8 Runners Today!

 King Turgeon runs Today!
It is a busy day for the team today with eight runners across two different meetings.  We have 3 runners at Newbury, Vision De Maine, Tough Approach and Jurancon and five at Leicester, Only Fools, Moodofthemoment, Royal Mer, King Turgeon and Sizing Pottise.

Vision De Maine runs in the opening race on the Newbury card, division one of the 2 mile maiden hurdle and Jack Tudor rides.  He made a pleasing stable debut in a bumper at Sedgefield to finish second to a subsequent Cheltenham winner but disappointed at hurdling debut at Chesptow.  He has had wind surgery since then and will appreciate the slightly better going this afternoon.  It is a competitive race and we are 20/1 in the betting but hopefully he can take a step back in the right direction in this.  The same can be said of Tough Approach who ran well in a bumper but stopped quickly on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter.  He has had wind surgery and while he may appreciate further in time hopefully he can show us more today.  Jurancon completes our trio of runners at Newbury and he runs in the bumper at 4.20pm with Jack Tudor riding.  It is hard for any horse to carry a penalty in a bumper so while he is a horse we like a lot, he is one for the future whatever happens today.  Jack Tudor rides, taking over from Gearoid Harney who was on board for his victory at Chepstow.  It is a useful looking race and we have to give 20 pounds to the Nicky Henderson trained favourite Doctor Kildare.  You have to fear this trainers horses at Newbury and we share favouritism with his runner at 11/4 in the betting.

Only Fools runs in the opening race on the Leicester card at 1.00pm which is a mares handicap hurdle over 2m4f.  It is a race for jockeys who have ridden less than 10 winners and it is a good opportunity for us to give young amateur Rian Corcoran a ride.  Rian is still at school but rides our here regularly in his school holidays and aims to join us full time in the summer.  He has ridden lots of winners pony racing and a couple of point to point winners this season.  He is a talented young rider and I think he will get a good tune out of our mare.  She won for the first time over hurdles last time out at Ludlow when stepped up in distance and I don’t see why she won’t be far away again.  She is about 6/1 third best in the betting and hopefully she may give Rian his first winner under rules.  David Noonan rides our other four runners on the Leicester card.  Moodofthemoment runs in the 1.35pm novices handicap chase over 2m4f, he has failed to complete in his last three starts but wears blinkers for the first time today.  The wheels have fallen off a bit since some promise in novice hurdles but he does possesses ability and I think today represents his best opportunity and if he fails to shine we may be in trouble.  The track, trip and going look ideal to me so I hope he doesn’t let me down!  He is about 14/1 in the betting.

Royal Mer is favourite for the handicap chase over 2m6f at 2.45pm.  He won at the track over a slightly shorter trip last time but he won’t mind the step up in distance.  His form figures read 121 since going chasing and although he now races off a mark of 102 I think there is more improvement to come.  He is a strong traveller through the race but can make you sweat a bit at the end!  Hopefully he can pull out a bit more at the finish to win again today. King Turgeon runs in the 3.20pm handicap chase over 2m6f.  He ran really well in his first two starts of the season, finishing second at Chepstow and winning at Exeter.  He was a bit below that level at Wincanton last time, but he has had a little break and returns to action fresh and well today. It is a competitive race and we are about 10/1 in the betting but again I think the course and conditions will suit and I think he has a good each way chance.  Sizing Pottsie completes our quintet of runners a Leicester, running in the 3.55pm handicap hurdle over 2 miles.  The more rain the better for him and he loves testing conditions.  He ran a super race at Uttoxeter to be second but then disappointed at Wincanton.  He has had a little break and again I hope he can bounce back to form.  If he does, he should not be far away at about 13/2 in market.

Yesterday, Shot Boii ran a good race to be second at Warwick.  I thought he had done enough to win as they turned for home, but he battles all the way up the straight when challenged and it was a solid effort off a seven pounds higher mark than for his win last time.  Ben Lilly ran a good race to be third, he was the outsider of the field but ran above market expectations and hopefully our racing club members backed him each way. Kauto Kawai ran well for long way before tiring, with a bit of help from the handicapper I’m sure he can be more competitive.

Alongside the two jumps meetings at Newbury and Leicester there is a flat meeting on the all-weather at Southwell.  In Ireland they have some jumping action at Down Royal.

Last night in the football there was one Premier League match, Brighton & Wolves who both cancelled each other out by finishing with a 0-0 result. Wolves and Brighton are both away in the FA Cup fourth round action next, with the former facing rivals West Brom on Sunday and the latter taking on Sheffield United on Saturday.

Tonight we have the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Middlesborough.  The visitors to Stamford Bridge take a 1-0 lead into the game but I fear it will be tough for them to hold of Chelsea this evening.

I accidentally dropped a bucket of paint on my boss at the job site.

Boy was he blue in the face!

Have a good day!