nantonian2013

Michael Hendry, whose leukaemia diagnosis caused him to miss the Open this year, is playing again. Played a couple of weeks ago in the Queensland PGA and is in the field for this week's Australian PGA which is co-sanctioned with the European Tour. Probably one to take off the shortlist for the time being.

Protectionist, the 2014 Melbourne Cup winner has died at 13. Hasn't been massively supported at stud, despite being based in his native Germany whose industry values stamina far more than British and Irish breeders.

In most of my teams this year, but does appear to still have his marbles.

Trainer David Brown has passed away at 79. He had a rather unconventional route into training, going to night school whilst a member of stable staff and setting up a company. Didn't have vast numbers towards the end, although I believe that was a conscious choice as much as anything. Had a decent sprint handicapper a few years back called Four Wheel Drive (who ended up in Bahrain, not to be confused with an American racehorse of the same name).

Jessica Harrington, who had cancer earlier in the year, out in America for the Breeders Cup meeting. Wouldn't have her on my shortlist for 2024.

I also had Kaczynski but doesn't appear to be replicated on the front page leaderboard (not that I expect to challenge)

I knew him primarily from an academic footnote I once saw on Twitter ("mostly known for his other work").

He was from a couple of villages down from myself, made a bit of name of himself in local politics. Got 3.3% of the vote in South Cambs back in 2010.

Alan Mullery (now 81) looked "very well" according to the commentator at tonight's game. That's just about the only positive I can fathom from a 5-1 drubbing at home.

Trump strikes me as the type to have much quicker decline than Biden. Biden could easily still be alive into his 90s, irrespective of whether you believe he should continue as President or not.

Our annual form-spotting guide -the Masters Champions Dinner. We already knew Phil had lost weight, I don't believe it's anything like a Chadwick Boseman situation (despite the fact he's playing terribly). Tommy Aaron looks the most likely to go next, though will be interesting to see if Nicklaus can swing a club tomorrow morning. I don't think Crenshaw looks great for 71, but he played the par 3 contest. As did Gary Player.

John Spearing dead

John Spearing has relinquished his training licence. 82 and now in a nursing home which seems quite the decline although the quotes in the article are attributed to him.

Sounded absolutely fine when briefly interviewed on ITV Racing this week too (the brevity of the interview not a concern, they just wanted a word about his horse's chances and asked 1 question about the title race).

Jessica Harrington has been battling breast cancer since October, not travelling to Cheltenham this year because of chemo.

Jack Burke Jr turned 100 the other day, seems in fine fettle.

1) Donald Trump 2) Bill Cosby 3) Vladimir Putin 4) Buzz Aldrin 5) Phil Collins 6) David Attenborough 7) Ozzy Osbourne 8) Shane MacGowan 9) Clint Eastwood 10) Mel Brooks 11) Rupert Murdoch 12) Dick Van Dyke 13) Stanley Baxter 14) Harry Belafonte 15) Burt Bacharach 16) Bobby Charlton 17) Jimmy Carter 18) Billy Connolly 19) Glynis Johns 20) Linda Nolan 21) Eve Marie Saint 22) Tony Bennett 23) Prunella Scales 24) Randy Jackson 25) Joanne Woodward Subs: 1) Michael J Fox 2) Henry Kissinger

Original source appears to be this Zambian Observer article Loved watching Mwepu for the Albion and can only hope he pulls through.

Provided some remarks before Christmas (broadcast on the 19th December, not sure when filmed) on America.

Duke Of Firenze has been retired Absolute legend of a horse, fantastic longevity and some may remember his exploits at Epsom over the years. Raced 134 times initially starting with Sir Michael Stoute (he turns 78 this year, but is still training albeit with a steadily declining string and seemed in fine fettle with during an interview last year - where he was uncharacteristically chatty). Most will associate Duke Of Firenze with David Griffiths who does a good job with older sprinters. Hope he has a long retirement.

Rory Delargy diagnosed with Stage 2 Prostate Cancer. Wouldn't say he's a QO chance if the worst occurred although quite possible he'd get a few words in the Guardian as he's rather popular within racing circles. Most well known for his appearances on William Hill Radio and his column for the Sporting Life website (presumably would get a mention there if he passed) Tweet here.

Sebastian Haller has returned to training at Borussia Dortmund, for anyone who picked him for 2023 pools. Article here.

Katie Keltie (reserve Joker) Rolf Harris Jeremiah Green (Modest Mouse) Cynthia Mulligan (Canadian TV presenter) Rhod Gilbert Pope Benedict XVI Pele Gianluca Vialli (JOKER) Ted Kaczynski Pierre Menes (French commentator) Jack Burke Jr. George Alagiah Winnie Ewing Nigel Starmer-Smith Rob Burrow June Lockhart Joe Exotic Clive Brittain (racehorse trainer) Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) Jamie Raskin (Congressman) Subs: James Whale Frank Field (ex-MP) Yoko Ono

1. Gianluca Vialli 2. Pele 3. Jeremiah Green (Modest Mouse) 4. Rhod Gilbert 5. Nigel Lawson 6. Winnie Ewing 7. Omar Al-Bashir 8. Nigel Starmer-Smith 9. Janey Godley 10. Henry Kissinger Subs 11. Jamshid Bin Abdullah (Last Sultan of Zanzibar) 12. Rob Burrow 13. Ron Yeats

Forced to do this on mobile, so apologies if the format is a complete state. Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) Clive Brittain (Racehorse Trainer) Dianne Feinstein Elizabeth of Torro (Ugandan royal/lawyer amongst other things) Frank Field (Ex-MP, not the other one) JOKER George Alagiah Henry Kissinger Jack Burke Jr. (Oldest living Masters winner) James Whale Jamie Raskin (US Congressman) Janey Godley Jean-Marie Le Pen Jeremiah Green (Modest Mouse) Joe Exotic June Lockhart Nigel Lawson Pope Benedict XVI Rob Burrow Rolf Harris Ron Yeats Stan Bowles Ted Kaczynski Vahagn Khachaturyan Winnie Ewing Yoko Ono Subs Bench: Jamshid Bin Abdullah (Former Sultan of Zanzibar) Cynthia Mulligan (Canadian TV Presenter) Nigel Starmer-Smith