Ascot Runner

        Neon Moon runs at Ascot Today

There is a great day of racing action to look forward to today and we have one runner at Ascot, Neon Moon who runs in the 3.45pm premier handicap chase and Jack Tudor rides.  We did intend to run Neon at Chepstow last month but the ground was too firm so he is making his seasonal debut this afternoon.  He goes well fresh and runs from a six pound lower mark in this than when he finished third in the same race last year.  It is a competitive 13 runner field and I see we are about 13/2 third best in the betting.  He likes the track and he will like the ground and he should run well.

There is jumps racing also up at Wetherby with the Charlie Hall Chase the feature at 2.57pm.  Protektorat was the forecast favourite but he has been pulled out on account of the ground and that leaves just the five runners.  Djelo is now the favourite but Hewick is a personal favourite of mine and he will love the ground and my selection for the race.  Champion hurdle winner Golden Ace will just face one rival in the mares Listed hurdle while Strong Leader is the favourite for the West Yorkshire hurdle at 2.22pm.

The third jumps meeting today is at Ayr, while racing on the flat is at Newmarket and Newcastle.  In Ireland we have day two of Down Royal and Gordon Elliott is looking to continue his good run of form, having had four winners on yesterday's card.  Envoi Allen is favourite for the Champion Chase at 2.40pm however, and he is looking for his third win in the race.  The 3.15pm race on the card is a 2m3f Grade 2 chase and Firefox is the short priced favourite for the Cullentra team.  

The good racing action continues this evening with Day Two of the Breeders Cup at Del Mar and there is some great races to look forward to.  I only managed to stay awake for the Fillies Turf race last night but there was a first Breeders Cup win for Donnacha O'Brien before Gstaad won for father Aidan and Christophe Soumillon.  This was Aidan O'Brien's 21st Breeders Cup winner which makes him the leading most trainer of all time at this event.  That was his 26th Group 1 winner of the year and he only needs two more to beat his own previous record of 27 and he could well do that this evening.  The Breeders Cup Turf at 9.41pm is a race I am looking forward to and hopefully can stay awake for!  It features two of my favourite flat horses, Minnie Hauk who finished second in the Arc last time and Rebel's Romance for the Godolphin team who is a Globe trotting Group race winning machine.  Minnie Hauk shades favouritism and I hope they both serve up a cracking finish.  There is plenty of other British and Irish interest on the card as well and I hope to watch as much of it as I can!

Well done to Wrexham (& Lizzie!) who came from behind to beat Coventry last night in the Championship match.  There are plenty of Premier League football matches today, no early kick-offs but Spurs play Chelsea in the tea-time match at 5.30pm and Liverpool play Aston Villa at 8pm.

There is also plenty of International rugby action today, which includes England against Australia at 3.10pm and this evening there promises to be a great game between Ireland and New Zealand at 8.10pm.  So much to watch, I am not sure how I will keep up!

A ghost walks into a bar.

The bartender says, "sorry we don't serve spirits!"

Have a great Saturday!