A King and A Queen

  King Turgeon Runner at Cheltenham Today

We head to Cheltenham today with two runners, a king and a queen and it is very exciting to have two good chances at the home of jumps racings.  Kingston Queen and King Turgeon, a pair of greys are our representatives today and I passed our lorry on my way into work this morning.  Both are ridden by Jack Tudor.  Kingston Queen runs in the opening 2m1f novices hurdle on the card at 12.05pm and she is towards the head of the betting but it looks a very strong race, full of young talent.  She has top class bumper form on her record from last season and she made the perfect starting to her hurdling career by winning at Chepstow last month, beating a couple of nice horses who have both come out and won since so the form is strong.  She drops back in trip today which shouldn't be a problem and she will handle the track.  She is a horse I love for her attitude and nature and she lives next door to my horse so I love seeing her every morning!  She is hugely exciting and I hope she can show us her true form and win today but it will be tough.

King Turgeon runs in the 1.50pm Premier handicap chase and he is looking defend his crown from winning this race last year.  King Turgeon ran well to be sixth in the Grand Sefton chase at Aintree last time over the National Fences, his first run since a wind op and I think he can build on that today.  He won this race off a rating of 133 last year and he runs of 136 this afternoon so I think he has a good chance.  We know he likes the course and the ground will be fine as well.  L'Homme Presse is the top weight and brings the class to the race and is favourite but has to give us 26 pounds which will be no easy feat.  There are plenty of others in the race with chance as well but our seven year old is in good form and I hope we have a good chance of back to back successes in this race.

Cheltenham is a cracking card and is is great to see the return of the cross-country chase which was abandoned at their November meeting on account of the ground being too firm.  It is not everyone's favourite race but I think it brings variety to the card and has it's place.  There is one other jumps meeting today at Doncaster, there was supposed to be racing at Bangor as well where Lady Balko was due to be running but that was abandoned yesterday due to waterlogging.  There is one all-weather meeting at Southwell and in Ireland they have flat action at Dundalk.

Yesterday at Taunton, all of our horses ran well.  Navarau made a pleasing debut, running a little green but galloping on nicely from the back of the last after getting a little outpaced turning for home.  This was a good start to his career from which he will have learnt a lot and Jack felt a more galloping track would suit him better.  Morradi travelled well but there is room for improvement with his jumping which did not help his cause.  It wasn't a bad start to his hurdling career and he will improve a lot in the jumping department next time.  American Sniper bounced back to form with a good second in his race.  He lead the field a merry dance and held off all his challengers bar one.  The trip was probably short enough on this track but it was a good effort and he should be winning again soon.

Last night their were wins in Europe for all three of our football teams away from home so it was a good night for Aston Villa, Nottingham Forrest and Crystal Palace.

Apparently, if you buy a cabbage from Coles you are legally obligated to also buy carrots and mayonnaise.

It's Coles law.

Have a lovely Friday!