Brave Ryan wins the wife, but who wins at No 10?
Dismal and costly Racing yesterday, with favourite after favourite beaten out of sight. I’d have more luck getting money from my old Granny, and she’s been gone for over 60 years.
But jumping Jehoshaphat, what about Ryan Moore? The first I heard about it, was from Madame who announced (having abandoned me all day for a heady mix of riding out, visiting the circus and supper cooked by one of my favourite Frenchmen), that “Ryan is much tougher than you with your silly little broken ankle!” I tried to point out that this was comparatively unbalanced. He is some 33 years younger, is a professional athlete, is not widely known for his fondness for a decent claret, nor indeed for a brace of Croissants and a Café Crème in the Brasserie Lido by the Menton fish market.
Brilliant jockey though he is, I suggested that it was vaguely possible that my urbane, witty charm was a plus. I went further in adding that my knowledge of the standards required by members of that oft-forgotten society of International Boulevardiers (Ret’d.) might redress the difference between us in her mind.
Nope. I’m cast aside and whilst Ryan can have the rest of the season off to nurse his broken bone, (only one bone higher I might add than my own quite visibly separated lower bone, which also has to carry more weight than Mr Skinny), I’m to recover by lunchtime, go out jogging and then “… row the Pacific like those other jolly nice chaps, who’ve been through much worse!”
However, I suspect that the bad news is not just to be confined to me. The Tom-toms in Whitehall are suggesting that there is to be a major pre-conference clear out within the walls of No 10. Possibly, even tomorrow.
Out goes political director Claire Reynolds, the former director of Labour Women’s Network, and aide to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Credited with helping get 100 new female MPs elected last year. Reynolds, the wife of the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, is paying the price for failing to curtail the Lefty Loons. Also thought to be heading out to run comms for the Scottish Labour Party’s Uist office, is Steph Driver, who became a double act with James Lyons when the former Comms Director Matthew Doyle resigned in March. One suspects that she too has been hurled under the bus for her inability to “Burn Snow” aka the impossible task of making Starmer’s policies plausible. Doyle will be patted on the tush in the next Birthday Honours.
Matt Faulding might go as PLP secretary, for cocking up the welfare bill head count of nay-sayers. On that same section of the chilled Revenge Menu, one might see Sir Alan Campbell as Chief Whip and possibly Keir Mather or Christian Wakeford in the Whips Office. The price that has to be paid for failing to count properly.
There is even some talk that Sir Chris Wormwald, the current head of the Civil Service and Cabinet Secretary, might, if negotiations succeed, be moved on. A new position, possibly organising the new House of Lords reform, with a guaranteed sinecure within the new format. That would allow Tamara Finekelstein, the current PermSec DEFRA or Olly Robbins at the FO to move up, unless….
The 2025 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort will be a cracking race, with the battle at the front of the grid firmly between the two McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Piastri secured a narrow pole position by just 0.012 seconds, despite Norris, being dominant throughout the practice sessions.
The race, however, is in every sense, far from being cut and dried because there is a high chance of rain. With rain comes safety cars, and if there was a market for them, I’d say there might well be three, which would throw a spanner in the works for the front-runners and create opportunities for others. Max Verstappen, starting third, will have his work cut out for him to break the McLaren dominance. But the fervent home crowd showing a sea of orange at every corner, a couple of safety cars and some luck, makes his price of 14/1 with Betfred look too big.
A surprise qualifying performance by Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar puts him in a strong fourth position, and he will be looking to score big points. Safety cars and wet conditions might also benefit Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc starting in the top 10, or even a midfield contender looking to exploit the chaos. Given the number of times Lance Stroll has written his car off this weekend, 16/1 for him to be the first driver to retire looks a very sexy price. I might dutch him with Ocon at the same price, who has not looked happy all weekend. 2 pts each to get 15/2 about my money. 3 pts at 14s for Verstappen to win and I’ll dutch the Ferrari drivers at 8s and 10s to get a podium finish between them. for odds of 13/4 about your 5 pt bet.
Something must go right this weekend… surely?