Uttoxeter Runner

There is a good day of racing to look forward to today, with the first day of Wetherby's Charlie Hall meeting, the first day of a big jumps meeting at Down Royal, jumping at Uttoxter and the first day of the Breeders Cup at Del Mar this evening.  We have one runner today, Mancero at Uttoxeter.  He runs in the 3.40pm handicap hurdle over two miles and Jack Tudor rides.  This will be his first start in a handicap and he gets a nice three year old allowance in this race.  He does have to bounce back from a disappointing run at Newton Abbot last time but that was too bad to be true and he has had wind surgery since.  He was never going the last day, which is unlike him as he shows a great attitude at home so hopefully we can put that down to an 'off' day and see his true colours this afternoon.  This is only his fourth ever career start, having won on debut in France, he ran okay to be second on his British debut.  His handicap mark looks fair and I would hope he will be thereabouts come finish.  The original favourite for the race is already a non-runner and we are currently 6/1 fourth best in the betting.

There are plenty of runners on the Uttoxeter card and the novices hurdles again look particularly interesting with some nice types in both the mares race and both divisions of the 2m4f races.  There aren't quite so many runners up at Wetherby which is a shame for their feature meeting but this again is due to the ground.  Their card opens with a two runner beginners chase but there is some good racing later on in the day and I hope the jockeys report the ground to be nice and safe so that we see the big guns in action tomorrow.  We have got the Charlie Hall chase and then Champion hurdle winner Golden Ace is also set to run in the Mares listed hurdle.

It looks like it could be a good day for Gordon Elliott at Down Royal if everything goes to plan as he has several favourites, including The Yellow Clay who makes is seasonal reappearance this afternoon.  There are two flat meetings at Newmarket and Southwell and in Ireland they also race on the flat at Dundalk.  This evening the Breeders Cup gets underway at Del Mar and I love watching this meeting.  Having been to it a few years ago at Santa Anita I hope to go back again one day,  There are several British and Irish interests running this evening and True Love runs in the Juvenile Turf sprint at 9.45pm for Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan.  Ballydoyle do have Brussels running in the race as well but True Love is my favourite and they also have the favourite, Precise in the 1m contest at 11.05pm.  I am not sure I will stay away for the colts and geldings race over a mile at 12.25am but there is British and Irish interest in this race with Gstaad the short priced favourite.

Yesterday, the sad news came that young apprentice jockey Tommy Jakes had dies.  He worked for trainer George Boughy in Newmarket and was found in the early hours of Thursday morning at his family home.  The 19 year old had ridden 59 winners in his career to date and all those that new him spoke of what a lovely young man he was.  There were marks of respect at both Southwell and Chelmsford and it was an extremely sad day for racing and our thoughts ad best wishes are with all his family and friends right now. 

There is no Premiership football action today but their is some from the Championship with Wrexham (just for Lizzie!) at home to Coventry at 8pm.  Wrexham need to bounce back from a League Cup defeat earlier in the week.

They say using a smaller plate will help with your diet but it took three of them to fit my dinner on.

I'm not sure how this helps.

Happy Friday!