Wincanton Runner

Paricolor ran an encouraging race at Wetherby yesterday to finish runner-up in the juvenile hurdle.  A former French flat recruit, he settled much better on this second attempt over hurdles and will surely be winning something similar soon based on this evidence.  He jumped very well and can only improve for the experience.

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Brighton, Wolverhampton, and Chelmsford as well as jumps cards from Carlisle and Wincanton.  David has one runner today as Huccaby (pictured above) contests the 1.40pm race at Wincanton.  It is a 1m7½f maiden hurdle and there are some useful sorts in opposition so it is a tall order.  Huccaby has had just the two starts so is still learning but he has schooled well at home under jockey Kieron Edgar and has had a wind operation since his last start.

David Noonan makes the long journey all the way to Carlisle for two ride and he looks to have a chance aboard Some Detail in the 1.15pm race.  It will be a late night for the young Irishman as he rides in the last race.  Let's hope the trip is made worthwhile.

Conditional jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr was hit with a 12 day ban for taking the wrong course at Wetherby yesterday.  Chief steward Adrian Sharp said, "Mr O'Neill came in and held his hands up and admitted it was his own fault."  In fairness, it is not like he could blame the horse for not going where he was going!

I see that primary school teacher Emma Sweeney rode her first winner aboard Allduckornodinner at Punchestown.  Where do they get these names from?  There were hugs from mum Una in the winners' enclosure afterwards and it is great to see this sort of euphoria at the races.

It is that time of the year when all of the pundits start giving you their horses to follow for the season ahead.  Therefore, we thought it was an excellent time to bring back our popular series of video interviews and who better to start with than the trainer himself?  Click on the image below to watch it...

There will be more videos over the forthcoming weeks, including with stable jockey Tom Scudamore and some of the staff at Pond House, so keep checking back to learn of their fancies for the season ahead.

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David de Gea and Paul Pogba have been ruled out of Manchester United's match against Liverpool on Sunday having sustained injuries.  I am not sure that Pogba will be missed very much, but the goalie certainly will be.

Meanwhile, Charlton boss Lee Bowyer has picked up a three match touchline ban having questioned the integrity of a match official.  I wonder what his exact words were?

Formula One bosses are close to confirming a race at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium in 2021.  The proposed track at the home of the Miami Dolphins would weave around the arena.  Bosses hope to get the nod towards the end of this month.  They are clearly trying to grow the market in America where Formula One ranks a lot lower in popularity than Nascar and Indycar.  It will also give the good folks of Miami something to look forward to as their hapless Dolphins are yet to win a match this season in the NFL.

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Mountain climbers are curious types.  They are always wanting to take another peak!  Have a great day...

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