One Kempton Runner

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Uttoxeter, Kempton and Fontwell as well as an all weather flat card from Wolverhampton.  Good as the racing is, it is a bit like after the Lord Mayor's Show - a bit anti-climactic compared to what has gone before.  We have one runner at Kempton this afternoon as Abracadabra Sivola (pictured above) contests the three mile staying handicap chase at 4.25pm.  Conditions should suit and there is no denying that he is on an appealing mark if he puts his best foot forward.  David Noonan gets on well with him and he has decent claims.  Meanwhile, stable jockey Tom Scudamore heads to Uttoxeter where he has picked up five outside rides.  The big race of the day is the Midlands National and that will be some test of stamina after the meeting passed an early morning inspection.

The ground certainly threw up a few funny results during the course of the Cheltenaham Festival.  It was a great week, although it was a bit of a carve up for the Irish, still there is always next year!  I have said it once or twice before, but I do not agree with letting professional trainers contest the Foxhunters' (or any other hunter chase for that matter).  It is supposed to be for the amateurs so having a number of the leading handlers with runners doesn't seem to make it a terribly level playing field to me...I am sure that statement is going to upset a few people but that is just my opinion.

Many happy returns to Captain Guy Disney who has won three of the military races at Sandown for the stable aboard Rathlin Rose - he is 36 years old today.

I hear that orange broadcaster Matt Chapman had a pop at me on the television the other day.  Matt was kindly a guest speaker in our marquee on three of the days in our Cheltenham Festival marquee this week.  The other day he lost his voice - it's a shame it wasn't for all four days!  I am only joking of course, I think that Matt is improving all of the time and he is getting very good at stirring things up like John McCririck used to do.  Apart from a few "F bombs" he was very entertaining.  You may not always like what he has to say, but he does get people talking about the sport and that has to be a good thing.

*****

The best of today's football looks to be the Swansea versus Spurs match.  Spurs look to be worth a bet at 1/2 for me.  Meanwhile, in the league Bournemouth look worth an interest at 7/8 to beat West Brom, while Stoke should beat Everton at 8/5.

*****

Definition of the term 'man up'...a simple phrase to make your friends do stupid things!  Have a nice weekend...

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