Hi there folks, it's Evening Press here, sorry about that but I'm just getting so excited about the World Cup, I just can't think properly at the moment - as if typing with hooves wasn't bad enough.

I'm putting my stable on the dark horses from Senegal to make a big impression this weekend, although I have had a tip from the 'horse's mouth' about the Brazilians.

I know that by the time you've read this England could have gone and beaten them - but I'm meeting a few old mates down the Nag's Head so I'm having to write this without knowing the result.

I was speaking to Brazil's midfield maestro Ronaldinho earlier this week - he and I share the same dentist - and he told me to get my maracas out and dance to the samba beat.

I would have liked to use the football as an excuse for not winning on my seasonal debut at Thirsk on Tuesday, but I have to say it was a really strong field - with the winner just Purring to victory.

However, my trainer Tim Etherington was happy with the effort I put in and has given me the weekend off as I was supposed to be racing at Redcar tomorrow.

I hope to be back on the course in the next week or so, but I will leave those details to Tim.

But for now it is time to get the hooves up and watch the footie.

Bye for now!

Updated: 11:16 Friday, June 21, 2002