Runners At Taunton, Wetherby

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Taunton and Wetherby and an all-weather flat fixture from Newcastle.  David has six runners today - five at Taunton; Airton, Home Farm House, Great Tempo, Rathlin Rose and Shoot To Fame and one at Wetherby; Sexy Lot (pictured above).  Our first runner is Airton who contests the 2m3f selling hurdle at Taunton at 12.30pm.  He is a solid performer who has won at the track and this represents a drop in grade.  He should once again run his race, although he would prefer better ground.  Fergus Gillard is in the saddle.

Home Farm House runs in the 2m3f mares NH novices' hurdle at 1.00pm.  She was the winner of an Irish point-to-point and was by no means disgraced on her seasonal reappearance in a jumpers' bumper.  This should suit her a whole lot better and she could have each-way claims under Tom Scudamore.

Great Tempo goes in the 2m5f handicap chase at 2.00pm.  He has won at the track from today's mark, won't mind the heavy ground and will certainly stay all of this trip and more.  Has a little each-way chance under Fergus Gillard who takes a handy 5lbs off his back.

Popular veteran Rathlin Rose runs in the 2m7f handicap chase at 3.05pm.  He has been a bit in and out this season, but did run well when an unlucky second at Doncater in December from this mark.  A reproduction of that performance would give him a chance, although the heavy ground may be a bit more testing than he would ideally like.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.

Our final runner at Taunton is Shoot To Fame who runs in the 3m mares' handicap hurdle at 3.40pm.  She was the winner of a couple of point-to-points and has shown promise in bumpers but has yet to sparkle over timber.  This longer trip might help and she could outrun her odds with Fergus Gillard claiming 5lbs off her back.

Over at Wetherby we have one runner; Sexy Lot who contests the 2m5½f mares' handicap hurdle at 3.55pm.  She has been in good form this season, winning twice and has not been disgraced in her last two starts (form that was well advertised by Thibault at Ascot over the weekend).  She loves testing ground and looks well worth a try at this sort of trip.  David Noonan has won on her before and she should be thereabouts again.  Probably has Fontaine Collanges to beat.

*****

Crystal Palace proved the stats all wrong by beating Brighton 2-1 away from home last night.  Let's see if I can do a bit better tonight as Leeds play Southampton in a mid-table clash.  Leeds have been decimated by injuries and are on a losing run which would give hope to Southampton, although they have also nose-dived of late.  A draw could be on the cards.

No sooner was the Welsh Open done with, we have already moved onto the next snooker tournament with the Players' Championship kicking off in Milton Keynes.  There has already been early drama with Judd Trump losing in the first round to Stuart Bingham.  Trump has looked almost unbeatable for a season and a half, although this represents his second consecutive early exit.  Meanwhile, Kyren Wilson looked in good order as he beat Ryan Day 6-1.

*****

A German Shepherd walked into a telegram office, took out a blank form, and wrote: "Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof."

The clerk examined the paper and politely told the dog: "There are only nine words here. You could send another 'Woof' for the same price."

"But," the dog replied, "that would make no sense at all."