Racing Diary

Paolo di Canio drives his West Ham manager Harry Red-knapp to despair, but the fate of the Italian's equine namesake, in which Redknapp owns a stake, should serve as a warning against stepping out of line.

There was a clear winner when three authors went head-to-head with signing sessions at Newbury. Graham Bradley and Peter Walwyn, the now-retired jockey and trainer respectively, were flogging their autobiographies alongside a diary of Lambourn life by Robin Oakley, the former BBC political pundit.
Bradley emerged as the clear winner, shifting two copies to every one of his rival authors. Oakley may now regret giving Brad's effort a favourable review in his Spectator column.

They have finally finished counting ballot papers in America and there is good news - Massachusetts has voted to continue with greyhound racing.

Fact: In picking entries for the £633,490 Racing Post's '10 to follow' competition, 418 entrants nominated Rubhahunish in their team - even though the poor animal was listed as dead on the entry form.

Breaking up is never easy and the hurt is certainly on-going for Nicholas Jones. The former City slicker, who used to be chairman of Newmarket's National Stud, had to give King's Road to ex-wife Veronica as part of their divorce settlement and then had to watch it win last month's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup. Jones can at least brag that he knows a good investment when he sees one. King's Road cost 16,000 guineas three years ago and has won more than £135,000.

Manchester United are guilty of over confidence in booking a hotel for next May's FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, what does that make punters who confirm room reservations for the next Cheltenham Festival 12 months in advance when they check out after the three days of losers there every March?

The day after £18 million Rio Ferdinand was paraded at new club Leeds United last week, 144 year-lings were sold at Newmarket.
The price for this bundle of potential? A total of £2.23 million for the lot, which wouldn't even buy you a leg of the former West Ham man. Then again, if one of them wins the Epsom Derby in 2002, a deal could be back on.