Two Runners At Exeter

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Bangor, Exeter and Ayr as well as a flat card from Kempton.  David has two runners at Exeter; Orchard Thieves and Mrs Miggins.  Orchard Thieves (pictured above) contests the 2m5½f novices' hurdle at 1.00pm.  He finished runner-up in an Irish point-to-point which worked out well, before winning his first start for the stable in a Worcester novices' hurdle on the back of a long lay-off, beating a useful rival.  This is a competitive looking race and he does have to concede a penalty to some decent rivals.  He stays and will handle the going, although any additional rain will aid his chances - I thought he had each-way claims under Tom Scudamore.  Mrs Miggins runs in the mares' novices' hurdle at 4.15pm over 2m2½f.  She has finished in the frame on two of her three starts and is another with place prospects at a decent price.

I see that Racing Post photographer Ed Whitaker is in line to be photographer of the year for the eighth consecutive time.  I can't believe that some of my snaps are not in the running for the award, such as this lovely one of David's BetVictor Gold Cup contender, King's Socks on the gallops the other morning.  I often get my Brownie out on the gallops and when Ed is at the yard we often chew the fat about photography and I give him a few tips on where he is going wrong.

There was another excellent veterans' chase at Huntingdon yesterday.  The winner, By The Boardwalk was landing his first success for over two years.  It was a race for ten year old's and older - we definitely need more of these races...they seem popular with trainers and racegoers alike.

If you walked into your local bookmakers and asked them for £5,000 on any event, you would be shown the front door.  This is what someone tried to do on Daniel Sturridge joining West Bro.  In the end, the punter in question managed to get £30 on.  My maximum bet taken in my local was £20 come the end...the manager told me that any more than that and she would have to phone the bet through to head office.  That was over 40 years ago, so I must have backed a few winners!

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I saw Roger Federer climbing a mountain with Bear Grylls on television, but the real star of the show for me is the cameraman who takes all the same risks, but has to carry a heavy camera as well!

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I fell over in the bookies the other day...it was a betting slip!  Have a nice day...

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