Pair of Seconds

Unfortunately Exeter has fallen foul of the weather today with false patches of ground rendering the track unraceable.  I would have thought that the wind would have been more of a concern - it is very exposed up on top of Haldon Hill and it is blowing a gale down this way.  Anyway, there is still a jumps card from Catterick and a couple of all-weather flat fixtures from Lingfield and Kempton.

We hit the crossbar a couple of times yesterday with both Delface and Miss Tynte running good races to finish second at Leicester and Wetherby respectively.  Miss Tynte was just behind the leader when fluffing the last, but I think the winner, Destrier is a very useful novice so she will certainly be winning races on this evidence.  Over at Leicester, Delface finished runner-up and would have been considerably closer had he not made a couple of significant errors.  He came 7 lengths clear of the third and was conceding 25lbs to the winner so this was a very creditable effort.  He looks capable of winning from this sort of mark so let's hope the handicapper is not too hard on him.

The big question still remains...is there too much racing or are there not enough horses?  The field sizes seem to keep getting smaller and smaller.  Wetherby put up £13,000 for a handicap chase which attracted just four runners.  If I were sponsoring races and only four horses lined-up for good prize money I don't think I would bother again.  It is certainly no good for their business and no good for racing.

I see that it is Josh Apiafi's birthday today.  Josh worked at Pond House many years ago - he is certainly a better businessman than jockey, luckily for him!  He shares his birthday with bookmaker Barry Dennis who is 77 today.  Barry always had an opinion and was never frightened to express it, he didn't mind laying a bet either.  Many happy returns gentlemen.

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There was a good game between Manchester City and Bristol City last night in the EFL semi-final return leg.  The Premiership leaders won 3-2 (5-3) on aggregate but Bristol City did themselves proud so hopefully can build on this.

What a performance from Kyle Edmund, the British number two tennis player.  He has reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open, becoming only the fifth British player to reach this stage of a Grand Slam tournament since the went open in 1968.  That sounds like a good pub quiz question - can you name the others?  I will give you a bit of help, Andy Murray was one of them...I am so kind!

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I hate people who do not keep their mirrors clean...it reflects badly upon them!  Have a nice day...

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