A little shout-out to Amazon, from whom I bought some stamps last June in bulk. What can go wrong with that transaction, I thought. Nothing until I tried exchanging them for stamps with bar codes as required by Royal Mail. This resulted in a curt note from RM, suggesting the stamps are – and this did startle me – fake! Not only did they not issue me with any replacements, but kept the offending, possibly illegal (definitely illegal: Ed) old ones. Result Post Office 1 Kneesup 0. As you might imagine, I was startled. Fake stamps from China on Amazon?
Well, God Bless Jeff Bezos. I called his trading company, and a charming moneywallah looked it all up and refunded my money, no questions asked. In full and with many apologies attached for the inconvenience done to my pen friends and I.
And that Ladies and Gentlemen is the possible reason why my (and there have been so very many), Bread and Butters, Commiserations, Kites for God Children and letters of sympathy have been going astray. The stamps had fallen off or been refused by the machine and tossed on the “Return to Shanghai” tray.
Talking of stretching credulity, here are a very few very quick thoughts on today’s TV racing. Like stamps from China, what can go wrong?
NEWMARKET
13:50 Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) 5f1
(Bet365 4p) PRINCE OF PILLO 5 pts Win – MARYLANDSEA 3 pts e/w
4:25 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) (Class 1) 7f
(4p General) CRYSTALLIUM 4 pts Win
15:00 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) 7 f
POGO 4 Pts Win – UMM KULTHUM 2 pts e/w
15:35 bet365 Fillies’ Mile (Group 1) (Class 1) 1m
LIBRARY – POLLY POTT Dutch the pair for 4 pts (Approx odds 9/2)
16:10 bet365 Old Rowley Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 1m 4f
(Skybet 6p) FIRST RULER 3 pts Win – EDUCATOR 3 pts e/w – BERKSHIRE REBEL 1½pts e/w
YORK
14:40 William Hill Autumn Mile Handicap (Class 2) 1m
(Many places 6p) BOPEDRO 2 pts e/w – LA TRINIDAD 1½pts e/w
15:15 British EBF £100,000 2yo Series Final (Colts & Geldings) (Class 2) 7f
STREETS OF GOLD 4 pts Win 1 pts SFC to beat SHOULDVEBEENARING
15:50 William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 1m 6f
(Skybet WHill 5p) ALMERIC 3 pts Win
CHEPSTOW
13:35 Professor Caroline Tisdall Supports Heroic Jumpers Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 7 Veterans’ Series) (Class 2) 2m 7 1/2 f
(Skybet – Bet365 – Coral 3p) SOME CHAOS 4 pts Win – INNISFREE LAD 2 pts e/w
14:10 Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) 2m 3 1/2 f
(Skybet 3p) DEEPER BLUE – QUID PRO QUO – GENTLE CONNECTIONS 6 x ½ pts CFC 1 pt RFC First two named