Almost as soon as I put the typing digits back inside their silk gloves, the first of The Cap Backwards Boys stepped out under the Wimbledon roof and was gone. Another came and went, and although both players have assured futures, and are good-looking, with charming and athletic personalities, you just sense some wise owl might tell them to “read the Runes” re headwear.
When you next see them sans caps-backwards – back them!
The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.OMAR KHAYAM
If only The Sun had read Omar Khayam. What a total Horlicks they and the BBC have made of the entire Huw Edwards affair. Apart from my personal abhorrence of The Sun’s judgemental and wholly inaccurate persecution of the man on the basis of a series of unproven allegations, I am still staggered by the media-driven culture clashes of the 21st century’s first quarter. A company that until just eight years ago had for almost half a century been publishing daily nude pictures of young girls, who simply wanted to meet a nice footballer, get a Tattoo and have World Peace, thinks it has the authority under the guise of “public interest” to destroy reputations regardless of the end result.
This isn’t The Prince Harry argument, but rather the old pursuit of some sense of justice. If an Heir to a throne is banging Bolivian marching powder up his nose and dancing the Rumba naked with six birds he just picked up off a beach and is in public – fair game. But being a dick in your own house (at worst), entitles you to a greater level of privacy. Ditto poor Huw, who I simply cannot see has done anything wrong. Oh… sorry, he signed off one of his emails with some kisses. Crikey and Lumme, talk about the End Of Days! I know a number of men – among them readers of these poor words – to whom I regularly pop a few kisses at the end of an email. Sometimes it is simply affectionate – sometimes because I sense they have had a crap day and need a “hug”. Sometimes it is because I love them like a brother at that moment in time.
Meanwhile and without getting maudlin, I should like to know whether the Sun has paid any monies, expenses, legal fees, or benefits in kind to the parent and step-parent of the boy – Sorry Adult. I should like to know whether the mother’s divorce has had any impact on her child’s behaviour. I want to know if any of them have been arrested, I want to know if they’re on benefits, I want to know when the step-father appeared; I want to know whether either has ever been the subject of any child-care order or enquiry. Am I being Harsh? Why? I am the Public and I am interested. Do I become unentitled to know, simply because they’re not famous and therefore “off-limits”?
As regards the BBC… Woke Asses led by Financially-stupid Donkeys. Am I minded to pay a licence fee anymore? No. Do I care anymore about the quality of Public Service Broadcasting after everything I have seen (or not) in the past five years? No. Am I happy for The BBC to be privatised? Absolutely. Do I worry about how The BBC will survive after losing the £3.8bn Licence Fee and then having to share the diminishing TV advertising spend of approx 6.6bn shared incidentally across all stations? No – and apparently neither do they.
It could be argued that the BBC might pick up some of the £23bn+ UK digital ad spend on all platforms – but the Beeb vs Meta or Google is surely a one-round fight. I’m afraid the reality is that BBC TV might at best pick up £2bn in ad sales and possibly £1.45 bn in subscriptions – but their marketing costs are going to eat a chunk of that – shall we call it a drop in like for like revenues of 25%. And don’t forget DG – the Government will break up BBC Radio as well, so don’t go relying on having Radio advertising or subscription bolt-ons to help you.
These are the facts on which I base those assumptions: The UK’s total advertising spend by media type in 2022 was £34.77 billion. Here is a breakdown of the UK’s total advertising spend by media type in 2022:
- Digital: £23.85 billion (68.5%)
- Television: £6.62 billion (19.0%)
- Out-of-home: £3.16 billion (9.0%)
- Print: £1.14 billion (3.5%)
- Other: £0.06 billion (0.2%)
(Data from AA/WARC. AA/WARC is a joint venture between the Advertising Association and WARC, a global marketing research and insights company).
The net result of all this is that a sad former newsreader lies abed, miserable and shattered; destroyed in less than 72 hours by Us – and we’re all to blame in some small part for our constant acceptance of the power of social media and our inability to fight it. The Sun is losing print readership and has a clunky and quite irritating online model so it isn’t doing so well with its digital offering. The BBC is determined to destroy itself by constantly trying to take a leadership position while not upsetting anyone and failing to see the big picture. It’s all rather pathetic.
Other than that – it was not a bad day at the races! Two big winners for the trends, a 14½pt profit, but beware – tomorrow might be different as I look at the forecast rain.
