Storm Darragh Disruption

        Not a picture from this morning!

Yesterday at Exeter, Final Entry was a non-runner and he will wait for another day. Johannes never looked to be travelling all that well. Jurancon was a little disappointing and finished second.  Second is not a bad run but we hold him in such high regard that we expected more.  I am not sure he enjoyed the track and going right handed but even so it was not as good as we hoped and I think he is better than that.  He seems fine this morning which is the main thing and we will see how he is in the coming days before making a plan but I am sure he can bounce back. 

Today should have been a busy day for the yard had the weather not had interrupted plans! King Turgeon was making his way back up to Aintree for the Becher Chase at 2:07pm with Jack Tudor riding. It was like poetry in motion watching him jump round in the Grand Sefton and while he will have needed to put on a career best today against some classy rivals, we were quite hopeful.  Fingers crossed they can re-schedule the Becher Chase which of course is a unique race.  They do have a meeting on Boxing Day at Aintree which is not too far away so fingers crossed the BHA may look at having it there perhaps?!

At Chepstow, we would have had three runners with Nick Scholfield on board but that has also been abandoned.  Itseemslikeit, Thanksforthehelp and Gentlemantoboot were our intended runners but with both Severn Bridges closed, we would have struggled to get there anyway!

Storm Darragh is certainly causing problems; I was in the pub when everybody’s phones went off last night giving a severe weather warning!  While it is not very nice at Pond House this morning, I feared it could be worse so the morning routine with the horses is going ahead as usual at present and we will keep an eye on things as the morning progresses.

Wetherby has beaten the storm and jumps racing goes ahead there but Sandown are having a second inspection at 9.30am having passed their first check at 7.30am.  There is all-weather action at Wolverhampton today while they also have no problems in Ireland where the jumps racing goes ahead at Navan.

The England cricketers are doing well in the second test against New Zealand in Wellington.  England lead by 533 runs after day 2 and are in a very strong position. 

At the moment I can’t see there are any problems with the Premier League football matches.  There are five games today with the early kick off being a Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool.  Manchester City are looking to get back to form away to Crystal Palace while the teatime kick-off is Manchester United at home to Nottingham Forest at 5.30pm.

What did Spartacus say when the lion ate his wife?  Nothing, he was gladiator!

Stay safe in the storm everyone and have a good day.