Newbury, Rasen Runners

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Newbury, Market Rasen and Sedgefield as well as a flat card from Chelmsford City.  David has runners at Newbury and Market Rasen.  Nordic Combined makes his hurdling debut in the 1.15pm race at Newbury, a 2m½f novices' hurdle.  He had some decent flat form and won three times with plenty of cut in the ground and with the recent rain, the good/soft going should be right up his street.  He has schooled nicely at home and has each way claims at odds of around 12/1.  Also at Newbury, Moon Racer (pictured above) contests the three mile Pertemps qualifier at 2.55pm.  Our former Festival bumper winner runs from a mark of 142, handles most types of ground and looks to have a leading chance if he stays this longer trip.  Tom Scudamore is aboard both of our Newbury runners.

Meanwhile, over at Market Rasen former useful flat performer Mutanaqel goes in the juvenile hurdle at 12.55pm.  There are only five runners, but there are some decent horses in opposition and he would need to improve on what he has shown so far to land this under David Noonan.

We are doubly represented in the 2m2½f handicap hurdle with Aldrin and Malangen in the line-up.  Aldrin has been a little in and out but put up a good performance when successful on his penultimate start at Worcester.  He would have claims if able to reproduce that form under Charlie Hammond, although I am not sure he would be wanting too much more rain.  Malangen has finished in the frame on three of his four starts and with a useful three year old's allowance, he only has 10-6 to carry.  The drop back in trip should suit and he looks to have a good chance under David Noonan, who drops into Market Rasen on his way back from Musselburgh where he finished runner-up on his only mount yesterday.

I thought that Whitley Neill ran a good race to finish a close fourth in the competitive staying handicap hurdle at Chepstow yesterday.  He was beaten little over two lengths and saw the longer trip out well.  This followed a good effort at Worcester on his previous start and surely his turn is not far away.

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There was a great win for Manchester United last night as they came from behind to beat Juventus 2-1.  I don't know why it is, but manager Jose Mourinho can't help but wind people up - he was complaining about the Juventus ground yesterday.  Meanwhile Manchester City won 6-0 against Shakhtar, although Raheem Sterling should have been sent off for winning a penalty after tripping over his own foot!  Arsenal play Sporting on BT Sport at 8pm tonight and the Gunners are a best priced 1/3.

England are building up a big lead against Sri Lanka in the cricket and the pitch can only get worse.  It will be a spinners paradise so every run they get now could prove vital.

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What is the French for dentures?  Aperitif!  Have a nice day...

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