Wincanton, Rasen Runners

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Market Rasen and Wincanton as well as all-weather flat fixtures from Chelmsford and Newcastle.  David has three runners today;  Shoot To Fame at Wincanton and First Lord de Cuet and Mrs Miggins at Market Rasen.  Shoot To Fame contests the 2m5½f novices' hurdle at Wincanton at 12.40pm for the Blue Ball Syndicate.  A dual point-to-point winner, she showed ability in bumpers and was not disgraced on her hurdling debut at Exeter last time, although she probably needs to improve to figure here.

Mrs Miggins runs in the 2m7f mares' handicap hurdle at Market Rasen at 1.00pm.  She won a chase at Southwell from this mark in September, but lost her way afterwards with some indifferent jumping.  The switch back to hurdles should help and Fergus Gillard takes 7lbs off her back.  She will like the good ground and could run well at a decent price in a wide open race.

Our final runner is First Lord de Cuet (pictured above) who runs in the 2m7f handicap hurdle at 1.30pm.  He ran well to finish runner-up over 2m4f at Sandown last time out and the step-up in trip should suit this former Irish point winner.  He is due to go up by 2lbs in future handicaps so is slightly ahead of the handicapper and has an obvious chance, although his price reflects this.  Fergus Gillard rides.

Little Red Lion was unfortunate to be brought down in the novices' handicap chase at Ffos Las yesterday.  He had jumped well until that point but there will be other days for him.  The main thing is that he is safe and well.  Great Tempo finished fifth in the 3m handicap chase, whilst Broughton's Admiral was below his best in the 2m6f handicap hurdle.

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England gave Iceland a 4-0 drubbing last night at Wembley in a meaningless Nations Cup match that had nothing riding on it.  It did give Gareth Southgate a chance to assess some of his young talent on the big stage however and Manchester City's Phil Foden did not disappoint with the 20 scoring a pair of late goals.

The Northern Ireland Open snooker is underway and there was a 147 maximum break from world number one Judd Trump yesterday on his way to victory yesterday.  Ronnie O'Sullivan progressed along with John Higgins, although some big names fell by the roadside with Mark Williams, Mark Selby and Neil Robertson all losing.

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I was hit on the head by a can of Coke yesterday.  Thankfully, it was only a soft drink! 

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