Barrier Follows Up!

Barrier Peaks After his Win at Uttoxeter 

Today we have four runners across two meetings with Sidi Ismael running at Plumpton and the trio of Red Happy, Jilaijone and Only The Bold running at Hereford. In race time order, Red Happy is our first runner of the day in the 2m5f novices hurdle at 1.15pm. We have freshened him up since his last start at Plumpton four weeks ago and hopefully this will be a confidence boosting run for our six year old. His form figures don’t look great on paper of late but there is more behind these than meets the eye and he remains a lovely horse that if running to his best will not be too far away. He won a hurdle race at Southwell a little earlier in the season and this represents the easiest opportunity he has contested of late. He is about 13/2 in the betting and Tom Scu rides.

Jilaijone makes his handicap debut in the 2.25pm novices handicap hurdle with Tom Scu on board. He won a juvenile hurdle at Fontwell on stable debut and ran to a similar level when third at Wetherby under a penalty when a mistake at the second last did not help his chances. A rating of 114 looks okay and he gets a very handy weight for age allowance which should see him very competitive in this. I like his attitude and think he has a great each way chance.

Only the Bold runs in the three mile handicap chase at 3.35pm. He is partnered by Fergus Gillard who won on our gelding on stable debut at Bangor lost time. The handicapper has put him up ten pounds for that win so life will be tougher but he would have won with ten pounds more on his back last time and I think he can again today. He is about a 13/8 chance and runs in the colours of the Value Racing Club.

Sidi Ismael runs in the 3.15pm handicap hurdle with over three miles at Plumpton. He ran well at the track last time to be fifth in the Sussex National. I don’t think he quite stayed the distance last time so will appreciate dropping down in trip slightly. He won at Worcester first time out this season over hurdles and then ran a cracker at Cheltenham before first time blinkers did not suit at Sandown. I think he has a great chance returned to this level and Jack Tudor is on board for the first time.

Over the weekend it was great to get a winner with Barrier Peaks winning at Uttoxeter on Saturday under Fergus Gillard. He followed up his Exeter win earlier in the month with another fine performance to win again. Held up in behind he made smooth progress jumping 3 out and was always just doing enough in front. We do have him entered up again this week but we can see what the handicapper does tomorrow. I don’t think they can be too harsh for the win so he may not need to run again under a penalty. Panic Attack unfortunately made a couple jumping errors mid race at Cheltenham which cost her her position in the field at a crucial time. After this she was never able to get involved with the principals but I was impressed with how she stuck to her task and kept galloping strongly up the Cheltenham hill. She was only a neck out of third place in the end so it actually was a pretty good run. She definitely will get further and has now put three good runs in a row together. She deserves to win a nice prize.  On Sunday, all three of our runners ran with credit to be placed and pick up some prize money.

In FA Cup news, my team, Manchester United beat Reading 3-1 for progress to the next round while Brighton did beat Liverpool 2-1. There is one further FA Cup third round match this evening with Derby at home to West Ham.

Novak Djokovic is the Australian men’s open tennis champion for an incredible tenth time. He beat the Greek Tsitsipas in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6, 7-6. Djokovic may divide public opinion but he is one of the greatest tennis player of all time.

Max Homa won the golf at Torrey Pines in the USA while the final day in Dubai is being played today after torrential rain interrupted the beginning of the tournament. Rory McIlroy holds a three shot lead heading into the final round and I would be surprised if he did not end up winning the whole tournament.

Yesterday I ate a clock. It was very time consuming. Especially when I went back for seconds! Have a good Monday.