Jac Heads To Cheltenham

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with the highlight of course being day one of the Cheltenham November meeting.  There is another jumps card at Newcastle supported by a couple of flat fixtures from Lingfield and Wolverhampton but really it is all about Cheltenham.  David has one runner this afternoon as Jacbequick (pictured above) contests the 2m½f handicap hurdle at 1.15pm - it is a very tight race with twenty runners and plenty of them in with realistic chances.  He was a good winner last time out at Fakenham on good ground, although this is more competitive and he runs from an 8lbs higher mark.  Even so, he looks like he is improving over timber and has each-way claims at decent odds under Tom Scudamore.  His is a real 'feel good' story as he has already come so far from being bought out of a Beverley claimer on the flat in August...let's hope the fairytale continues here.

I thought that Great Tempo ran creditably on his first start for five months at Ludlow yesterday when fifth in the amateur riders' handicap hurdle.  Young Fergus Gillard gave him another accomplished ride, having him in a good place throughout.

If you are going to Cheltenham today, don't forget to pay a visit to the Injured Jockeys' Fund stall.  You can get Christmas cards, calendars and diaries as well as other merchandise and apart from being good quality, they are all sold in a great cause.

Happy birthday to little Willie...no, I'm not talking about James - it is the 'cackling Scot' Willie Carson's 76th birthday today.  When he rode any winners for Martin he would always have plenty to say for himself.

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I could not get interested in the football last night and it seems like I was not the only one...I don't think I have ever seen so many empty seats at Wembley.  Even EastEnders was more entertaining!

Tonight it is the turn of Wales and Denmark to entertain at 7.45pm on Sky.  Wales are top of their division with Denmark 2 points behind them.  Wales are 9/5 chances and that will do me for a little interest.

I see that Richard Scudamore is leaving his post as Chief Executive of the Premier League and is to be succeeded by Susanna Dinnage who was formerly the boss of the Animal Planet television channel, so she has plenty of experience with footballers.  Mind you, some of them do act like animals!

In the cricket, England are 131-4 against Sri Lanka and will need plenty more runs if they are to win this test match.  Mind you the wicket is turning so there is still hope.

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I was once caught stealing a horse...it was a fair clop!

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