Newton Abbot Pair

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with a jumps card from Newton Abbot and flat fixtures from Brighton, Beverley and Newbury.  David has two in at Newton Abbot; Al Roc and Port O'Clock.  Al Roc (pictured above) is in the 2m5f handicap chase at 8.00pm and he has had a good start to the season, winning three times, including over course and distance, although he needs to improve on his latest effort at Worcester to figure here.

Port O'Clock is in the 3m2f novices' handicap chase at 8.30pm.  A winning pointer/hunter chaser, he ran a very good first race for the stable when runner-up at Worcester on Sunday, only narrowly beaten by the favourite, the pair well clear of the remainder.  Looks to have a good chance under Tom Scudamore.

It's the longest day of the year today and it is going to feel like that for a lot of commuters with the start of the rail strike.  One person it is not going to effect however, is travelling head lad Craig Wylie, who was seen pedalling to work this morning on his bicycle.  The promising weather forecast has obviously encouraged the Scotsman to give the lycra shorts an airing!

I know that prize money has been the bugbear of British racing for some time so I won't dwell on the matter, but just looking through tonight's card at Newbury the problem is clearly highlighted.  There are a couple of 0-75 handicaps on their card where the winner will pick up little over £3,000.  They may be relatively modest races, but they are far from bargain basement, and this from a supposed Grade One track.  I know it is only a Tuesday evening card, but if a track like Newbury can't put on better money, what hope do the smaller racecourses have?

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The tennis from Eastbourne is underway and that can mean only one thing...Wimbledon is just around the corner (not literally!).  The Eastbourne International is the final WTA event to take place before Wimbledon, which begins a week today.

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What do you call the security guards outside of Samsung HQ?  The Guardians of the Galaxy.