat of Glasgow Govan in 1988.

Salmond served as a member of the House of Commons Energy Select Committee from 1987 to 1992.

Biography. Taylor, Alan; Wilson. Alan (1999). Alex Salmond: a biography. Canongate. ISBN 9780862419219

First time as SNP leader
When Gordon Wilson stood down as SNP leader in 1990, Salmond decided to contest the leadership. His only opponent was Margaret Ewing, whom Sillars decided to support. This caused considerable consternation amongst the SNP left as the two main left leaders were opposing each other in the contest. Salmond went on to win the leadership election by 486 votes to Ewing's 146.


Personal life
Salmond's main interests outside work and politics are golf, horse racing, football and reading. He supports Scotland and Heart of Midlothian F.C. and sometimes attends matches. He also attended the 2008 UEFA Cup Final between Rangers FC and Zenit St Petersburg.


He takes an interest in Scottish cultural life, as well as watching Star Trek and listening to country and western music. For Children in Need in 2008, Salmond performed an impersonation of the Rikki Fulton character, the Reverend I M Jolly.
He has also been a visiting Professor of Economics at Strathclyde University. He and his wife Moira live in Strichen in Aberdeenshire.


Resignation and time in Westminster
Salmond was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and was one of its highest profile members. He stood down as SNP leader in 2000, and was replaced by his preferred successor John Swinney, who defeated Alex Neil for the post. He left the Scottish Parliament in 2001 to lead the SNP group in the House of Commons.


First Minister Salmond speaks at the launch of A National Conversation
His first test as leader was the general election in 1992, with the SNP having high hopes of making an electoral breakthrough. Whilst considerably increased its share of the vote, it failed to win a large number of seats. Sillars lost his, causing him to describe the Scottish people as '90 minute patriots'. This comment ended the political friendship between Salmond and Sillars, and Sillars would soon become a vocal critic of Salmond's style of leadership.


The SNP increased its number of MPs from four to six in the 1997 General Election, which saw a landslide victory for the Labour Party. After election, Labour legislated for a devolved Scottish parliament in Edinburgh.
Although still committed to a fully independent Scotland, Salmond signed the SNP up to supporting the campaign for devolution, and, along with Scottish Labour leader Donald Dewar and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Jim Wallace, played an active part in securing the victory for devolution in the Scotland referendum of 1997. However, many hard line fundamentalists in the SNP objected to committing the party to devolution, as it was short of full political Scottish independence.


Salmond's first spell as leader was characterised by a moderation of his earlier left-wing views and by his firmly placing the SNP into a gradualist, but still pro-independence, strategy.


Salmond was one of the few British politicians to oppose the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999. He was opposed to the conflict because it was not authorised by a United Nations Security Council resolution, which was a controversial subject at the time. Despite this, Salmond was heavily criticized in the media for describing Tony Blair's decision to intervene militarily as an "unpardonable folly".


Several years as party leader earned Salmond an unusually high profile for an SNP politician in the London-based media. In 1998, Salmond won the Spectator Award for Political strategist of the Year. Following an appearance on the entertainment programme Call My Bluff, Salmond used one of the 'bluff' cards that are used as props in the show in the run-up to the first elections to the Scottish Parliament.


To counter his frustration at having to sit in silence through what he claimed was an inappropriately political speech by Tony Blair at a charity lunch, he held up the bluff card as the Prime Minister began querying Scotland's economic prospects should independence occur. Throughout his time in politics, Salmond has maintained his interest in horse racing, writing a weekly column for The Scotsman and appearing a number of times on Channel 4's The Morning Line.


Return as leader
On 15 July 2004, Alex Salmond said that he would be a candidate in the forthcoming election for the leadership of the SNP. This came as a surprise because Salmond had previously declared that he would definitely not be a leadership candidate.[12] In the postal ballot of all members he went on to receive over 75% of the votes cast, placing him well ahead of his nearest rival Roseanna Cunningham l though he was re-elected in the 2005 general election, he made clear his intention to return to the Scottish Parliament at the 2007 Scottish parliamentary election in an attempt to win power for the first time.


In that election, Salmond stood as a candidate for the Gordon constituency, which had been represented since 1999 by the Liberal Democrat Nora Radcliffe..Salmond won the seat with 41% of the vote, and a majority of 2,062, returning to the Scottish Parliament after six years' absence. In the election the SNP emerged as the largest party, winning 47 seats to Labour's 46.


First Minister
Salmond with Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the launch of the National Conversation.

Having won more seats than any other party in the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP initially approached the Scottish Liberal Democrats to form a coalition, but they declined to take part in negotiations. This left the SNP without any possibility to form a coalition with an overall majority. The Scottish Green Party agreed to support an SNP minority administration on a confidence and supply basis.


Salmond (right) meets Ian Paisley (centre) and Martin McGuinness (left).
Salmond was elected by the Scottish Parliament as First Minister on 16 May 2007, and was sworn in on 17 May after receiving the Royal Warrant from the Queen and taking the official oath of allegiance before judges at the Court of Session.

