Newbury Flat Runner

    Ocean Heights Runs at Newbury Today

There is plenty of racing action today and we have the return of the jumps at Market Rasen and Perth.  On the flat, there are four meetings at Newbury, Doncaster, Newmarket and Bath.  In Ireland they have two flat meetings at the Curragh and Tramore.  We have one runner at Newbury, Ocean Heights runs in the 4.40pm handicap over 1m4f and Hayley Turner rides. 

There are 10 runners in the race and it looks competitive with some useful looking three year olds in the line-up but our seven-year-old will like the track and ground and will also appreciate the return to 1m4f after finding 1m2f a little on the sharp side last time at Sandown.  The handicapper has eased him a couple of pounds, which will also help and he sports first time cheek pieces.  I would like to hope he has a good each way chance.   

Jack is looking forward to a day out at Newbury and with two Group 2 races on the card there is some good action to watch.

I read that A P McCoy will be in the saddle on two wheels very shortly as he takes part in the 100km cycle challenge as part of the Pat Smullen raceday on 31^st August in aid of the Cancer Trials Ireland.  Riders will do a loop starting and ending at the Curragh, taking in Moyglare and Gilltown Studs as well as Naas and Punchestown racecourses.  The raceday is held in memory of Smullen, who died from pancreatic cancer in 2020. There will be a raffle, with a prize of a seven-day stay in a four-star hotel in Spain, and a contribution from admission fees will go towards the charity.

Yesterday at Newmarket, the Tyson Fury owned Big Gypsy King was disappointing and finished last.  Trainer Darryll Holland had warned everyone she would need experience and so it proved!

My team Manchester United scored late on to win 1-0 at home against Fulham.  New signing Zirkee was the goal scorer.  

There are seven Premier League matches today as the new season gets properly underway.  The early kick off match at 12.30pm is the newly promoted Ipswich Town at home to Liverpool.  The teatime kick off at 5.20pm is West Ham at home to Aston Villa, the battle of the claret and blue. 

It is knockout time in the Cricket Hundred competition two matches take place at the Oval today.  The women’s match gets underway at 2.15pm with the Oval Invincibles against the London Spirit while the men’s game follows at 6pm with Birmingham Phoenix against Southern Brave.

I just found out my countertops are slate.  I have been taking them for granite this whole time!

Have a great Saturday.