Phantoms frightening the opposition

Still in the middle of a hectic sport-watching schedule this week with the Twenty20 county cricket campaign now just getting into full swing and amazingly enough Derbyshire my local team for once getting off to a flyer with back to back wins, why didnt I take that 50/1 outright beforehand!
At least I partook in some of the 5/6 to beat Leicestershire yesterday which was never really in doubt from an early stage and the trip up to Durham before that was a very pleasant one too with the Phantoms again making short work of the pre tournament favourites no less.
Notts come to the County Ground tonight and that usually attracts the biggest crowd of the campaign so will be setting off early for that one and then Yorkshire are up at our secondary ground Chesterfield on Sunday which should also attract a healthy gathering.
The weather has certainly perked up too at just the right time and it was blisteringly hot down in Ruislip on Sunday when a bumper crowd gathered to see London (or Londain as it is in gaelic) put up a creditable show against the much more illustrious Galway in the first round of the Connacht Championship, though a late penalty concession rather put a spoke in the final scoreline with an eleven point loss.
The hurlers scored a comfortable win on Saturday over Fermanagh in front of a much more modest turn-out.
The highlight of the weekend was probably the Here and Now Show at Wembley Arena though, the last stop off for this particular line-up and it really was a great night. Howard Jones came across particularly well reeling off most of his repertoire of hits and surprisingly Altered Images and Clare Grogan who I never really took to back in the 80s sounded quite refereshing too, not to mention the old favourite Kid Creole too (though still no Bongo Eddie as the house band held sway). A much better show than the Christmas Party I attended when there was just a truncated line-up doing a few songs each.
Should also give a mention to old-stagers 10cc who I also saw a couple of weeks ago, led by only original member Graham Goulding nowadays though still with a couple of other band members who have been with them for some time and this also was a cracking nights entertainment for a very reasonable entry fee, great value for money.
On to the greyhounds and last weekend saw the final of the Ladbrokes 600 in Shelbourne Park and although I scooped the each way part of the bet with 20/1 shot Dundrum Minor finishing fourth, College Causeway my main selection found trouble in running and failed to catch Accordello on the run in, the latter holding on by a length. Ironically it was my old favourite Jemmy Doodlebeag, who I was hoping would do me a favour by holding up the eventual winner, who cut my selection off at the bend so perhaps serves me right for having such devious thoughts lol.
Elsewhere the Scurry Cup, Cock o The North and Irish St Leger are all underway but all eyes will be on Wimbledon on Saturday night for the final of the Derby.
I have three in the final, Ballymac Ruso and Wise Thought who are vying for favouritism along with the perhaps not so well drawn Farloe Reason. If Ruso can get clear as he has been doing in the last two rounds he should win but he may have to battle for the lead with the three other fast starting railers so in these circumstances perhaps the wide seed Wise Thought can skip around the outside to glory. Fear Zafonic the original ante post favourite has drawn his preferred box in one but even on his best form in this perhaps needs to improve a little, as with any dog here though if he gets a lead to the bend he would be a big player.
In the consolation plate, Ninja Jamie seemingly holds all the aces and ought to have too much pace for the opposition which includes my other bigger priced selection Head ItOn Ellis while the Champion Hurdle looks very open and I'm rooting for Platinumlancelot, The Other Outlaw or Freedom Man.
Finally the snooker also refuses to take a back seat and the invitational Jiangsu Classic starts in China on Wednesday with Ding Junhui attempting to defend his crown in his birthplace of Wuxi City though I've not really had a proper look at it yet.
All the best for now
Rick