Salmond became the first nationalist politician to hold the office.. He reduced the size of the Cabinet from nine members to six, and said he would seek to govern on a "policy by policy" basis. In order to concentrate on his new role as First Minister, Salmond stood down as the SNP group leader at Westminster and was replaced by Angus Robertson.


The Guardian reported in November 2007 that Salmond believed Scotland would be independent within "the next decade"
In November 2007, Salmond received the The Spectator's Parliamentarian of the Year Award for his "brilliant campaign" and "extraordinary victory" in the Scottish Parliament elections, thereby ending eight years of Labour rule.[21]


2010 TV election debate
Salmond said it would be "unacceptable for the SNP to be excluded from the 2010 UK election televised debate and has sought "guarantees of inclusion from the broadcasters, given their inescapable duty to ensure fairness and impartiality in election-related coverage in Scotland" in the build up to the 2010 UK General Election.


The party used the Freedom of Information Act to see if the BBC could have broken its own rules. Salmond said it was entirely unacceptable to Scotland as well as to the SNP for the broadcasters to exclude the party that forms the Scottish Government and leading in Westminster election polls.

He emphasised, however, that he was not trying to stop any debates from being broadcast. After having failed to change the BBC's decision to not include the SNP in the final UK debate, in line with the decision by ITV and Sky News, the SNP mounted a legal challenge to the BBC at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Despite earlier reassurances by the SNP that it was not trying to stop the broadcast, it sought an 'interim interdict' to prevent the debate being broadcast without the participation of the SNP. However, the Court of Session dismissed the SNP's complaint, and refused to ban the BBC from broadcasting the third debate in Scotland, on the grounds that the SNP had left the bringing of the case


Which 2 year old will win the Mill Reef Stakes the 2.30 at Newbury this afternoon?



Can HAWKEYETHENOO win the Ayr Gold Cup sprint, a big ask in a 27 runner race, but maybe, just maybe, with a little magic on his side, he can?



END

Friday 17 September 2010

Rt HON ALEX SALMOND MSP SPECIAL GUEST ON THE CHANNEL 4 MORNING LINE IN THE MORNING FROM 7.55am TO 8.55am.





CAN ALEX SALMOND GET THROUGH TO THE GOVERNMENT PARTIES AND THE BRITISH HORSERACING AUTHORITY PARTIES, INCLUSIVE OF ALL THOSE WITHIN RACING FOR CHANGE on behalf of all the true top professional horseman and horsewomen at this level, and address the imbalance of power relating to Bloodhorse Illiteracy within politics, and within the BHA, Racing for Change Group, and the Horsemans Group? Because if this issue continues to be ignored British Racecourses will eventually become the most lethally dangerous places to be. No place to take a family for an enjoyable day out.



There is nothing wrong in being Bloodhorse Illiterate, so long as the parties that are Bloodhorse Illiterate realise the fact.


This imbalance is repressing and crippling British Horseracing. And bringing racing into disrepute on a daily basis. With innocent parties being set up and left to take the blame.


At present we see Paul Roy Chairman of BHA and Nic Coward as chief executive of BHA, both accept, and take out of horseracing funds, huge wages each year, yet both are Bloodhorse Illiterate. They may well have other skills, but they do not realise the damage they do on a daily basis because they are completely unaware of the issues they are neglecting.



END

Thursday 16 September 2010

CHANNEL4'S HORSERACING TEAM AND AYR RACECOURSE WELCOME ALEX SALMOND TO THE AYR GOLD CUP ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18th 2010.



SCOTLAND'S FIRST MINISTER ALEX SALMOND WILL BE A SPECIAL GUEST ON THIS NEXT SATURDAY'S CHANNEL4 MORNING LINE (7.55am to 8.55am) AND WILL BE WELCOMED FOR ALL THE LIVE ACTION IN THE AFTERNOON BY SAME, AND BY WILLIAM HILL WHO HOST THE AYR GOLD CUP, to be run over 6 furlongs at 3.20. Alex Salmond an inveterate follower of horse-racing,(as was the late Robin Cook) both, a life long interest in horseracing.



Kate Miller of sponsors William Hill who invited the First Minister commented: “It is tremendous news that Alex Salmond will be attending the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup – a meeting that celebrates all that is good about Scottish racing.“The First Minister has always been a huge supporter of horse racing, so it is only fitting that he will be attending in person to watch the richest sprint handicap in Europe.”



Scotland’s biggest flat meeting of the season in his capacity of First Minister, having previously presented the Gold Cup in 2007 when Advanced won the race for trainer Kevin Ryan and jockey Jamie Spencer.



Alan Macdonald Ayr Racecourse chairman: "I am thrilled he has agreed to attend this year's William Hill (Ayr) Gold Cup, and that he is to be the guest of Channel4 racing presenter Derek Thompson.”


Scottish trained horses have seldom won the Ayr Gold Cup, Nigel Angus and his team won it way back in 1975 with Roman Warrior. Can Jim Goldie and his team win it this year with either Hawkeyethenoo or Hogmaneigh?


Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP was in Scotland today welcoming Pope Benedict xvi on his arrival in Scotland, with our own Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.


Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP
84 North Street
Inverurie
Aberdeenshire
Phone : 01467 670070
Fax : 01779 474460
Email : Alex.Salmond.msp@scottish.parliament.uk




END

Saturday 11 September 2010

WATCH C4 MORNING LINE LIVE FROM 7.55am to 8.55am EVERY SATURDAY



ORGANIZE your afternoons’ racing action early, let the CHANNEL 4 MORNING LINE TEAM guide you along an exciting, intriguing and fascinating path into the world of horseracing.


THROUGH THE KEYHOLE THE CLUES ARE THERE. An interesting and entertaining program providing previews of runners and riders racing this afternoon, key current news, review and updates, relevant to this afternoon’s C4 live action coverage from GOODWOOD, DONCASTER ST LEGER DAY, CHESTER, AND THE CURRAGH IRISH ST LEGER DAY.


TODAYS MEETINGS COVERED BY THE MORNING LINE TEAM ARE:

DONCASTER Flat (Turf) 7 races £898k First race 2.10 – 5.35
C4 Show Live 2.10. 2.45. 3.20. 3.55.
3.20 Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) Winner £283.850
For 3-year old colts and fillies.


GOODWOOD Flat (Turf) 7 races £138k First race 2.25 – 5.00
C4 Show Live 2.25. 3.00.


CHESTER Flat (Turf) 7 races £94k First race 2.35 – 5.55
C4 Show Live 3.35


CURRAGH Flat (Turf) 7 races £630k First race 2.10 – 5.25
C4 show live 3.45. The Irish Field St Leger Stakes (Group 1) Winner e139.400 1m 6f.



C4 TOTESCOOP6 SATURDAY’S BIG TV BET RACES.
Play today to win up to £1 million. Win fund rollover £92,436
Bonus fund rollover £700,564.

Leg 1 2.25 Goodwood.
Leg 2 2.45 Doncaster.
Leg 3 3.05 Chester.
Leg 4 3.20 Doncaster.
Leg 5 3.35 Chester.
Leg 6 3.55 Doncaster.



C4 MORNING LINE HORSERACING TEAM TODAY ARE:

NICK (Lord Snooty) LUCK
Host Presenter/Broadcaster/ Bloodhorse Illiterate


GUEST STAR PAUL MULRENNAN LICENSED FLAT RACE JOCKEY
Bloodhorse Literate. PAUL partners DANDINO for Elite Racing Club in this afternoons
St Leger (3.20) Doncaster. DANDINO 2nd favourite morning price 8/1.
REWILDING morning price 11/8 favourite. Experiences achieved in Calcutta.


TANYA (Tipbits) STEVENSON
Form Specialist/Broadcaster. Up to the minute on line betting stats.
Bloodhorse Illiterate. Email Tanya: racing@channel4.com


MIKE (Cat) CATTERMOLE
Specialist Presenter/Broadcaster/ Commentator/ Bloodhorse Illiterate


JOHN (The Greatest Jockey) FRANCOME
‘Bloodhorse Literate’. Retired professional jump jockey horseman of the highest caliber. Form Specialist/Broadcaster/ Journalist/Author


JIM (Gentleman Jim) McGRATH
Form Specialist/Broadcaster/Commentator. ‘Bloodhorse Illiterate’


BARRY (BISMARK) DENNIS
Form Specialist/Bookmaker/ Over the phone Barry names the horse that he believes will not succeed in winning this afternoon. Bloodhorse Illiterate




COUNTDOWN DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: NEWBURY SATURDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2010
Dubai Duty Free Weekend featuring Sports Saturday
GATES OPEN - 11.00 | FIRST RACE - 1.30 | LAST RACE - 4.50
Featuring top class horseracing with two Group races, sporting master classes and trick shot shows. There will be live music from the Sing Out Sisters as well as a face painter and bouncy castle for the children!

http://www.newbury-racecourse.co.uk/Racing/Fixtures---Tickets/Saturday-18th-September



PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

TELEVISED STEWARDS’ INQUIRIES?

IN PART? OR FULL STEWARDS’ INQUIRIES TO BE TELEVISED? IS ANYONE ALLOWED TO KNOW?

We are not being informed accurately in this regard; only the first half of a stewards inquiry was shown live by C4 at Glorious Goodwood on 31 July 2010. A significant omit by BHA regulation parties who only choose to show this stewards inquiry in part, to date. Maybe in action at Doncaster to-day ... so we are led to believe.



LADBROKES ST LEGER FESTIVAL MEETING DONCASTER
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 8th to SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11th 2010

1776 was the first year that the St Leger Stakes was run at Doncaster Racecourse.
WINNER: ALLABACULIA partner JOHN SINGLETON trainer Christopher Scaife for the
Marquess of.Rockingham Owner Charles Watson- Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. ( 13 May 1730 – 1 July 1782) Served as Prime Minister of Great Britain, in office 27 March 1782 – 1 July 1782. Monarch George 111.


