Bumper Taunton Thursday

        Lock Out Runs at Taunton Today

Racing action returns to our local course, Taunton this afternoon, which hosts its first meeting since the spring and the stable has six runners.  Platinumcard, Mollie De Mai, Kingofthewest, Dindin, Lock Out and Heure De Gloire are all in action this afternoon in race which have plenty of runner across the card.  The course is renowned for being drier than many and despite plenty of rain the going is set to be good to soft although it looks to be a fairly damp day ahead so don’t forget to take your umbrellas if you are going!

Platinumcard runs in the opening race on the card at 12.40pm, a conditional jockeys handicap hurdle over 2 miles.  While he hasn’t set the world alight in two runs so far this season he hasn’t enjoyed the soft conditions so will appreciate it not being quite so soft today.  The blinkers go on, he’s handicapped to run well and he definitely shows enough at home to suggest he can win but it really is anyone’s guess! Jockey Gearoid Harney takes off a valuable 8 pounds and I hope he can put up a good show at a good each way price of 20/1.

Mollie De Mai runs in division two of the novice hurdle over 2 miles at 1.50pm and Jack Tudor rides.  She is the outsider of the field at a very big price.  She has yet to complete in two outings to date so we hopefully she can show a little more in a first time tongue this his afternoon.  She has always been more of a long term project but she does need to take a big step up.

Kingofthewest makes his chasing debut in the 2.25pm novices handicap chase with Jack Tudor on board.  He is a lovely big son of Westerner and I have been looking forward to seeing him over the larger obstacles.  He was pretty unlucky last season in his races for a number of races so he is due a change of fortune this time around.  While the trip may be a little on the short side for him he is a course winner, he will like the ground and I don’t think he should be the outsider of the field at 16/1.

Dindin and Lock Out both run in the 3.33pm handicap chase over three miles, Gearoid Harney is on board Dindin and Jack Tudor rides Lock Out.  Dindin is very consistent and while he was a little below par last time over the shorter trip at Ludlow he will appreciate a return to three miles in this.  Lock Out is an Irish point to point winner who ran okay on chasing debut at Wincanton last time.  He ran the whole race without a right fore shoe after losing it on the way to the start and so this did definitely not help his chances.  Lock Out is probably our best chance in this race but I have a soft spot for Dindin and I think both have good each way chances in a fairly competitive race for the grade. 

Heure De Gloire makes her seasonal reappearance in the final race of the day, a 2m3f mares handicap hurdle at 4.05pm and Jack Tudor rides.  She is a three time winner who won over hurdles at Leicester last season and has a very enthusiastic way of going.  While she may prefer the ground softer than it might be today, it looks a good starting point for her and she also has an each way chance at 14/1. 

Alongside Taunton, there is also jumps racing at Sedgefield and Market Rasen today.  There is all-weather action at Chelmsford and they race in Ireland over jumps at Punchestown.

Jockey Graham Lee underwent surgery on Tuesday but the statement from the Injured Jockeys Fund said the extent of the jockey’s recovery remains uncertain.  The surgery took place to stabilize the fractures in his cervical spine and further protect the spinal cord.  He also had a tracheostomy to allow him to be more comfortable and help improve his communication.  Our thoughts remain with him and his family at this time.  The JustGiving page set up by his daughter has now raised over £80,000 and she says she is writing down each and every message to share with her dad and she wanted to thank everyone “from the bottom of her heart”.

I went to a deli and said “I’d like to buy a bagel with cream cheese”.  The person behind the counter said “sorry we only take cash or cards!”  Have a great day!