Saturday at Wetherby!

    Kepagge runs today at Wetherby!
Today we have two runners at Wetherby, Kepagge and Brinkley and both are ridden by Jack Tudor.  Kepagge runs in the 1.32pm handicap chase over 2m3f and he is about 10/1 in the betting.  He has had just the two runs over fences this season and ran well on chasing debut at Ffos Las but was perhaps  little disappointing at Leicester last time.  He has had a little break since then and we have tweaked a few things at home and he seems in good form with himself.  The track should suit, as should the ground which will best testing and hard work and he stays further than this.  It looks a fairly competitive race on paper but I would like to think he has a good each way chance.

Brinkley runs in the 2.42pm handicap hurdle over 2m3f and he is a 14/1 chance in the betting.  He made a pleasing seasonable reappearance at Uttoxeter to be second to an improving rival but then did not really back that up at Sandown last time but that was a more competitive race than this.  Having said that, this race looks warm enough and it is a trip slightly short of ideal.  He should like the track and ground however and he is not slow,  more depends on which side of the bed he gets out of!  He is one we do lots of different things with at home, he goes up on Culmstock beacon and goes out to see the hounds occasionally.  He has been given more of a chance by the handicapper and he definitely has the ability to run well but I shall watch and see!

Yesterday, Ya Know Yaseff was a non-runner at Southwell, while Hammer Dan was very disappointing on his handicap debut.  He travelled and jumped well but then stopped quite quickly., it's back to the drawing board with him.

Wetherby is one of three jumps meetings today in Britain which also includes Sandown and Musselburgh.  There are two all-weather flat meetings at Wolverhampton and Kempton while a lot of eyes will be on Leopardstown for Day 1 of the Dublin Racing Festival which has some cracking high class races and four Grades 1’s.  The Irish Gold Cup is at 3.35pm and there are only four runners, but Galopin Des Champs is favourite ahead of Fastorslow who is the one most likely to give him something to think about.  Willie Mullins is responsible for several of the favourites on the card and it could be a bumper day for the Closutton team.  We do also have Graded action this side of the Irish Sea with the Scilly Isles Novices chase at Sandown at 2.35pm.  Hermes Allen heads the betting from Le Patron who is ridden by David Noonan for the Gary Moore team.  This horse provided David with his first Grade 1 last time at the track and it would be nice if he could follow up this afternoon.

Last night in the rugby France 14-38 Ireland. Returning to France barely 100 days after their World Cup dreams were crushed in Paris, Ireland strode out at Stade Velodrome to pursue a victory. The world cup loss is buried and they must now get used to being asked about back-to-back Grand Slams. 

The rugby action continues today and England are in Rome to play Italy at 2.15pm while Wales play Scotland in Cardiff at 4.45pm.

There are five Premier league matches this afternoon with Everton against Spurs the early kick off at 12.30pm.  Sheffield United are at home to Aston Villa for the late kick off at 5.30pm.

If you think Thursday’s are depressing, wait two days.

It will be a sadder day!  Have a good Saturday!