River at Leicester

   River Run Free runs at Leicester Today

There is just one jumps meeting in Britain again today at Leicester and we have one runner there, River Run Free.  He runs in the 3.32pm handicap chase over 2m6f and Jack Tudor rides.  He was the winner at the track last season over 2m4f on soft going and we hope he will enjoy returning to this track after pulling up at Exeter last time.  He finished fourth at Uttoxeter on his seasonal reappearance but pulled up at Exeter when the track was nearly unraceable, it was the day it was abandoned mid-way through the afternoon.  We thought he would handle conditions that day but he did not enjoy it and Jack looked after him when his chance was gone.  He is about 17/2 in the betting and he is probably hard to back today on recent evidence but there is definitely scope for improvement off his current rating so I hope he has an each way chance and we just see the real River Run Free this afternoon.

In Ireland they have a jumps fixture at Down Royal while we have two all-weather fixtures over here at Newcastle and Southwell.

Yesterday, things looked promising for Givehimthehonour for a lot of the race but then he started hanging and rather down tools at a crucial stage and Jack pulled him up.  He seems fine this morning so back to the drawing board with him.  

I forgot to mention yesterday, well done to our amateur jockey Martin McIntyre who rode his first winner of the point to point season at Larkhill on Sunday.  Ashley Dascombe had a nice run round with his own horse Canastero in the novice riders race to finish second.

It is at this time of year, early closing entry races come up thick and fast.  The novice hurdles and chases, like the Supreme and Triumph etc close this morning at 12 noon while there is one on the flat as well, the Lincoln at Doncaster also closes today.  That race takes part at the end of March so that will soon come around again!  Not sure where the time goes! 

Brighton versus Bournemouth finished in a 1-1 draw last night while we have the return of Champion League football action this evening.  Arsenal, Manchester City and Spurs are all in action tonight.

Sheepdog: "I collected all 50 sheep in the pen!"

Farmer: "But I only have 47 sheep".

Sheepdog: " I know, I rounded them up!"

Have a good day.