Cracking Start To The Open

It's a big day for racing - the first day of The Open meeting at Cheltenham and what a way to kick the card off with the stables' Dynaste (pictured above) taking on Fingal Bay in the novices' chase.  The other runners are no mugs either, but our charge was the best of these (with a rating of 161) over hurdles and he has schooled well over the larger obstacles at home.  It's a race that I am looking forward to and the ground should be perfect for the jumpers.  The stable also runs Consigliere, Waterunder, Top Wood, Swing Bill and Alderluck. To me, this meeting signifies the start of the jumps season proper, with three great days of action headlined by the Paddy Power Gold Cup tomorrow in which we are represented by ante-post favourite Grands Crus.

Cheltenham is obviously the main focus of the day, but there is another jumps card taking place at Newcastle, while we also have all-weather action on the flat at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.

I was watching the racing from Taunton yesterday afternoon and if I were the trainer of Quayside Court, I think I would be inclined to turn him out again quickly under a penalty before the handicapper can have his say.  He won the handicap chase by 25 lengths from a mark of just 69 - it would appear that the wind operation that he underwent in the Spring has definitely helped him.  A big rise is due so I would be looking to get him out more than once over the coming week or two so keep your eyes peeled as he should follow-up!

*****

I see that Labour managed to keep their seat in Manchester.  There was only an 18% turnout, the lowest since the war...it just shows you what sort of interest normal people have in politics.  Racing, football, cricket and now politics...I did not realise I was an expert in so many areas!

*****

There should be an interesting football match tomorrow kicking off at 12.45pm between Arsenal and Spurs.  When that is over, the racing from Cheltenham is on...it doesn't get much better than that (and it sounds like my Saturday is already planned for me)!

*****

Gary Linekar said that he woke up with a sore back after dreaming of scoring an Ibrahimovic style goal!  Remember his career though, it was rare for Gary to ever score from more than a yard from the goal!  As you get older, you seem to get better (or so you think!) - I can't remember ever having lost at table tennis!