Despite the attractions of other Autumn races such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Breeders’ Cup, the St. Leger remains a key feature of the British racing calendar. Don’t miss the continuation of St Leger’s history, the 234th running of this race will take place this afternoon Saturday 11th September 2010. To be show live by the C4 Horseracing Team.


THE ST LEGER FAMILY IS AN OLD ANGLO - IRISH FAMILY WITH NORMAN ROOTS GOING BACK OVER A THOUSAND YEARS, AND WHOSE NAME HAS APPEARED MORE THAN A FEW TIMES IN HISTORY.


ST LEGER 616? – 678 7th century martyr and bishop of Autun, contributed to the popularity of the name in France. The name was introduced into England by the Normans after 1066, and to Ireland in the 12th century following the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, where it achieved considerable status. As part of Leger’s episcopal duties, he not only preached and taught ordinary folks, but he also reformed many of the clergy who had become lax in their responsibilities.
He said that if monks were doing what they were supposed to do, their prayers would preserve the world from many disasters.


St Leger's words way back then, ring true, and continue to ring true throughout and over all these centuries, to the present day: "If each of us were doing no more and no less than what we were supposed to, the world would be in much better shape. The
problem is we sometimes become so overwhelmed we don’t know where to start. "Whether we’re dealing with global issues or sorting out personal ones, the process is exactly the same. We can’t try to solve the whole thing all at once. We’ve got to take it one step at a time. What issue concerns me the most at this moment? What one thing can I do to help?


St Leger's words were brought to light in recent years by Mother Teresa “What you are doing, I may not be able to do ... what I am doing you may not be able to do ... But all of us together are doing 'Something Beautiful For God' (www.lionhudson.com) If we each do what we can right now, together we will be able to accomplish all that needs to be done."


The author of this book, Malcolm Muggerage, was born in 1903, was educated at Selhurst Grammer School and Selwyn College, Cambridge. He started his career as a university lecturer in Cairo before taking up journalism. As a journalist he worked around the world on the Guardian, Calcutta Statesman, the Evening Standard, and the Daily Telegraph, and then in 1953 became editor of Punch where he remained for four years. In the 1939 - 45 war he served as a Major in the Intelligence Corps, being awarded both the Legion d'Honneur and the Croix de Guerre. In latter years Malcolm Muggerage became best known as a broadcaster both on television and radio for the BBC. He died at the age of 87 in 1990.


Mother Teresa is an unsurpassed inspiration of simplicity, faith and compassion. As she daily cared for the poor of Calcutta, she challenged the world to greater acts - to the importance of small things done with great love. First published in 1971 'Something Beautiful For God' is an uplifting chronicle of Malcolm Muggerage's discovery of Mother Teresa and the religious order she instituted. It is not, in the ordinary sense, a biography, but arises out of Muggerage's observations and reflections on being with her in Calcutta. It is the classic work that introduced Mother Teresa to the Western world. Now colour illustrated throughout, the book includes, along with Muggerage's reflections, the transcript of his conversations with Mother Teresa and a selection of her own writings and meditations. Her message is forever relevant. As is St Leger's 616? – 678 from way back in the 7th century.


St Leger was raised at the court of King Clotaire II and by his uncle, Bishop Didon of Poitiers. Leger was made archdeacon by Didon, was ordained, and in about 651, became abbot of Maxentius Abbey, where he introduced the Rule of St. Benedict. He served Queen Regent St.Bathildis and helped her govern when Clovis II died in 656, and was named bishop of Autun in 663. He reconciled the differing factions that had torn the See apart, introduced reforms, fortified the town, and was known for his concern for the poor. Feast day October 2.


Doncaster benefited from the lucrative stagecoach trade in the 16th century. This led to horse breeding in the town, and to the popularity of horse racing. The first known horse races were held there as early as the 17th century.


The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horserace, run in Great Britain, open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards (2,937 metres), and it is scheduled to take place every September. Established in 1776, the St. Leger is the oldest of Britain's five Classics. It is the last of the five to be run each year, and it is raced over a longer distance than any of the previous four. To be run this year on Saturday 11 September 2010 and televised live by the Channel 4 Horseracing Team.

Race Date Distance Course.

2,000 Guineas Stakes
Late April / early May 1 mile Newmarket

1,000 Guineas Stakes
Late April / early May 1 mile Newmarket

Epsom Oaks
Early June 1 mile 4 furlongs 10 yd
Epsom Downs

Epsom Derby
First Saturday in June 1 mile 4 furlongs 10 yd
Epsom Downs

St. Leger Stakes September 1 mile 6 furlongs 132 yd Doncaster


A later St. Leger of historical importance was Gen. Anthony St. Leger. He was born in 1731 probably in Kildare, Ireland. He was one of a group of noblemen and gentlemen who in 1778 gathered for a private dinner party in an upper room of the Red Lion Inn which stands in the market square in Doncaster. When they departed, history had been made. A horse race which was to set the pattern for classic racing throughout the world had been christened the St. Leger. The race, a sweepstake for three-year-olds, had been born two years earlier in 1776, at the suggestion of Lt. Col. (later Major-General) Anthony St. Leger and ran for the first time over a two-mile course on Cantley Common in Doncaster. The classic race, The St. Leger has been run at Doncaster ever since. St Leger died on 19 April 1786. He was buried in Saint Anne’s Church Dublin.




