A Quiet Friday!

There are two jumps meetings at Doncaster and Kelso today but the stable does not have any runners.  There is all-weather flat action from Southwell but the best racing once again is over in Ireland at Leopardstown and Limerick who are on day four of their Christmas Festivals.  There is however a mares listed chase at Doncaster which has attracted a strong field and the market is headed jointly by Limerick Lace from Ireland and Zambella from the home team.  I don’t have a strong fancy for the race but it should be an interesting watch.

There is also another interesting runner on the Doncaster card.  The horse is called Montecam and he runs in the novices hurdle at 2.15pm.  He is of interest as he is the half-brother to the mighty Altior.  He is by Camelot and was bought back by the vendor at the Goffs Landrover sale in 2022 for 300,000 Euros.  He has run in two bumpers to date but is looking for his first win on hurdling debut this afternoon.  I like the sire a lot, Camelot but as we know not all relations of good horses turn out to be as good as their siblings so I shall watch with interest.  Montecam is the ninth foal of mare Monte Solaro, Altior has been by far the best of her progeny but there have been some other pretty good ones and then some not quite so good as well!  Only time will tell as to which category Montecam fits into!  He is about 9/1 fifth best in the betting for today’s race so we will have to see if he is supported by market confidence or not a bit closer to the race time.

Yesterday in Ireland there were very impressive performances from the winners of the races I highlighted beforehand.  Galopin De Champs looked back to his very best in winning the Savills chase destroying a competitive field in the process.  Gaelic Warrior didn’t come off the bridle in winning the Faugheen Grade 1 novices chase at Limerick and Irish Point was equally as impressive in winning the Christmas hurdle at Leopardstown.  There is more Grade 1 action today with the 1.4pm novices chase over three miles at Leopardstown.  There are only six runners but the field include Grangeclare West, Flooring Porter, Corbetts Cross and two last time out winners in the Gigginstown colours.  At 2.20pm it is the Grade 1 Matheson hurdle over two miles in which State Man heads the betting from stablemate Impaire Et Passe.  Echoes in Rain and Fils D’oudairies make up the quartet of runners and I would have to side with State Man to be the winner but I think it will be an interesting watch. 

Last night in the football Brighton were at home to Spurs which resulted in Brighton's favour as they won 4-2. The win sees Brighton climb above Newcastle into eighth, while Spurs stay fifth, a point behind fourth placed Manchester City. There was also another game on last night, which Arsenal faced West Ham and resulted in a 2-0 win for West Ham. Despite plenty of possession and pressure, Arsenal could not find a response. 

There is no Premiership football this evening but there is a good rugby match so I will hopefully watch that!  Exeter Chiefs are away to the Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate, 7.45pm kick off.  I am not into my rugby that much but I do enjoy follow the Chiefs so I will be cheering them on while young Jack Pipe is in the Bears academy so he is supporting them along with his grandad Pete!

The adjective for metal is metallic.

But not for iron – which is ironic!!  Have a lovely day!