The Truth With Jokes by Al Franken was excellent. He subsequently 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 a politician so I don’t know if it qualifies.

Denis Healey’s autobiography, The Time of my Life, tends to get mentioned in this context but with good reason.

It’s a photo taken at Kilcreggan, by the way. Gourock away to the left, Arran centre of picture about 28 miles straight ahead and, in the foreground, a black Lab (Frankie, still with us, 13th birthday today) retrieving a stick.

Is he really “in trouble” after one game? We had bad starts (under Wilder) in 2016/17 and 2018/19 which were both promotion seasons. Saturday’s performance clearly identified the problem areas (central defence and defensive midfield) which he needs to address. Ask the question again in three months.

Well said.

They’ll survive. Some sort of “phoenix from the ashes” scenario will prevail but they’ll end up in the hands of some other ghastly owners trying to make money, ultimately failing to do so due to the stranglehold of the filthy rich running things at the top of the Premier League. The game is dying.

Terrific Group One sprint coming up at Deauville. Lazzat is deservedly favourite but dangers abound. Commonwealth Cup form (represented today by Rayevka and Shadow Of Light) has stood up pretty well and Topgear has been supplemented - can’t have given his running at Royal Ascot.

Channon going from strength to strength as a trainer. He’s revived that yard’s fortunes.

There you go. December 23, 2018.

Roy Vernon followed by Gordon West?

An appealing season-long football bet is the 3/1 with Bet365 for all three sides promoted from the Championship to be relegated from the Premier League. It would have paid out in each of the last two seasons. Not sure it’s possible now to build a top-flight squad in one transfer window.

Lord Bertie, dropped 2lbs, runs again at Haydock this afternoon. Needs to come out of the stalls at approximately the same time as his rivals. In for a penny, in for a pound.

Gstaad doesn’t run. 1/4 True Love looks…uninteresting.

…”Let’s do the show right here!”…

Good to see Gstaad and True Love taking each other on in Ireland tomorrow in the Phoenix Stakes. Moore rides the former but it can’t have been an easy choice. 5/2 True Love looks generous.

Good story from the funeral yesterday of trainer Alan Bailey.

TONY CALVIN: EARLY stats and information for Saturday ITV action at Ascot, Haydock and Newmarket

STATS and info now updated for the weekend with an early intro now added; going/stick readings/watering; reserves/balloted out horses; 1st time headgear stats; pace maps and trainerform. The Saturday information section is now complete. For AKBets; tips.akbets.co.uk/tony-calvin-...

And “mind games”…

Williams believes Quinault has 'more to offer' at York | At The Races Three-time course winner will go for gold in the City of York Stakes.

www.attheraces.com/news/2025/Au...

Interesting at 20/1 in view of his record at York coupled with the fact that Rosallion and Lazzat both appear likely to miss the race according to connections.

That’s that, then. I’m not going back there. Thanks for the reply, though.

Don’t know anything at all about this - I’m not on Twitter now, which might explain that - but what’s been said and can it be viewed anywhere?

Impossible for United fans to cope with something so positive.

Expert Analysis | At The Races Simon Rowlands reviews the best of the action from last week’s Glorious Goodwood festival, nominating his top 10 performances.

Part Two of the Goodwood 2025 Review

www.attheraces.com/blogs/expert...

Posted this on June 17. Proof, if proof were needed, that being “right” about something doesn’t necessarily translate in racing to making money out of it.

These are the top replies, being financially rewarded for posting this stuff, and the explanation offered by the site’s own AI for why it’s like that.

Anyway just flicking through the Sunday newspapers reading about some minor content infractions that Ofcom might look into at the BBC/Channel 4.

High-drawn filly in Chester sprint withdrawn due to the (good, good to firm in places) going. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳 of her runs this year have been on good or g/f. She’s won twice, once on g/f and the other on good. Remarkably, that good ground win was at Chester when she was drawn in stall one of thirteen.

Posted this in April and today might be the best opportunity yet for King Of Cities to bag a Group race. The trip might be slightly on the short side but the ground should be perfect for him. Cosmic Year on the other hand could well be vulnerable on this surface, particularly if it’s made a test.

TONY CALVIN: TREAD carefully in this ground – but a few big-priced runners to consider today

TREAD carefully in this ground but a few big prices to consider at Goodwood today. Morning intro, going update, copy for all ITV races and the usual stats and information section (including balloted out horses). For AKBets. Good luck; tips.akbets.co.uk/tony-calvin-...

Expert Analysis | At The Races Simon Rowlands reviews Caladagan’s King George triumph and the first two days of Goodwood, headed by Qirat’s Sussex Stakes shock.

First part of a two-part Goodwood blog also looking back on Calandagan's win at Ascot. Submitted 20 hours ago, so I did not have the Field of Gold injury information then.

www.attheraces.com/blogs/expert...

Latest going stick reading is now in. All the courses have upped their game big style when it comes to timely going, stick readings and watering details in lead-up to big/televised meetings, so moaning does occasionally work....