Winning Warthog!

       Warthog - Winner at Sandown

Today we have five meetings, jumps cards at Aintree, Sandown, Chepstow and Wetherby plus a flat card at Wolverhampton.  David has runners at three of the meetings.  Vieux Lion Rouge runs in the Becher chase at Aintree at 1.30pm.  This is over the Grand National Fences and is a race he won two years ago.  He has in fact won 11 times in his career and loves plenty of cut in the ground which he will have today.  His last run was in the Grand National in April where he finished ninth.  He returns from his break fresh and well and a big run is expected with Tom Scu in the saddle.

At Sandown we run Friday Night Light in the 2 mile listed handicap hurdle at 2.25pm.  He is having his first run since May and his win at Newbury came on soft going last season.  He looks fairly treated on old form and Aidan Coleman rides.  David has three runners at Chepstow.  It's Obvious runs in the 12.20 2m3f handicap chase which is actually being sponsored by his owner Professor Caroline Tisdalll in support of the Injured Jockeys Fund.  He returns from a break having being pulled up in his last two starts so a clear round is the main priority.  He did not really like the quick ground on those two occasions though and will appreciate a return to a slower surface.  Ramses De Teille runs in the 2.30pm race, the 2m7f handicap chase known as the Welsh National Trial.  Both his chasing wins have come at this track in similar conditions to what we have today.  He goes there fit and well after a nice comeback run where he was fifth in the Badger Ales chase and looks to have a good chance.  Poker Play runs in the handicap hurdle at 3.05pm.  His one career win came in France on heavy ground and I watched him gallop yesterday and he looked in good form.  David Noonan rides all three of our Chepstow runners.  There is some cracking action live on ITV this afternoon including of course the Tingle Creek at Sandown.  I shall not be going too far from my sofa this afternoon!

It was a great win for Warthog yesterday at Sandown.  He made all on his chasing debut, jumped really well and it was a good front running ride by David Noonan.  He has always promised so much and it was great to see him finally do it on the track.  He is a super looking giant of a horse and hopefully there is plenty more to come from him over the larger obstacles as I am sure that would have done his confidence the world of good.  Malangen finished fourth at Sandown, staying on at the finish and there has to be a race in him soon.

The best result for our runners at Exeter was Jasmin Des Bordes in the Bumper who finished second.  He stayed on well all the way to the line despite looking a little green and he should have no trouble in winning a bumper next time out.  The winners of the race was the appropriately named Haldon Hill which of course is where the actual racecourse is situated! I went to Exeter yesterday with MCP and see so many old faces.

There is a good football match today at 5.30pm, Chelsea versus Man City and it is live on BT Sport.  I am going to back Man City at evens.  My team West Ham are 13/10 to beat Crystal Palace and Spurs are evens to win at Leicester.

Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?!  Have a nice day.