Weekend Jottings

There are just two meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Uttoxeter and Kelso.  David has two runners today at Uttoxeter, Colony Queen and Katpoli.  Both are making their debuts for the Pond House team with Colony Queen the first of those as she contests the maiden hurdle at 1.08pm.  A multiple winner at upto 1m3½f on the flat, she was the best of those with form on the level.  She has her first start over hurdles today and has schooled well at home and looks to have Are U Wise To That to beat.  Tom Scudamore takes the mount.

Our other runner is Katpoli, who contests the 2m handicap chase at 5.13pm.  He was an easy winner of a handicap hurdle in France on his penultimate start and was rated considerably higher in his younger days.  We are still finding out about him, but conditions should suit and he looks to have decent claims with Tom Scu in the saddle.

Further afield, it is Arc day at Longchamp with the big race taking place at 3.05pm.  It is just one of six Group 1 contests on the card, the first three of which are covered by ITV.  For what it's worth, I think last year's victor, Torquator Tasso could be the one to be on.  With showers today and heavy rain forecast tomorrow morning, he will get his ground and this looks to have been the target all year.  Frankie Dettori, certainly knows how to win this race, having landed it six times in the past.

I see that Exeter have already taken the decision to abandon their first fixture of the new season, which was supposed to take place on Thursday, as despite recent rain, the ground at the Devon track is still too firm.  Ludlow are in a similar position ahead of their Wednesday fixture and will be inspecting the track today.

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There are a couple of Premiership football matches to look forward to this afternoon, with the Manchester derby looking particularly intriguing.  United have been much improved in recent weeks, but they have it to do away to City.

There is plenty of sporting action that will be right up my street today.  With the British Open snooker final, the Singapore Grand Prix and the NFL, my wife will be absolutely thrilled!  I won't however be tuning into the NFL when my beloved Vikings take on the New Orleans Saints at Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium.  For some reason it is not being televised by terrestrial stations - the BBC instead choosing to film a load of people on the brink of exhaustion in the London marathon!  What is that all about?

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I'm not sure if you have all noticed, but I love bad puns.  That's just how eye roll.