END

Saturday 4 September 2010

WATCH CHANNEL4 ‘THE MORNING LINE’ LIVE FROM 8AM TO 9AM EVERY SATURDAY.




ORGANIZE your afternoons’ racing action early, let the CHANNEL 4 MORNING LINE TEAM guide you along an exciting, intriguing and fascinating path into the world of horseracing.


THROUGH THE KEYHOLE THE CLUES ARE THERE. An interesting and entertaining program providing previews of runners and riders racing this afternoon, key current news, review and updates, relevant to this afternoon’s C4 live action coverage from HAYDOCK, LEOPARDSTOWN, KEMPTON and THIRSK.


TODAYS MEETINGS COVERED BY THE MORNING LINE TEAM ARE:

HAYDOCK Flat (Turf) 7 races £473k First race 2.00 – 5.15
C4 Show Live 2.00. 2.30. 3.05. 3.35.
3.35 Betfred Sprint Cup (Group 1) Winner £163,809.93


LEOPARDSTOWN Flat (Turf) 8 races e1,242 k First race 1.40 – 5.35
C4 show live 3.45. Tatteralls Millions Champion Stakes (Group 1) Winner e434,500 1m 2f.


KEMPTON AW Standard (Watering) 7 races £187k First race 2.15 – 5.25
C4 Show Live 2.15. 2.45 and 3.20.


THIRSK Flat (Turf) 7 races £55k First race 1.55 – 5.40
C4 Show Live 2.55




TODAY’S C4 TOTE SCOOP6 SATURDAY’S TV BET RACES
Good luck to the winner playing for a bonus of £660,949
Leg 1 2.30 Haydock
Leg 2 2.45 Kempton
Leg 3 2.55 Thirsk
Leg 4 3.05 Haydock
Leg 5 3.20 Kempton
Leg 6 3.35 Haydock




C4 MORNING LINE HORSERACING TEAM TODAY ARE:

NICK (Lord Snooty) LUCK
Host Presenter/Broadcaster/ Bloodhorse Illiterate


GUEST STAR ROBIN BASTIMAN
TRAINER OF THE FANTASTIC 8 YEAR OLD SPRINTER BORDERLESCOTT, partner NEIL CALLAN compete this afternoon in the 3.35 Betfred Sprint Cup (Group 1) over 6f . Can they win this? The true story behind the action, the daily highs and lows behind the scenes, big winners, brave losers, the skilled expertise involved in preparing a sprinter, a work of art achievement at this level. Bloodhorse literate. www.rbastimanracing.com


EMMA (M’s) SPENCER
Bloodhorse Literate, Specialist/Broadcaster/Presenter.


TANYA (Tipbits) STEVENSON
Form Specialist/Broadcaster. Up to the minute on line betting stats.
Bloodhorse Illiterate. Email Tanya: racing@channel4.com


MIKE (Catt) CATTERMOLE
Specialist Presenter/Broadcaster/ Commentator/ Bloodhorse Illiterate


SIMON HOLT
Commentator/Specialist Presenter/Broadcaster/Bloodhorse Illiterate


BARRY (BISMARK) DENNIS
Form Specialist/Bookmaker/ Over the phone Barry names the horse that he believes will not succeed in winning this afternoon. Bloodhorse Illiterate


DEREK (Thommo) THOMPSON
‘Bloodhorse Literate’ Form Specialist, Presenter, Broadcaster.


COUNTDOWN DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: THE LADBROKES ST LEGER FESTIVAL 2010. The Channel 4 Horseracing Team will be covering Live Racing on both Friday 10th and Saturday the 11th of September.


Welcome to Yorkshire. Yorkshire.com Four Days of Classic Horse Racing
This meeting is sponsored and supported by Welcome To Yorkshire, the marketing organisation for our region, showcasing the wonderful variety of opportunities for visitors to Yorkshire. For lots of great ideas on planning your next break in Yorkshire visit www.yorkshire.com Why not take up the offer of a 3 or 4 day pass for the entire festival?


Make your day that extra bit special by visiting the Lincoln or the Conduit Restaurant, or the Paddock Pavillion, has Silks Restaurant and the Champagne & Seafood Bar offering a large selection of seafood, a table d’hote Menu and afternoon tea.
http://www.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk/raceday/fixtures-2010.html?mode=view&fix=1340



PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

TELEVISED STEWARDS INQUIRIES BROUGHT TO AN ABRUPT HALT.
Following the first half of the televised Stewards Inquiry that took place on Saturday July 31st 2010, the last day of the Glorious Goodwood Festival Meeting.


A SIGNIFICANT OMIT.
The second half of this Stewards Inquiry however was not shown live.
The Stewards having heard all they want to hear in the first half, or so they believe. Have now to come to a decision between themselves, of what the outcome is to be.


