Monday Double

         Rathealy - Winner at Warwick
It was great for David to get two winners yesterday, Rathealy at Warwick and Herbert Park at Kempton.  Rathealy is only a four year old and despite not being fluent at the last he battled on very well under a great ride from Tom Scu to win.  He is entered in the Sussex Champion hurdle at Plumpton on Sunday and he is a previous course winner but we shall just see how he is as the week progresses.  Herbert Park loved the step up in trip to 3 miles and won under a nice ride from Kieron Edgar at Kempton.  The Darling Boy finished fourth at Chepstow and Saint John Henry fell at Warwick but I am pleased to report he seems none the worse for it and is fine this morning.  It is just good to see that the stable appears in good form with the big Aintree meeting coming up.

 
      Herbert Park - Winner at Kempton

Today we have three meetings, two jumps cards at Exeter and Huntingdon plus a flat card at Southwell.  David runs Susie Sheep in the last race at Huntingdon, a mares hurdle.  The step up in trip today should help our point to point winner and Kieron Edgar rides taking off a handy five pounds.  Meanwhile we have two runners at Exeter, Sinndar's Man and For N Against.  Sinndar's Man returns after a little break.  Twice a winner in the Autumn he got a bit stuck in the winter ground and he should appreciate the ground a bit better today.  Nick Scholfield rides.  For N against ran well on his handicap debut at Huntingdon last time.  He steps up in trip again which looks like it should suit and Tom Scu rides.  Both Exeter runners have been put in as favourite in the Racing Post.

Turning my attention to the Grand National, they say that AP's mount, Shutthefrontdoor could go off the shortest priced favourite for 40 years.  He is already down to 7/1 with some of the firms and the AP factor he likely to keep shortening the price.

One of our old assistants Alistair Lidderdale is 51 today.  Alistair used to have the oldest binoculars I have ever seen - they looked like they could have belonged to Montgomery!

In the football it is Italy versus England tonight.  I cannot believe England are as short as 2/1 with some of the firms.  In the last 25 matches we have only won 8 times.  The bookies know that England fans will back their team at any price so might as well put up a short price!  I think that England goalkeeper Joe Hart is head and shoulders above anyone else....think about it!  I am going to nick a few quid on Sweden 8/13 and double that with Ukraine at 1/2.

A man broke a leg after he got out of a car and it rolled on him in Cheadle, Staffs - bad brake!