Graham Clifford's view from the stands at Raceclubs.com.

Biography: Graham is a reporter for the Irish Independent newspaper and is based in London. He presented on the Raceclubs/Getminted horse racing TV show in Britain a number of years back and is the former sports editor of the Irish Post newspaper. Also he has been a broadcast and print journalist for the last decade working in the U.K., Australia and in his native Ireland. He presents a show on local BBC radio in the South East of England and claims to have Psychic powers. He once worked as a body double for Johnny Vegas and represented Slovakia in last year’s Eurovision song contest with the song “random factor blues”!

Markets react positively to Raceclub’s suggestions on Greek debt-crisis

The Footsie 100 closed up 1,321 points yesterday and markets around the world rallied this morning after Raceclub owners submitted their proposals for a Greek economic recovery. Lucas Papademos, successor to poor old George Papandreou said he was simply astounded by the suggestions received. The Greek Prime Minister told Parliament “today is a bright day for our country, Raceclubs will see Greece strong again’. Why the optimism? Well in answer to the most recent View from the Stands question ‘are there any get-rich-quick ideas you could suggest to their governing elite of Greece?’ owners flocked to their computers in large numbers to offer assistance.

The Greek Parliament sat into the small hours (mainly because Angela Merkel had ordered the repossession of their homes) and selected their top three answers. In reverse order here were their favoured plans of action.

3. From Mark at the Tanky yard, officials were advised to “lead a campaign for the compulsory search down the back all Greek national’s sofas ,armchairs etc. all proceeds to be confiscated, and donated to "the get Greece out of the pooh fund” – the View from the Stands team understands Greek officials may decide to choose an alternative name for the actual fund.

2. Link Up came up with this cracker – “On the spot fines for peeing in the swimming pool. €5 for crafty one in the corner, €10 for a drunken wee and a flow blown fart. €100 when the fart goes horrible wrong.” Heinz baked beans have offered to sponsor this proposal and flood the country with its canned produce.

1. But the winning pitch which will receive the £10 (€11.68) in bonus credits this week is the Lonesome Dove stable who suggested simply “build a recycling centre for plates”. The Greeks spend something in the region of ten trillion euro a year on full size dinner plates and double that on side plates. There are no official figures for the national spend on saucers or butter dishes.

Well done Raceclub owners and Greece consider yourself lucky….this time.

Party time in Sweden on arrival of baby Cassidy

Well you have to hand it to Tony he didn’t forget his friends at Raceclubs when his missus decided to go into labour! Somehow he found time to post “this is a very memorable time in my life as I’m just off to the hospital with the missus, hopefully there will be a new addition to my family very soon! I’ll keep all who are interested informed as time goes on.” And the Juliussilas stable owner who’s quickly closing in on 1,000 wins was true to his word. An hour-and-a-half after the original post Tony wrote to inform us “Maries 6cm dilated”! And two hours later the greatest news filtered through when we got “baby Cassidy born 21.20 Swedish time. thanks to everyone who posted on this thread and all looks well, from family Moran.” Little Cassidy shares her birthday with the very brilliant singer Petula Clark, Spanish tennis star Fernando Verdasco and Trainspotting actor Jonny Lee Miller! Fantastic news Tony and love the name, not Marie’s surname by any chance? Well done again and thank you for keeping us all informed. What a lovely Christmas lies ahead for you all.

This is a birthday free zone

On the subject of daughters I was explaining to my eldest (aged 5) the other day about how horses have different ages in this game and that it goes up as it would with a real horse. She looked perplexed by my jargon. “Age change” she said, “that doesn’t sound very nice”. “What should I say?” I asked, she replied “you could say they have their birthdays on those days and not just that their age changes.” Fair point, let’s get out the bunting and party hats. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that after their 7th birthday they’re toast!

Bring on the English!

I may live to regret these words but in our current bubble of euphoria we the Republic of Ireland fear nobody. True we only got to the Euro 2012 play-offs thanks to some daft results by Armenia (who?) and that drawing Estonia in the play-offs was as jammy as you can get. Yep the mighty Estonia, who lost to the Faroe Islands in their qualifying group. That the second leg of our play-off was at home. That the referee in the first leg in Tallinn could have been from Tipperary so biased was he in our favour. That he sent two of their players off. Yes despite all those little nuggets of luck we will go out to win the European Championships next Summer. And if we get England we’ll be delighted…..but not half as delighted as English fans will be I’d say!!!! Great to be back at a major championships. I’ve already been in contact with friends at home and around Europe about getting that all important camper van!

You have to wonder if Sepp Blatter isn’t just having one big laugh

I don’t believe that FIFA President Sepp Blatter is as daft as he portrays himself. I think that perhaps he likes courting controversy, likes being in front of the cameras and likes the sound of his own voice. His comments on racism are almost mild in comparison to other senseless things he’s said in the past. Blatter incurred criticism from female footballers in 2004 when he suggested that women should "wear tighter shorts and low cut shirts... to create a more female aesthetic" and attract more male fans. This man won the ‘Global Award for Peace’ once, on that basis Nick Griffin might get a shot at it next year! 

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