Virtually an impossible situation exists and has existed over decades for any and all professional riders who are called in to attend a Stewards Inquiry.


Professional riders called to speak up at such inquiries to ‘Bloodhorse Illiterate Stewards have scant chance of being understood. This being the direct cause of the long, long ongoing confusion.This second half if shown live would almost certainly prove the Bloodhorse Illiteracy of these Stewards beyond all shadow of doubt.



ALEX EMBIRICOS the daughter of ALDANITI’S owner NICK EMBIRICOS started out last Tuesday (31.08.2010) cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats in aid of the Bob Champion Cancer Trust. Alex is planning to complete the trip in twelve days, and having already collected more than £7,000 through sponsors, has now set her sights on raising £10,000.


Alex confirms “This charity is very close to my heart, as I was 13 when my father’s horse ALDANITI won the Grand National with BOB CHAMPION aboard. Bob had won a hard and gritty battle against cancer and at one stage things looked incredibly grim. But together he and Aldaniti fought through their pain, and their incredible bravery led them foot perfect round Aintree in 1981 to win one of the greatest Grand Nationals ever.”


Alex will cover roughly 1,000 miles and adds “My training has gone well despite a few niggling old injuries. I’m certainly no Victoria Pendleton, though.”
To Sponsor visit, justgiving.com/alex-embiricos-cyclesLeJog Or contact Lucy Wilkinson at the Bob Champion Cancer Trust on 020-7924 3553




RACING REVIEW GOODWOOD SATURDAY 28 AUGUST 2010

‘DATE WITH DESTINY’ has her second run in public at Goodwood on Saturday 28 August in the 3.40 Chichester Observer Prestige Stakes (Group 3)(Class 1) Winner £22,708 for 2yo fillies all carry 9-0 7f 7 run.


DATE WITH DESTINY partner PAT DOBBS trainer Richard Hannon for Mrs J Wood finished 6 of 7 at 9/2. In touch mid division when asked to quicken she lost her stride, floundering badly in the soft downland turf, her action blunted.


This is how this race panned out to be:
Winner: THEYSKENS’THEORY partner MARTIN DWYER trainer B Meehan for Andrew Rosen. Winner £22,708 7 ran. 11/10f. Won by one and a quarter lengths. Took command throughout to win easily.


Second: COCHABAMBA (IRE) partner JACK MITCHELL trainer RA Teal for The Rat Racers. 11/1. Took strong hold, manoeuvred to take second place, no chance with winner,


Third: CAPE DOLLAR partner K.FALLON trainer Sir Michael Stoute for Saeed Suhail. 4/1. No chance with winner, outpaced into third. END




RACING REVIEW NEWBURY FRIDAY 9th JULY 2010
GEORGE WASHINGTON’S only foal DATE WITH DESTINY wins her debut race as a two year old at Newbury on Friday 9th July in the 6:20 Cristal Management EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes. Winner £4,533.20 7f 14 ran. Good to Firm.


Winner: DATE WITH DESTINY (IRE) partner RICHARD HUGHES trainer Richard Hannon for Julie Wood. 9/2. Breeder: Azienda Agricola Loreto Luciani. In touch, asked to quicken inside final furlong, sprinted clear to win by one and half lengths.


Second: ZANAZZI (USA) partner NICKY MACKAY trainer J Gosden for HRH Princess Haya of Jordan beaten one and a half lengths. (third run) Led throughout, headed inside final furlong, outpaced by winner.


Third: OPERA DANCER partner JAMES DOYLE trainer S. Kirk for C J Smith. Two lengths off the winner. 33/1. Could not quicken, stayed on same pace. END




THIS IS THE TRUE STORY OF ‘DATE WITH DESTINY’ SO FAR:

‘DATE WITH DESTINY’ was born on the 4th of February 2008 a bay filly foal the only offspring of the uneasy, but charismatic 2000 Guineas winner (2006)
GEORGE WASHINGTON.


Following GEORGE WASHINGTON’S success on the flat he was sent to stud. But found to be infertile. He was quickly put back into training however, and travelled out to USA for the Breeders Cup Meeting. An ill-fated journey that would cost him his life, he was severely injured whilst competing in bad conditions on a Dirt Track.
GEORGIOUS GEORGE he was known as, and through his quirkiness everyone seemed to grow to love him. KIERAN FALLON rode him.


GEORGE WASHINGTON’S filly DATE WITH DESTINY was sold at Tattersalls Newmarket Sales for £320,000 gns in 2009.


Richard Hannon picks up this amazing true story; "We are all very excited about what has been an eagerly-awaited debut for Julie Wood's GEORGE WASHINGTON’S filly, DATE WITH DESTINY, who runs in the opener at Newbury (09.07.2010).


"We feel privileged to have such a high-profile filly in the team, and all credit to Julie for stumping up the 320,000gns for the only one of the Guineas winner's produce to have come under the hammer.


"We have taken our time with DATE WITH DESTINY and we were always going to wait for the seven-furlong races.


