That'll do nicely...
and there is racing on TV to boot!
I was wrong. I actually thought that, regardless of outward impressions, Trump had a plan to reduce the world’s dependence on the dollar and thus lower the US interest burden as rates fell. I had also assumed that he was a man whose lifelong commitment to doing a deal had put him in a position that once he shook on it, the deal was done.
In almost every respect, I was wrong. That being the case, what next? The logical answer is getting into bed with Europe - but like all unenthusiastic couplings, the outcome is unlikely to have any merit, let alone pleasure. How in God’s name did we ever get to this state? The simple answer is the grotesque lack of public-service ideals for over 30 years, of both Tories and Socialists.
Meanwhile, sitting on Europe’s border and with a newly honed, world-class Drone industry is Ukraine. Driven by wartime necessity, their industry covers drone development and production from small FPV (first-person view) quadcopters to long-range strike systems, with over 7 million planned for 2026. Key innovations include AI-powered targeting, interceptor drones, and ground robotic systems, heavily supported by international funding and a collaborative, fast-paced ecosystem.
Compared with various Cruise- or Patriot-type attack and defence solutions, drones are considerably quicker and cheaper to produce. A typical FPV or Kamikaze Drone is between $400 to $2,000; an Interceptor Drone (e.g., “Sting” is between $2,000 and $5,000, and Long-Range Strike Drones (e.g., FP-1) are around $55,000. The Ukrainians have also developed Advanced Long-Range Platforms (e.g., Leuti) priced at around $200,000.
I mention all this because - as you know - we have zero in the defence locker and Whitehall’s attitude appears to be that it all costs too much, so best not to buy anything. I was thus less than happy to read that the MOD managed to spend £16.3m on Ministry credit cards in March alone - £133,000 in restaurants and bars and stays at The Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons. There were 5,975 transactions, including a single £49,859 payment to consultants and a £37,705 hotel bill. I hope whoever had time for something to eat… oh, they did! Phew! That, though, was a more than reasonable £11,457 restaurant blowout, and there were a further 14 transactions totalling over £17,000 supporting the leisure industry - including one bill for £3,780, another for £2,688 at a snooker hall, and £1,325 at a cosmetics shop.
Next time we send HMS NoH2O to Cyprus, perhaps the MOD could just sit at home for a couple of nights, and stick 2000 Stings onto a freighter together with 115 Strike Drones. Just a thought. Talking of feeling abandoned by the Gods….
1:50 Newmarket Weatherbys Hcp Cl2 (4yo+ 0-100) 6f ITV4 13 run
HUMAM - INVICTUS GOLD - ANDESITE
2:05 Haydock Unibet Abram Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Cl1 (4yo+) 2m5f ITV4 8 run
WHITE NOISE - LIVING ON A PRAYER
2:25 Newmarket Betway Feilden Stakes Cl1 (3yo) 1m1f ITV4 7 run
SHAYEM
2:40 Haydock Unibet Silver Trophy Hcp Chase (G2) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m4f ITV4 11 run
RISKINTHEGROUND - MOUSEY BROWN - OUTLAW PETER - 2 x ½pt Exactas 4 to bt 2-10
3:00 Newmarket Betway Earl Of Sefton Stakes (G3) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m1f ITV4 6 run
BOILING POINT
3:35 Newmarket Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (G3) (Fs) Cl1 (3yo) 7f ITV4 12 run
AZLEET - AMERICA QUEEN - MUBASIMAH
TOTAL P&L THIS POST: +48.20
1:50 HUMAM 10th 10/1 -2.00 - INVICTUS GOLD 3rd 11/1 +1.20 - ANDESITE 12th 22/1 -2.00 = -2.80
2:05 WHITE NOISE 2nd 4/5f -2.00 - LIVING ON A PRAYER 8th 25/1 -2.00 = -4.00
2:25 SHAYEM 5th 11/2 -2.00
2:40 RISKINTHEGROUND WON 4/1 +8.00 - MOUSEY BROWN F 12/1 -2.00 - OUTLAW PETER 3rd 6/1 -2.00 - 2 x ½pt Exactas 4 to bt 2-10 lost -1.00 = +3.00
3:00 BOILING POINT 3rd 5/2 -2.00
3:35 AZLEET WON 50/1 +60.00 - AMERICA QUEEN 2nd 9/2 -2.00 - MUBASIMAH 6th 4/1f -2.00 = +56.00