Clarkson Back In Top Gear!

It was good to see Mr Clarkson back in the winners' enclosure at Sedgefield yesterday following his unfortunate experience at Exeter last time when the bit went through his mouth and he had to be pulled up.  I thought that David Noonan gave him well-judged ride from the front, setting sensible fractions in the testing conditions.  A winner of his three completed starts since joining the Pond House team, Mr Clarkson is now a 33/1 chance for the Albert Bartlett at the Festival - that may be tilting at windmills but he has given his owners, Pipe's Prospectors some amazing moments already.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Exeter and Warwick as well as all-weather flat cards from Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  David has five runners today with Shaama Grise, Herbert Park, Abracadabra Sivola, Obistar and Tobacco Road competing at Exeter.  Shaama Grise runs in the mares' hurdle over 2m2 1/2f at 2.45pm - she won in good style last time at Chepstow on soft ground.  The handicapper was quite harsh, putting her up a stone in the weights, although she won with plenty in hand that day and with more improvement possible, another big run is expected.

Herbert Park goes in the three mile novices' chase and he has won on all sorts of ground although his most recent form leaves him with some improvement to find.  It wasn't so long ago that he failed by only a neck to concede 16lbs to Pertemps Hurdle favourite To Be Fair over hurdles - form that would give him excellent claims if translating that ability to fences.  Abracadabra Sivola runs in the Devon National - he was second in the Somerset National at Wincanton on his penultimate start and was a ready winner at Taunton last time.  The marathon trip of 3m6 1/2f should suit and he is another with solid claims.

The 2m7f trip on this stiff track should suit Obistar who goes in the handicap hurdle at 4.55pm.  He has stamina in abundance and has place claims.  Our final runner is Tobacco Road who had some very useful flat form.  Since switching to hurdles he has finished placed on his last three completed starts and he should go well once again.  Incidentally, he is for sale and further details can be found here - he should be winning before too long and would give any prospective owners some excellent fun.  He looks a bit of a bargain at the price too!

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I see that Claudio Ranieri has been given the boot from Leicester City - he has gone from Premier League winning manager to on the dole in less than a year!  You would have thought that his title win would have bought him a little more grace than that.  I don't suppose he will be in the dole queue for too long!  I wonder who the next manager will be?  I reckon he has a thankless task - the Premier League success was a once in a lifetime event that I will probably never see replicated.  The first thing the new manager will have to do is sort his players out as they are certainly not pulling their weight at present.

Tottenham Hotspur drew 2-2 with Gent last night and are now out of the Champions League.  Spurs player Dele Alli was sent off for a brainless challenge, contributing massively to his side's demise.

I went out for dinner with Martin, Carol, Mrs Barnes and Henrietta Knight last evening.  It was fascinating talking to Hen about training.  Triple Gold Cup hero Best Mate must really have been some horse to have around the yard.

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My girlfriend has big ears, she is made of silver and stands on a plinth...she is my trophy girlfriend!  Have a nice day...

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