"We hope that she has the ability of GEORGE, but she certainly has a better temperament as she is so placid, and she is the most gorgeous mover.


"She did a nice piece of work with Hughesie aboard at Herridge on Tuesday (06.07.2010) coming up the gallop with Chica Whopa, and it will be great to get her started. She has done everything right so far."

Go to Richard Hannon’s Super Website http://www.richardhannonracing.tv/news.php



END

Friday 3 September 2010

INFO ST LEGER RUNNERS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11th 2010




LADBROKES St LEGER - sponsor’s prices:

7/4 Rewilding, 5/1 Snow Fairy, 6/1 Arctic Cosmos, 7/1 Dandino, 7/1 Midas Touch, 10/1 Cape Blanco, 10/1 Joshua Tree, 25/1 Buzzword, 25/1 Ted Spread, 25/1 Theology, 22/1 Corsica, 33/1 Flying Cross, 33/1 Total Command, 50/1 Await The Dawn, 100/1 Vibrant Force, 200/1 Bright Horizon


Each-way a quarter the odds 1, 2, 3



THE LADBROKES ST LEGER DONCASTER RACECOURSE

CLASS 1, GROUP 1, £500,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.05pm, Doncaster, Saturday, September 11, 2010. For 3yo only, entire colts and fillies. One mile, six furlongs & 132 yards. Weights: colts 9st; fillies 8st 11lb. Entries closed July 20, entries revealed July 21 (42 entries). Scratchings deadline noon, August 24 (16 remain), five-day confirmation & £45,000 supplementary entry stage Monday, September 6, final declaration stage 10am, Thursday, September 9. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, August 23, 2010.



Form Horse Owner Trainer

(4)4-(1)3(1)23 ARCTIC COSMOS (USA) Rachel Hood & Robin Geffen John Gosden

10-1 AWAIT THE DAWN (USA) Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

(2)-511002 BRIGHT HORIZON Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

5-04031 BUZZWORD Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni

111-1012 CAPE BLANCO (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

1(1)13415 CORSICA (IRE) Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

02-11112 DANDINO Elite Racing Club James Given

41- FLYING CROSS (IRE) Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

121-3 JOSHUA TREE (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

314-1522 MIDAS TOUCH Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/David Smith/Denford Stud Aidan O’Brien IRE

21-2131 REWILDING Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni

430-1112 SNOW FAIRY (IRE) Anamoine Ltd Ed Dunlop

013-104 TED SPREAD False Nose 'n Glasses Partnership Mark Tompkins

30-4126 THEOLOGY Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Touchstone Jeremy Noseda

62-4130 TOTAL COMMAND Khalid Abdulla Sir Michael Stoute

262 VIBRANT FORCE (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni



16 entries remain after August 24 scratchings deadline

6 Irish-trained



THE FOLLOWING HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: ADDRESS UNKNOWN, AL ZIR (USA), ANHAR (USA), AT FIRST SIGHT (IRE), BATTLEOFTRAFALGAR, DANCING DAVID (IRE), DREAMSPEED (IRE), DUBAWI PHANTOM, FENCING MASTER, HARRIS TWEED, HIBAAYEB, INTO WAIN (USA), LAYALI AL ANDALUS, MEEZNAH (USA), MISS JEAN BRODIE (USA), MOMKINZAIN (USA), MONTEREY (IRE), MONTEROSSO, MYPLACELATER, REBEL SOLDIER (IRE), SCOTTISH REEL (IRE), SIMON DE MONTFORT (IRE), ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (IRE), VERY GOOD DAY (FR), VULCANITE (IRE), WEDDING MARCH (IRE)


END

MCMAHON HOPES TO STORM DONCASTER’S LADBROKES ST LEGER FESTIVAL 2010



ED McMAHON is enjoying a purple patch with Astrophysical Jet’s Group Three triumph in Ireland the pick of four winners in the last 12 days and the Staffordshire trainer is hoping another of his speedsters can continue the good run at Doncaster’s four-day Ladbrokes St Leger Festival next week.



Noble Storm is one of 22 sprinters entered at the six-day stage for the £40,000 Listed Scarbrough Stakes (3.10pm) over five furlongs on the opening day, Wednesday, September 8, and could also get an entry in the historic £80,000 Ladbrokes Portland Handicap over an extra 140 yards on the final day, Saturday, September 11.



McMahon revealed today: “The Scarbrough Stakes is a possibility but we could yet decide to run Noble Storm in the Ladbrokes Portland on Saturday. Those are the two options at this stage.”



The four-year-old progressed through the handicap ranks last season, rising from a mark of 89 to 105 when finishing runner-up to Spin Cycle in the Listed Rous Stakes over five furlongs at Newmarket on his final outing in 2009.



Sickness has curtailed his progress this year in a campaign that has been restricted to three starts. A four-month lay-off followed his seasonal return in April but a decent third at Nottingham on August 10 preceded his latest outing when eighth in the Listed Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes over the distance on August 28.



The trainer continued: “He had a virus over the winter and I just wanted to give him plenty of time to get over it. You just have to be patient so we’re hoping he’s gradually coming back.