1:50 6 Horse Challenge At bet365 Hcap Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 1m2f ITV 13 run
WESTERTON is not a flashy type but a nice steady performer. He gave Alan his 2000 winner LTO under a more positive Ryan Moore ride from the front. Up 9lbs Ryan is back for another bite of the cherry – and I think he’s no fool. TAGABAWA’s key form suggests that, on a line through Masai Mara, WESERTON is some 3lbs shy of being able to beat TAGABAWA. He ran 6th in the King George and judging by that performance, a drop-back to 10f will make the difference. BOLSTER had a horror of a Hampton Court LTO and his 10th place disguises his prominent and eye-catching ride, until he was hampered 2f out and carried left – and then was left short of room inside the final furlong to be eased right down. I wonder whether this might be a Group horse looking for a winning post. MIGHTY RIVER would also be no surprise judged by his winning run LTO.
BOLSTER 4 pts e/w with TAGABAWA – WESTERTON – MIGHTY RIVER 12 x½ pt CFC
2:25 Duchess Of Cambridge Stks (G2) (Fillies) Cl1 (2yo) 6f ITV 4 run
No Bet
3:00 bet365 Trophy (Hcap) Cl2 (4yo+) 1m6f ITV 9 run
AIMERIC ran well from a poor draw in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes and KIHAVAH is looking for a five-timer having won his last three races on the flat and thrown a hurdles win in for good measure. LIVE YOUR DREAM won this contest back in 2021 with G2 winner Global Storm, now rated 110, back in second. He finished a 2l third in The Duke of Edinburgh and it could be argued that too much use was made of him early on. He got 2lbs for that effort and looks like he’ll appreciate the step-back-up in distance. The Johnstons have won this 3 times in the last 4 years, so THEMAXWECAN has to be respected. My biggest concerns are his age and his finishing lame in the Northumberland Plate so has a big task on his hands to bounce back here. If a lot of run comes then watch the price of PRYDWEN.
KIHAVAH 2 pts e/w
3:35 Tattersalls Falmouth Stks (G1) (Fillies & Mares) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m ITV 9 run
Last year’s winner PROSPEROUS VOYAGE has to be on the shortlist and especially at around 10/1. She beat Inspiral in last year’s race and, although she hasn’t matched that performance since, she will have been primed with this in mind. Distance winner RANDOM HARVEST is the likeliest front-runner and he finished a neck in front of PROSPEROUS VOYAGE in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. She too has to be on the shortlist at around 12/1. REMARQUEE looked very unlucky not to have given the Irish 1000 Gns winner Tahiyra a tougher race in the Coronations Stakes. She got squeezed up at the furlong marker and battled on a like a good’un to get back within a length of the favourite. I had NASHWA as a 10f horse but this season she has been actively tried over the mile and patently Gosden and Co feel 8f is best. I am not convinced. My big concern is VIA SISTINA, but then again I wonder if she might not find this happening all a bit too quick for her, being another genuine 10f animal.
REMARQUEE 3 pts Win – PROSPEROUS VOYAGE 1½pts e/w
4:10 Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stks (Colts & Geldings) Cl3 (2yo) 7f RTV 12 run
Charlie Appleby runs EMPERORS STAR who is a French-bred juvenile by Sea The Stars. If you like backing favourites in 2yo maidens he’s the one for you. Personally, I’m going for MATNOOKH who had a decent run in his racecourse debut at Windsor. He was slowly away and came home third under a tender ride with his tank still on Full. I thought William Buick gave him a tough time in The Chesham and he seemed to be hauling him about a bit; he might already need further – but he’s a sensible price as I write.
MATNOOKH 3 pts win
4:45 Boodles Hcap Cl3 (3yo+ 0-90) 7f RTV 14 run
I’m fond of the singing trainer Heather Main and have indeed signed my emails with a kiss, although husband James does not need to know that! If the rain comes, Heather’s MISTER BLUEBIRD will handle it and being a front runner could possibly steal an early winning advantage, especially with Hollie Doyle in the plate. LYNDON B was on my shortlist of rain doesn’t get into the ground.
MISTER BLUEBIRD 3 pts e/w
5:20 cavani.co.uk The Sartorial Sprint Hcap Cl3 (3yo+ 0-90) 5f RTV 10 run
ISLE OF LISMORE is within a pound of his last winning mark – here over C&D last August. GOOD EARTH will love any rain.
ISLE OF LISMORE 3 pts e/w – GOOD EARTH 2 pts e/w – The pair with CONQUISTADOR 2 x ½ pt RFC