Ascot & Chepstow

          Jilaijone Runs at Ascot Today

Today we have three runners at two meetings, Ascot and Chepstow.  Neon Moon and Jilaijone are our two runners at Ascot while Ben Lilly heads across the Severn Bridge to Chepstow.  Neon Moon runs in the 2.00pm handicap chase over 2m5f and Jack Tudor rides.  He was impressive on seasonal reappearance at Ludlow and didn’t run too badly at Newbury last time when 2m7f probably just stretches his stamina and he finished fourth.  There are nine runners this afternoon and the race looks competitive.  We are about 10/1 in the betting but we know he likes course and distance having finished second here last year and he will appreciate the dying ground.  I think he has a solid each way chance.

Jilaijone runs in the 2.35pm handicap hurdle over two miles with Jack Tudor riding.  He has finished second on his last four starts and ran his best race to date last time out at Cheltenham behind a useful looking rival.  He did get put up seven pounds for that effort but I think there is still more to come from our four year old off of 125 and he is about 9/2 third best in the betting.  Sometimes, when you get a horse who keeps finishing second, you may start to wonder why but I think you cannot knock his three starts this term since a summer holiday and he has a super attitude.  I don’t think he will be too far away again this afternoon.

Ben Lilly runs in the 3.25pm conditional jockeys handicap hurdle at Chepstow with Gearoid Harney riding.  He has returned to action since a break in great form and has won two of his four starts, including at Wincanton last time and Gearoid has been on board for both wins.  He has lots of ability but he is a little quirky so you have to coax the best out of him and Gearoid has got on well with our six year old.  He doesn’t win by very far so the handicapper has not been able to be too harsh and I hope there is more scope for improvement.  The track and ground will be fine and I expect him to travel well throughout and then hopefully win, probably by not by very far!!

Yesterday things did not really go to plan for either of our two runners.  Pachacuti made a bad mistake relatively early in his race and seemed to lose his confidence and pulled up.  Makanao travelled and jumped well early but as the pace increased in the last third of the race he began to struggle.  He did finish but well behind.   Back to the drawing board for both.

There are three jumps meetings again today with Catterick also lining up alongside Ascot and Chepstow.  The all-weather action today comes from Southwell and it is good to be back racing there after the entire course was under water last month.  They have their first jumps meeting back there next week. In Ireland they have jumps racing at Fairyhouse today and on the flat at Dundalk this evening.

I haven’t really been watching the TV series ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!’ but Frankie Dettori made a late entry into the jungle last night  He entered alongside boxer Tony Bellew and they will both captain teams made up of 5 camp mates with a number of upcoming challenges.  I may try and watch and see how he gets on!

A bus station is where a bus stops.  A train station is where a train stops.

On my desk, I have a work station!  Happy Friday!