Thursday at Taunton!

American Sniper runs today!

We were due to have runners at two different meetings today but unfortunately Warwick has been abandoned this morning due to unsafe going . Therefore we are left with five runners at our local track, Taunton. Our quintet is made up of Chauffeur Driven, Time Interval, Bumpy Johnson, American Sniper and Bashful Boy.

Chauffeur driven runs in division one of the novices hurdle over 2 miles at 12.55pm and Jack Tudor rides. Our gelding made a pleasing hurdling debut last time at Ffos Las and finish third. While he may appreciate further in time I don’t see why he cannot run okay this afternoon. The market principles look hard to beat and we are about 14/1 in the betting.  Time Interval runs in division two of the novices hurdle at 1:30pm and Jack Tudor rides. He made a pleasing stable and hurdling debut to be fourth at Ludlow last time.

A repeat of that run should see him be in the mix again, although it looks a similarly tough contest. He is a good each way price at 16/1.

Bumpy Johnson runs in the 2:05pm Novices' handicap chase over 2 miles, 7 furlongs and Jack Tudor rides. He ran reasonably well on chasing debut last time at Exeter before getting a little tired. I anticipate improvement from that run and I think he will like the extra distance at this sharp track. This looks another competitive contest and we are about 11/1 in the betting. I think he has an each way chance.

American Sniper and Bashful Boy, both run in the 2:40pm handicap hurdle over 2 mile 3 furlongs. Jack Tudor is on board American sniper while David Noonan is in the saddle on bashful boy. American sniper was a fantastic winner at Cheltenham last time with Fergus Gillard on board. Well, this is a less competitive race, he has gone up in the handicap so life will be tougher. He is currently 3/1 and I wouldn’t put anyone off backing him as he is in cracking form at home. He won at the track last season as a novice and hopefully he can give his local owners something to shout about again today.  Bashful boy is in the handicap in the grip of the handicapper slightly but had a nice confidence boosting run at the track last time. He is one of my favourite horses and never really runs a bad race. He is about 10/1 in the betting and probably has a bit to find, but is sure to give a good account once again.

There is also jumps racing at Newcastle today while on the flat, there is all weather action at Chelmsford. In Ireland, they race at Naas over jumps.

Yesterday, all of the horses ran well to be placed. Keppage finished third at Leicester jumping better than/on chasing debut but didn’t quite have the pace of the first two from just after two out. Hopefully the handicapper will give him a bit more help and he can be winning soon. Royal Mer travelled and jump very well again and pulled well clear with the eventual winner. I thought he may win but this was still a good effort of a five pound higher mark and I am sure there is more to come from the five-year-old. Lock out also ran better to be fourth. I am sure he will appreciate better ground, but this was a step back in the right direction.

I am making a new documentary about how to fly a plane. I am currently filming the pilot! Have a good day!