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No return on the big trebles bet. Only Roman Mist won and Janadil fell when leading in the race prior to the Irish Grand National. A couple more placed. As a result it meant that my selection in the Irish Grand National (Max Flamingo) was essentially null and void. So I took a separate £5 each way punt on Max Flamingo and on a whim a £5 each way on Lord Lariat (66/1 at time I placed bet who was tipped in Sporting Life’s site as a potential each way option) just to maintain interest for the race. Pretty amazed at the result: £406 for Lord Lariat and £19 for Max Flamingo! Talk about luck!

I do understand the point that players like (Bailey) Hodgson, Dom Young and Harry Rushton going to the NRL doesn't do a massive amount for English Rugby League but I think there are several factors to consider here. 1. With just 3 youngsters at the moment and no signs that others will follow in greater numbers, it is hardly a player drain at this stage (this is a reduced negative rather than a positive of course). 2. Talented young rugby players these days are very aware of where the potential pay packets can come from and scouts/agents will be all over them. I would much rather they go to the NRL than Union for pretty clear reasons. 3. They may not spend their entire career over there and so we could see some very good players return to the British game. 4. If these players help England do well internationally then it has a very positive effect on the profile of the sport and player numbers, viewers etc. so they could benefit the British game without even playing here.

Jackson Hastings running the show for WESTS against PARRA and claiming the spoils with a 40-yard field goal five seconds from time. Awesome to see him reeling away in jubilation and mobbed by his fellow Tigers. Good to see a smile cracking onto the face of Michael Maguire as well. Been a tough start for them and they desperately needed that pick-me-up.

When Hastings came to the Tigers I rated him highly, big mobile ball playing five-eight, I genuinely thought he could turn them around, so I`ve been a little surprised when he was never getting a mention as an option in your English halves. I just assumed it was something to do with him not being a `real` Pom or something. Unless you`ve got better options I reckon you`d be crazy not to pick him, imagine him with a half decent running halfback, could be a great combination. BTW in case you Pommies didn`t know, his old man was Kevin Hastings, Daly M winning halfback for the Roosters in the 70`s and 80`s, I was a kid when he was in his prime but I remember him clearly and can remember people used to always say he was one of the best half-backs never to play rep football, unfortunately his career coincided with one P. Sterling and Steve Mortimer. I reckon Jackson hasn`t fallen far from the tree.

Well done, I am pleased for you. I read the Sporting Life too, though sometimes I am not sure which tipster to follow.

Went along to watch Workington afc play on bank holiday Monday in the northern premier league- west division, I think it is classed as 8th tier and to be honest the game wasn't pretty, although 2 great direct free kicks won the day,crowd over 1300 on a day when the NPL had 10 attendances over 1000,anyway barring an unlikely slip up next Saturday from warrington rylands, the reds will be at home in the play offs against any one of Marine,leek town or runcorn linnets

Talk about luck … I backed Run Wild Fred in the National and it fell , and stuck with it at Fairyhouse … and it fell . Well Fred , you can run wild coz you cant jump !

It was basically a prequel to good bits in the desert. I did like it but having watched David Lynch’s version and the Sci Fi channel’s mini series, I’m not sure if this is any better? Maybe that’ll be answered with part 2

As I say, I appreciate the viewpoint. And if it were more than the 8 or 9 Brits over there including the 3 youngsters then I would share some concerns. But from a purely selfish note, I really enjoy the NRL and watching a Brit in a number of the teams every week adds an extra level to that enjoyment so I am ok with the players over there at these levels.

It’s potentially good for the England national rugby league team.

Not sure whether I will be able to go to this due to work but wondering how many will attend, was at reds game on Easter Monday and was told that these next months are critical for the project but both clubs are 100 % behind the idea, a bit of praise for the reds crowd though 1300 or so and a lot of young kids and groups of teenagers at what was a pretty poor standard of football

There'a far too many films stealing creative space like this and when viewed alongside the scraping the artistic barrel ones, usually called remakes or prequels, it does seem the film industry has lost its way ... big time.

Good news for Rushton but a hell of an assignment to make his debut against the Panthers.

Got a big bet on today to celebrate the running of the Irish Grand National: Kempton - 2.55pm: Saga 10/11 Fairyhouse - 3.15pm: Folcano 7/1 Kempton - 3.30pm: Diamond Bay 9/2 Fairyhouse - 3.50pm: Whiskey Sour 6/1 Kempton - 4.05pm: Roman Mist 10/3 Fairyhouse - 4.20pm: Janadil 1/1 Fairyhouse - 5.00pm: Max Flamingo 10/1 35 x £1.32 trebles (stake £46.20) max return £7,262.84 Basically any combination of three winners returns some money. My own view on the Grand National is that it’s much safer for the horses now than it was in the past with the changes made to the course. I think the focus is on having a fatality free event and there was a run of Grand Nationals in recent years where this was achieved. With so many entries though there is more potential for a jumping mistake that can lead to a fatal injury for a horse - although it must be kept in mind that a horse can suffer a terrible leg injury along a flat section too.

That thing where you watch something on the telly and really enjoy it, then go online afterwards to discover a bunch of other people moaning about how ###### it was. People who can't even compose an interesting tweet sitting in judgement on the professional writing of 45 minutes of modern television. That's my experience of any new episode of Doctor Who nowadays. It goes without saying that I will always enjoy a new episode of Doctor Who. I sit down to watch it with that as my intention. Always have, always will. There isn't a single episode that I have seen, from the original series through to the modern day one, that doesn't have something to recommend it, in my view. That's why it is my favourite show. It doesn't mean every episode is a stone cold classic, or that there aren't some I rewatch more than others, or that Genesis of the Daleks is on a par with Time and the Rani. But I genuinely appreciate every actor who has played the part, every writer who has written for it and every part of the production team that has put it on screen. I feel sorry for those who watch something they claim to love, and then spend all their time pulling it to bits. If the internet had existed in 1963. Doctor Who wouldn't have lasted longer than its original 13 episode run. "Yeah, I liked the first one, quite good, but then three weeks of stone age men wittering on about fire and the lead actors fluffing their lines, no thanks, boring and amateurish, I gave up on it, the test card would be more thrilling..." Meanwhile, nearly SIXTY (count 'em) years later, Doctor Who is still on air, still pushing boundaries, still throwing out glorious little surprises to those who have stuck with it, such as the trailer at the end of the latest episode heralding the return of two much loved characters (no spoilers) in the regeneration special marking the Beeb's 100th birthday later this year. I can't wait to see what happens next!

The young Bulldogs girls team made it to the start line yesterday. A defeat on the field, but a massive win for the club.

Just had myself a great double bill. Raiders of the Lost Ark & The Italian Job, both absolute classics!

With Shaun Wane as coach it wouldn't matter if he won the Dally M half back. No chance

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