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Tanya's Blog - Wednesday 18th July 2012

It’s just 49 days to the start of the new NFL season and I can’t wait. The social networks have been buzzing with all the news from the various training camps. I doubt the Raiders will have too much joy with the Broncos now that Peyton Manning is in Denver! The oxygen at Mile High Stadium just got thinner!

Just a few hours now to the start of the Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes. I remember being there in 1996 to watch Tom Lehman win. It’s a course for a player with the precision short game. Padraig Harrington seems big at 20-1, Adam Scott is my Achilles’ heel so I’ll fall for him at 40-1 and I’ll have to try to dig out a big price one between Davis Love III, Mark Wilson and Chad Campbell.

Sadly I won’t be enjoying the first day of the Open, but will pop in later in the week for there are more pressing issues at The Oval tomorrow and a chance to see Dale Steyn and his fellow South Africans. The best bowler in the world is a sight to behold and it would be folly to give up the opportunity to see him. If South Africa bat first then it’s Smith, Amla, Kallis and co … beautiful.

Today the first objective is to avoid the traffic congesting Sandown Park later this evening as Sir Tom Jones is in concert. I sense the Esher venue will be bursting at the seams to catch sight of the great Welsh knight strut his stuff. I wonder how many in attendance will have a bet? Or even go racing again. Sorry, I’m being cynical.

Yesterday I had the rare treat of lunch at the Dorchester, courtesy of Goodwood Racecourse. I’d only ever been to the hotel once before and that was with John McCririck on a press junket to interview Tobey Maguire ahead of the premiere of Seabiscuit. As much as it is a privilege to be there and the lunch was fabulous, I feel uncomfortable in such surroundings, it’s hard to be yourself. Gordon’s provided the beverages, which was a bad start for me straight away as all I wanted was a coffee!

The trap draw (table plan) was good to me as I had Seamus Buckley to my left and Nick Luck on my right. Mac was to the front of the room next to Simon Crisford, perhaps he persuaded him to supplement Farhh in to the Qipco Sussex Stakes?!

Defending champions, and there are plenty of them, is the Glorious meeting’s tag line. Frankel is their headline, no surprise there. Photos of Mac and myself were taken on the steps of the Dorchester ahead of a magazine interview next week. All for the Glorious meeting. I am even filming a small feature next week, a historical piece, hopefully I’ll do it justice.

Today's Selections:

3.00 Lingfield: Despatch

6.30 Sandown: Khubala

Tanya's Pointers

Sir Michael Stoute has had five winners from his last nine runners

Saeed Bin Suroor has had eight winners, four seconds and three thirds from his last 23 runners

Paul Hanagan has finished in the first two in seven of his last 13 rides

Ryan Moore has had four winners from his last eight rides

David Allan has won on 3 of his six rides in Catterick’s 3.10