Brilliant Believer!

Make Me A Believer (pictured above) produced a lovely performance to win the novices' hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday on only his second start over timber.  He jumped and travelled well throughout and rallied bravely when headed at the last to overturn the favourite on the run-in.  A winning point-to-pointer and bumper scorer, he looks sure to be suited by further in time and is certainly a chaser in the making so it is very encouraging that he is able to show such a good level of form over 2m1f and hurdles.  He looks a bright prospect for the future for owners Professor Caroline Tisdall and Jane Gerard-Pearse.

Nordic Combined was upsides when badly hampered by a faller at the last in the 2m handicap hurdle which cost him all chance.  He did well to finish fifth all things considered and obviously remains in good form.  There will be other opportunities for him.  Meanwhile, over at Doncaster the gallant Rathlin Rose finished a close runner-up in the conditional jockeys' veterans handicap chase, beaten only half a length under Jack Tudor.  This was no mean performance trying to concede 27lbs to the winner who came across him on the run-in.  He retains all of his enthusiasm and there are more races to be won with him.

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Cheltenham, Doncaster and Hereford as well as a couple of all-weather flat fixtures from Newcastle and Hereford.  David has two runners today; Adagio, who contests the Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham at 12.05pm and Thinking who runs in the 2m3½f handicap hurdle at Hereford at 2.32pm.

Adagio, a quality performer on the level in France, produced a good effort to win first time out over hurdles at Warwick last month and bettered that when runner-up at Cheltenham a week later.  He sets the standard here and looks to have a good chance in receipt of weight from the other winners in the line-up.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.

Thinking was a good winner of his only start in France, form that has worked out well.  He faced a stiff introduction in this country when he contested the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham after a 600 day absence and this isn't as competitive as that.  He is entitled to have improved for that experience and is 5lbs lower this afternoon.  The step-up in trip should suit and he has place claims, although it is a shame there are only seven runners for each-way purposes.  Fergus Gillard takes a handy 5lbs off his back.

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There is a Manchester derby to look forward to this afternoon as United host City at 5.30pm.  There is plenty at stake with the winner vaulted right into the thick of the title race.

Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan progressed to the semi-final stages of the Scottish Open snooker yesterday, although there were a couple of shocks with Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson exiting the competition.

The final Grand Prix of the season at Abu Dhabi takes place this weekend with qualifying this afternoon.  With Lewis Hamilton back in his race seat, this looks another formality for the Brit.

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Why has Boris Johnson bought mistletoe this year? Because he’s tired of being in the single market!

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