One at Uttoxeter!

We just have the one runner today, Heure De Gloire at Uttoxeter and there is a cracking day of action to look forward to all round.  Heure De Gloire runs in the opening race on the Uttoxeter card, the 12.48pm Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle over two miles and Ellis Coller rides.  Gearoid Harney is still out of action and Ellis has been coming into ride out in recent weeks.  Based with Christian Williams, he is another very tall jockey but he can do light weights and he has ridden 11 career winners to date and is another very laid back character! 

Heure De Gloire has just had the two runs so far this season and she has had a bit of a stop start training regime but her run last time at Wincanton wasn’t bad and with a clear run since I am hoping she will be spot on for this.  She will love the testing conditions and has dropped a few pounds which will help, she has a good each way chance at about 11/1.

As well as jumps racing at Uttoxeter there is jumps racing at Doncaster and a super looking card at Cheltenham, labelled Trials Day and it does have races worthy of the title.  In Ireland they race at Fairyhouse while there are two all-weather cards at Newcastle and Kempton.  Racing at Cheltenham gets underway at 12.05pm with the juveniles and the favourite, Burdett Road, is one of the most exciting horses I have seen this season.  The Cotswold chase is at 1.50pm with Stay Away Far heading the betting ahead of Royal Pagaille and it is closely followed by the re-arranged Clarence House chase from Ascot last weekend at 2.25pm.  Jonbon who will be ridden by James Bowen for the first time is the 3/10 favourite.  The Unibet hurdle is up next at 3pm and last year’s Triumph hurdle winner, Lossiemouth for Willie Mullins looks the one they all have to beat.  The Cleeve hurdle at 3.35pm has the old favourites, Paisley Park and Dashel Drasher towards the top of the betting while Grand National winner Nobel Yeats will surely be involved in the finish as well.  These races are supported by a Grade 2 novices hurdle and two competitive handicaps to make up and mouth-watering eight race card.  

There is also some very good racing up at Doncaster with three Graded hurdle races and the feature Great Yorkshire handicap chase at 3.15pm.  Jack Tudor goes here to ride Cap Du Nord for Christian Williams and at joint 7/1 favourite I think he has a very good chance. 

While I am planning to watch Jack Pipe play hockey this afternoon I shall be keeping a close eye on all the racing action on my phone!

Last night in the football, there was plenty of games on and with not much action happening with Bristol City against Nottingham Forest with their 0-0 result, they have earned a replay match and they will both try again on the week beginning 5th February. Which will also see the likes of Chelsea and Aston Villa with their 0-0 result also set to have a replay is Sheffield and Coventry after they had a drawing result of 1-1 the replay being held next time on Coventry's home ground. Last up Tottenham Hotspur were up against Man City and after a gruelling evening of loses or draws Man City managed to secure their place into the fifth round with a 1-0 victory.

Today the fourth round FA Cup action continues and there are two all Premiership team matches with Sheffield United play Brighton while at 7pm Fulham are at home to Newcastle.

Novak Djokovic lost his Australian Open semi-final to fourth seed Jannik Sinner who reaches his first ever Grand Slam final.  It was the first time Djokovic has lost at this tournament since 2018 and he lost this match in four sets.  Sinner will play Daniil Medvedev in Sundays final after he beat Alexander Zverev in the other semi-final. 

Sometimes you have to take some time to appreciate the world around you.

As I looked up at the blue sky, the birds fluttering and the sunshine, the wind wafting about I thought to myself.

Where’s the bloody roof gone?

Have a good day!