Ludlow, Donny Runners

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Ludlow and Doncaster, whilst there are all-weather flat fixtures from Southwell and Kempton.  David has three runners today;  Nordic Combined at Ludlow and Fort Summer and Mr Clarkson at Doncaster.  Nordic Combined (pictured above) contests Ludlow's 4.45pm race - a 2m handicap hurdle.  He has won over the minimum trip at Taunton on heavy ground so conditions should be to his liking.  He remains 4lbs above his last winning mark but  jockey Fergus Gillard claims 5lbs.  It is a competitive little race but he looks to have each-way claims.

Over to Doncaster and we run Fort Summer in the 2m½f novices' hurdle at 1.45pm.  He had shown ability in point-to-points and bumpers and is entitled to have improved for his first run in almost 18 months at Wincanton three weeks ago.  Even so, he would need to improve to figure this afternoon.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.

Mr Clarkson contests the 3m½f handicap hurdle at 4.05pm.  He was in the process of running a good race from a higher handicap mark when capsizing at the penultimate fence at Taunton three starts back.  He was well beaten on his return to hurdles last time, although a repeat of that previous effort would give him a chance.  David Noonan rides.

Sexy Lot fared best of our runners yesterday, finishing a close second in the 2m5½f mares' handicap hurdle at Wetherby.  She seemed to run in snatches despite the longer trip, but she stayed on really well after the last to almost collar the leader, going down by only a head.  She is clearly still improving and looks as though she will get further still.

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So much for Leeds' injury woes!  They took Southampton apart 3-0 last night to end a winless streak, whilst the Saints plummeted to their eighth consecutive match without a win.  There was a good result for Chelsea as they won the away leg of their Champions League match against Atletico Madrid 1-0.

Manchester City are in Champions' League action tonight, whilst Spurs play in the Europa League.  I will spare you any predictions!

The third cricket Test match between India and England gets underway this morning with the series finely poised at 1-1.  England need to bounce back following a crushing defeat last week.

Ronnie O'Sullivan survived a final frame decider against Ding Junhui in the Players' Championship snooker last night.  Meanwhile, Neil Robertson was in sparkling form in just his third tournament of the year, knocking in consecutive breaks of 135, 130, 82, 142 and 132 en route to beating Lu Ning 6-1.  He will face Kyren Wilson in the quarter finals.

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“I’ve given up asking rhetorical questions. What’s the point?”