“Star Rover of David Evans won a conditions race at Leicester the other day and Noble Storm finished in front of him at Nottingham on his second run of the year, but he has not quite fired on all cylinders yet. He performed okay when beaten under four lengths in the Beverley Bullet last time but I don’t feel that he’s quite finishing his races yet.



“If you look at his best form, it’s at courses with an easy five furlongs, places like Goodwood and York. Beverley’s a stiff five and he’s always been collared near the line in Listed races there, so an easier five at Doncaster will suit him better.



“He goes on any ground, he’s a genuine type of horse and the ground is not an issue with him.”



Beverley Bullet Stakes form is well represented with the victorious Mister Hughie, runner-up Prohibit and third-placed Captain Dunne among those entered.



The Dandy Nicholls-trained Tax Free was runner-up to the McMahon-trained Astrophysical Jet in the Goffs Flying Five at the Curragh on August 29, while the seventh that day, Moorhouse Lad from the Bryan Smart yard, was third in the 2008 Scarbrough Stakes.



Jeremy Noseda saddled Strike The Deal to win last year’s Scarbrough Stakes from the Smart-trained Spin Cycle and the trainer could run Group Therapy, who was half a length second to Borderlescott in the Group Three Audi King George Stakes over the distance at Goodwood on July 29.



The Tim Etherington-trained Burning Thread is seeking a hat-trick after holding Reignier to land the Listed Scurry Stakes over five furlongs at Sandown on June 12.



The Kevin Ryan-trained nine-year-old Benbaun landed the Group One Prix de l’Abbaye in 2007, while Look Busy from the Alan Berry yard defeated Borderlescott to win the Group Two Temple Stakes in 2009.



The quality seven-race card also features the £25,000 Wilson Field Neurocare Conditions Stakes (4.20pm) over an extended 10 furlongs, a race which this seasons’ Group One Eclipse Stakes winner Twice Over annexed en route to clinching the Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes last October.



There are 17 entries for the contest, including Godolphin’s Group One Racing Post Trophy third Al Zir, the Michael Bell-trained Grade One Secretariat Stakes runner-up Wigmore Hall and Group Two Prix Guillaume D’Ornano third Black Spirit from the Clive Cox yard.



Another exciting highlight is the £10,000 Fudge And Smudge Leger Legends Handicap (3.45pm) over a mile, which sees retired stars of the weighing room, both Flat and Jump, competing against each other to raise funds for the Injured Jockeys’ Fund and the Northern Racing College.



Among those climbing back in the plate are John Francome, Peter Scudamore, Pat Eddery, George Duffield, Charlie Swan, Graham Bradley and Kevin Darley.



The Ladbrokes St Leger Festival kicks off earlier that afternoon with the £15,000 Arena Structures Nursery Handicap (2pm) over seven furlongs and also includes the £16,500 AJ Webb & Son Fresh Produce Suppliers Conditions Stakes (2.35pm) over six furlongs, the seven-furlong £20,000 Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer Handicap (4.50pm) and the £10,500 2010 Launch Stratstone Land Rover Doncaster Handicap (5.20pm) over five furlongs.



LATEST GOING AT DONCASTER



Doncaster clerk of the course David Williams reported today: “The going is good to firm at present. There is no rain forecast and prior to today we have had 16 millimetres in the past three and a half weeks.



“We have had a very dry year and the outlook is for more dry weather with bright, sunny days, apart from this weekend when it could be more overcast. There is a slight chance that we might see a patchy, light shower or two on Monday.



“I’m hoping to maintain the ground by watering as good to firm, good in places - the quicker side of good or the easier side of good to firm will be ideal.”



For more information, please contact:

Kate Hills

Director of Public Relations and Communications, Arena Leisure Racing

Tel: 01342 834800

Fax: 01342 835874

Mobile: 07813 947201




END

Thursday 2 September 2010

BRAMSHAW FINISHES THIRD AT KEMPTON AW 01.09.2010 7/4f



Kempton Park AW Wednesday September 1st 2010 Race 7 8.20pm 9 ran.

RESULT Kempton AW (01.09.2010) the 8.20 over one mile. The Olly Murs Live On Ladies Day Handicap (Class 4) Winner £3,885.60 for 3 year olds rated 71-85.


Winner: 4122342 FAITHFUL ONE 3-9-5 CHRIS CATLIN trainer DR Lanigan for Saif Ali 9/1Quickened to win by a length.


Second: 44-4131 MISS ANTONIA 3-9-3 TOM QUEALLY trainer HRA Cecil for Gestut Ammerland. 5/1. beating BRAMSHAW by a head.


Third: 1- BRAMSHAW 3-9-3 NEIL CALLAN trainer Mrs A J Perrett for Paul & Clare Cuttill, Brenda Karn-Smith. 7/4 f.

A race run at a steady gallop, BRAMSHAW ridden to close on leaders 1f out, ran on but unable to match FAITHFULL ONE’S turn off foot this day. A promising run, on only his second appearance, sure to improve.



END