4 Runners At Cheltenham

There are just two meetings taking place this afternoon, but what good action we have to look forward to with jumps cards coming from Cheltenham and Fontwell.  It is the final day of Cheltenham's November meeting today and David will be kept busy with four runners; Duc de Beauchene, Rathlin Rose, Eden du Houx (pictured above) and Israel Champ.

Duc de Beauchene contests the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at 12.45pm.  David won the race with Decoy, Home Run and Unique de Cotte in the past and it would be great if we could add to that tally.  Duc de Beauchene looked progressive last season, winning well at Plumpton before finishing a good second at Sandown from a 2lbs lower mark.  He should appreciate these conditions and has done well over the summer.  Jonjo O'Neill Jr rides.

Rathlin Rose runs in the rescheduled cross country chase and he certainly did us proud with an excellent sixth in the Velka Pardubicka in the Czech Republic on his penultimate start.  He was a bit below par at Sandown last time and would need to bounce back to figure here.  David Noonan is in the saddle.

Eden du Houx runs in the Supreme novices' hurdle trial at 3.30pm and whilst it is only a small field, it is full of quality.  Eden was a very good horse in bumpers last season, winning a Listed contest at Ascot and he ran well on his hurdling debut at Fontwell on his first start this term.  He bumped into a very useful rival in I K Brunel that day but the experience will certainly have done him good and he has every chance in a very tight little race.  Tom Scu rides.

Israel Champ contests the Listed bumper at 4.00pm.  He was impressive in winning an Irish point-to-point and ran okay in a Worcester bumper on his rules debut.  He will have learned plenty for that experience and whilst this represents a step-up in grade, he is a very nice horse and deserves to take his chance.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.

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The final of the Northern Ireland snooker takes place this afternoon with prize money of £70,000 going to the winner.  Not a bad afternoon's work at all.  Mind you, that pales into insignificance when you consider how much the drivers will be making as they make their way around the sweeping turns of Brazil's Sao Paulo circuit in tonight's Formula One Grand Prix.

England's footballers take on Kosovo tonight in Pristina in another Euro 2020 qualifier.  England have already booked their place in the latter stages although this isn't the one-sided affair you would imagine with the scoreline 5-3 the last time these teams met, especially when you consider the Three Lions have little to play for.

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I went for an interview to become a train driver yesterday.  The interviewer asked me what specific skills I had that related to the job.  Apparently 'always being late' was not the answer they were looking for!

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