Quartet of Runners!

    King Turgeon one of our
          4 runners today!

Today we have four runners at Wincanton, a meeting put on by the BHA after all the recent abandonments in recent days due to the weather.  Our quartet of runners is made up of Lady Balko, King Turgeon, Sizing Pottsie and Kingofthewest.  Lady Balko runs in the opening contest on the card, a novices hurdle over two miles at 12.45pm with Jack Tudor riding.  Our mare is an Irish point to point winner who has ran okay in two similar races to today so far.  It is a big runner field and she may struggle to get involved with the principals in this but she will at least get a handicap mark and is probably more for the future rather than today.

King Turgeon runs in the 2.15pm handicap chase over three miles and Gearoid Harney keeps the ride after winning on our five year old last time at Exeter.  He has looked  different horse since returning from a summer break and hopefully he can continue his upward progression this afternoon.  He loves testing the conditions and jumps and stays so I think even though his handicap mark in creeping up I think there is more to come and I don’t see why he won’t run will in this at 9/4 second best in the betting.

Sizing Pottsie runs in the 2.45pm handicap hurdle over two miles and Gearoid Harney rides claiming seven pounds.  Gearoid was on board our gelding last time when he finished a close second at Uttoxeter.  That was a great return to action and hopefully he can build on that today.  He revels in testing ground and the course should suit.  We are about 9/2 third best in the betting and I would hope he wouldn’t be far away come the finish.

Kingofthewest is our final runner of the day in the 3.15pm handicap chase over 2m4f and Jack Tudor rides.  He made a pleasing chasing debut at Taunton last time and the more galloping track will suit this afternoon.  It looks a competitive race and he is about 7/1 in the betting but I think he will improve from his seasonal reappearance which will give him a good chance in this.

Yesterday at Ayr, Phantomofthepoints rans a cracker to be second at Ayr.  Jack gave him a super ride from the front and I thought he had just done enough to win but was collared close home by the favourite.  The first two pulled well clear of the rest and while gutting to travel all that way and be narrowly beaten, it was a very pleasing hurdling debut from our five year old and he should have no trouble in winning a similar event.  It looked an above average contest and was the quicker of the two divisions so there was a lot to like about this performance.

Shot Boii was a little disappointing at Lingfield,  mainly because I thought he would win and he didn’t!  Maybe it came a little quick after his seasonal reappearance but he is still one of my favourite horses!  The handicapper will hopefully give him a little more help and hopefully he can bounce back next time.

Today as well as jump racing at Wincanton, there is also jumping at Fontwell and Ffos Las although both courses must pass 7.30am inspections for racing to go ahead.  There is all-weather action at Southwell and in Ireland they having jumps action at Punchestown.

Champions League football action returns this evening.  Manchester United have a very tough game at home to Bayern Munich and after their weekend performance I do not hold out much hope! That game kicks off at 8pm while Arsenal travel away to PSV Eindhoven, 5.45pm kick off.

What do you call a bear that is stuck out in the rain?

A Drizzly Bear! Have a good day!