Taunton & Newbury Runners!

Neon Moon one of our 5 runners today!

We are back with a bang with runners today and have six at two different meetings, five at Taunton and one at Newbury.  Neon Moon is Newbury runner while at Taunton we run Rebel Angel, Nila, Moodofthemoment, Dindin and Bonheur De Ballon.  Neon Moon runs in the concluding race on the Newbury card, the 2m6f novices limited handicap chase and Jack Tudor rides.  He returned to action this season with an impressive win at Ludlow but has been a little below that level in two runs since and we have freshened him up with a mini break and outings with the hounds since then.  He is only four pounds higher than his Ludlow win today which should be within his reach, he likes the ground and the track and this looks to be his ideal trip.  He is one of the outsiders in the betting at about 12/1 but I expect him to put up a bold show.

Rebel Angel is our first runner on the Taunton card and she runs in the opening juvenile hurdle race on the card at 12.25pm.  She is a five time flat winner who made a pleasing enough hurdling debut in a warm contest at Cheltenham last time.  There are a couple of useful looking flat recruits in this race today but I expect her to improve from her initial experience and hopefully grab a place.  She only carries 10st with Gearoid Harney riding and claiming seven pounds and she has a great attitude so whatever happens today I am sure she can be winning in the future.

Nila makes her hurdling and stable debut in the 1.00pm novices hurdle over 2m3f with Gearoid Harney in the saddle.  She also carries a feather weight and is about 12/1 in the betting.  We claimed her after she was the impressive winner of a 1m6f claimer at Saint-Cloud but that was 577 days ago!  She has had a few issues since arriving so it is great to finally get her on the track for her very patient owners.  She has schooled well at home but is likely to improve for the run whatever happens this afternoon after such a long absence.

Moodofthemoment makes his chasing debut in the 1.35pm novices handicap chase and Gearoid Harney rides.  Our six year old is the winner of an Irish point to point and it is fair to say things did not really go to plan for him last season.  He showed promise in some novice hurdle but then failed to complete in two handicaps.  We have tweaked a couple things with his training at home and he has ability so it would be no surprise to see him return to action and show improved form.  He wears a tongue tie for the first time and at about 12/1 in the betting I think he is a good each way chance.

Gearoid Harney also rides Dindin in the 3.20pm 3m2f handicap chase and he is 9/2 third best in the betting.  He was a good second at the track last time out in November and while the papers say he is not the most consistent I love him and think he always runs his race.  I don’t think he will be far away in this and hopefully he can give the members of the David Pipe Racing Club something to cheer about.

Bonheur De Ballon runs in the lucky last at 3.55pm a handicap hurdle over 2m3f and Geraoid Harney rides.  He is yet to show his true form in England and we hope the extra distance and the addition of cheek pieces today bring about some improvement.  He works a lot better at home than he has shown on the racecourse to date and so it would be good if he can show us a bit more on the race track today.  If he does, ‘if’ being the operative word, he is a big price at 20/1.  Fingers crossed all the horses can run well, come home safe and we might bag a winner or two!

Alongside the two jumps meetings at Taunton and Newbury today there is also action up at Haydock.  There is flat racing at Wolverhampton on the all-weather while it is a blank day in Ireland after such a busy week. 

Yesterday there were impressive wins for Grangeclare West and State Man in Ireland and Altior’s half-brother Montecam made a promising hurdling debut to be second at Doncaster.

There are six Premiership football matches this afternoon, the early kick off being Luton at home to Chelsea at 12.30pm.  The 5.30pm game is Nottingham Forest at home to Manchester United.  Wolves play Everton at 3pm Nan!

My friend Jack claims he can communicate with vegetables.

Jack and the beans talk!

Have a great Saturday!