Ffos Las, Salisbury Runners

There is a busy day ahead with no fewer than seven meetings taking place this afternoon.  Five of those are on the level and come from Haydock, Chester, Beverley, Catterick and Salisbury while there are jumps fixtures from Cartmel and Ffos Las.  David has two runners at Ffos Las; Nice Thoughts in the 7.05pm race and The Draconian at 9.05pm.  Nice Thoughts had some fair form on the flat with a rating of 79 and this better ground ought to help him, while The Draconian ran a lot better when third in a bumper last time at Exeter and he looks to have place claims.  Stable jockey Tom Scudamore is aboard the pair, although our best chance of a winner appears to come on the flat in the shape of classy hurdler Starchitect (pictured above).  He goes in the 7.20pm race at Salisbury and he is napped by the Post.  He should handle this quicker ground and is ridden by George Baker and he looks to hold sound claims.

Purple 'N Gold ran yet another solid race at Worcester last night when finishing fourth in the handicap chase from a career high mark of 135.  He looked like the winner three out but a mistake at the second last did not help his chances.  Skylander ran a funny race in sixth - he was pushed along for quite some way before staying on in the closing stages under Michael Heard.  He looks like he needs further on the basis of this performance.

I see that Aidan O'Brien could have as many as seven runners in next week's Epsom Derby.  Just imagine having that many three year old's good enough to compete at that level.  It suggests to me that they are not sure which is the best of them, although Chester winner US Army Ranger is undoubtedly open to plenty of improvement.

You can bid on the late, great Sir Peter O'Sullevan's VW Golf R32 - it was the car that 'The Voice of racing' used to drive to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when he was 94 years old and was stopped for speeding.  It has done less than 14,000 miles and would be quite the collectors piece.  If you are interested, contact Nigel Payne on 07768 025265.

*****

England managed to scrape a 2-1 win against Australia last night - it was a terrible match and both teams looked poor.  I keep on saying it, but England look like a second rate side and they are going to struggle to win any silverware while Roy Hodgson is at the helm.  We don't appear to have any world-class players and have no earthly chance in the European Championships next month

*****

Sadly I am of an age where food has taken the place of sex in my life.  In fact, I have just had a mirror fitted above my kitchen table!  Have a nice weekend...

Tweet