JURGEN Klopp isn’t the only football hero who scored this week.
A few strawberry picking seasons have passed since Mick Channon was whacking them in for Southampton down at The Dell.
But the old rascal still knows how to find the back of the net and landed a proper touch with Cairn Gorm (10-1 to 9-4) at Windsor on Monday.
Top jock Tom Marquand looked pleased as punch after he nudged Mick’s two-year- old flyer home.
Mind you, he needed something to put a pep in his step after being jocked off Derby jolly English King by Frankie Dettori.
Now, tidy Tom’s riding has been tighter than Thommo’s wallet, so this must feel like a right kick in the unmentionables.
But the colt’s trainer Ed Walker reckons the decision was a no-brainer, saying: “The stress on me, who has never ridden in a Derby and never will, legging up Tom, who has never ridden in a Derby and definitely will, would have been huge.
“Now I don’t need to worry about that any more. I hand the keys over to Frankie – and hopefully he brings the car back in first place and in good shape!”
By the way, I’m told Frankie had a grin wider than Cherie Blair’s after super-mare Enable looked the part in a secret gallop at Newmarket racecourse on Tuesday.
She’s 10-11 jolly with the sponsors to nab the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Sunday week and it’ll take something smart to ace her.
But rags can win and a Scottish bookie pal of mine raised a `wee dram’ to Cheshire trainer Mick Mullineaux after he landed a 1,004-1 double at Hamilton the other day.
My mate didn’t take farthing for either winner and has already got the holiday brochures out.
Aidan O’Brien doesn’t look like the sort of fella who takes many mini-breaks and he’s definitely making himself busy in the Irish Derby (7.15) at The Curragh tonight.
He runs six and punters should have a butchers at a couple of the yard’s lesser lights according to Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield, who said: “Sovereign won the race at 33-1 for Aidan in 2019 and we’ve seen plenty of interest in a couple of the Cashel conjuror’s outsiders.
“We’ve laid Tiger Moth at 16-1 and taken a few bets on Order Of Australia, the mount of Padraig Beggy who rode Sovereign last year.”
Meanwhile, Charlie Fellowes hasn’t stopped smiling since he landed a Royal Ascot double last week.
And I’m told cheerful Charlie expects to nick a bit more lolly with Carnwennan in the Northumberland Plate (3.35) at Newcastle today.
This fella stays better than Sir Mo Farah and the word is he skipped Royal Ascot to wait for today’s prize.
By the way, Charlie has got another ace up his sleeve in Duel In SE.
Connections paid a nice few bob for this big boy and were well pleased with the way he shaped behind a Gosden hotpot at Newmarket the other day.
Charlie reckons this one could be the best he’s trained and has pencilled in a mile novice event at Doncaster next.
Keep `em peeled and `get on’ wherever he turns up!
Finally, it’s time to say adios to one of racing’s great characters in Hampshire trainer Peter Hedger.
He’s been in the game since The Beatles were top of the pops and saddles his last runner when C’Est No Mour lines up at Windsor on Sunday.
Pistol Pete knows more angles than Ronnie O’Sullivan and has landed some king-sized tickles over the years.
He’s an odds-on certainty to be missed by track regulars and plenty of faces will be hoping he goes out with a bang.
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