Ascot & Wincanton!

Today we have two runners at two different meetings with one at Ascot and one at Wincanton.  Phantomofthepoints runs in the opening race on the Ascot card, a 2m3f novices hurdle at 1.15pm and Jack Tudor rides.  He has just had the two starts for us, finishing a close second on both occasions, the first time in a bumper at Ffos Las and the second time in a hurdle race at Ayr.  He was a neck second to a useful sort on hurdling debut and they pulled miles clear of the rest.  He is a gorgeous big son of Mount Nelson out of the mare Swing Bowler who we used to train at Pond House.  She was talented and had a great attitude and this one has definitely inherited this from his mum. 

He will enjoy stepping up in distance today but this does look a competitive race.  There are 11 runners and we are 7/2 second best in the betting.  The favourite, Inthewaterside has a rating of 128 and sets the form standard but he does have to give us seven pounds which will hopefully be enough to turn things in our favour.  It is not just a two horse race either, there are some nice young types in the line-up so it will not be easy!

Chauffeur Driven runs in the concluding race on the Wincanton card at 4.50pm, a handicap hurdle over 2m5f and Gearoid Harney rides.  This is our five year olds first run in a handicap after showing some promise in novice hurdles, he races off a mark of 100 and I hope there is some scope for improvement on this.  Our Irish point to point winner steps up in trip today having looked like that was what was needed in his previous runs, he seemed to get a little outpaced at a crucial stage but kept galloping on well to the line.  This looks a tricky little race however and we are about 13/2 in the betting.  Zonda heads the market for the Jonjo O’Neill team and he makes his handicap debut, as does the Emma Lavelle Kit’s Cody who won a maiden hurdle at Hereford last time.  I like our chap however and I don’ think he will be too far away.

As well as jumping at Ascot and Wincanton today they also race at Haydock.  There are two all-weather meetings at Newcastle and Wolverhampton and they race over jumps in Ireland at Gowran Park.

There is some cracking racing to watch this afternoon, at Haydock you have the Victor Ludurom Juvenile hurdle at 2.10pm.  There may be only four runners but the exciting Salver heads the betting and that is followed by the Grade 2 Rendelsham hurdle at 2.40pm and the Grand National Trial handicap chase at 3.15pm.  The Ascot meeting features the Reynoldstown novices chase Grade 2 at 1.50pm and the Grade 1 Ascot chase at 3.36pm and these races are surrounded by competitive handicaps.

There is plenty of Premier League football action today with seven matches.  Brentford v Liverpool is the early kick off at 12.30pm while the tea time kick off is Manchester City at home to Chelsea. 

The next cricket test match between India and England is now on its third day and things are bubbling up nicely.  India scored 445 in their first innings but England are 207 for 2 in their reply with a good century from Ben Duckett who is on 133 not out.

The Six Nations rugby takes a break this weekend but Exeter Chiefs are in action away to Gloucester at 3.05pm.

I have also been enjoying watching some golf with the Genesis Invitational taking place at the Riviera Country Club in California.  Most of the best players in the world are playing including Tiger Woods.  Rory McIlroy did not have a good first round and is well of the pace at 3 over par.  Asutralian Jason Day heads the way at 8 under.

For those of you who don’t want Alexa listening in on your conversations…

They’re making a male version…it doesn’t listen to anything!

Happy Saturday!