Gold at Rasen

We hopefully have Day two (even though it is Day One really!) of the Dublin Racing Festival taking place today today and there is a fantastic day of racing to look forward to at Leopardstown, providing it passes it's 8am inspection.  Harry Cobden goes over for four rides and the racing gets underway at 12.40pm.  The first graded action comes up in the second race of the day for which Final Demand is the short priced favourite for the 2m5f novices chase and he looks like he will be difficult to beat.  Majborough is favourite for the Dublin chase at 2.10pm while all the build up has been about whether Marine Nationale will run or not run! At 3.20pm we have the Irish Champion hurdle in which young Martha's favourite horse, Lossiemouth is favourite.  I am also a fan but Brighterdaysahead was not far behind her last time out and it may not be all plain sailing for the favourite but I hope it is! It is an eight race card to look forward to if the weather does not get in the way.  

Meanwhile, on this side of the Irish Sea we have two jumps meetings, the second day of Musselburgh's big weekend meeting and a fixture at Market Rasen.  We have one runner at the latter, Gold in The Rivers.  He runs in the 2.20pm handicap hurdle over 2m7f and Jack Tudor rides.  He made a good start to his chasing career this season before a disappointing effort at Newbury last time where I am not sure he faced the first time blinkers.  He returns to hurdling today and has cheek pieces reapplied.  This looks an easier opportunity than of late so fingers crossed he can make the most of it.  He goes better at home than sometimes he shows on the track so there is definitely scope for improvement off of his current rating which gives him an each way chance in this.

The Musselburgh card features some good racing and the Edinburgh National at 3.05pm.  There is no flat racing today.  

This morning we have the men's Australian tennis final to look forward to between Carlos Alacaraz and Novak Djokovic.  Djokovic is 38 years of age and is going for his 25th major triumph and if he were to win this would take him into the record books.  If Carlos Alcaraz was to win it would also be record breaking for triumph for him as he would become the youngest player to win the Grand Slam of the four major tennis events.  I think Alcaraz will win but my heart says Djokovic could make history.

There are four Premiership football matches today, three of them kicking off at 2pm while the game of the day is perhaps Spurs against Man City at 4.30pm.  

I suggested to my husband that we go to the bar separately to relive our first date.

So I walked over to him and asked, " Hi, can I buy you a drink?"

He said "No thanks, I'm not falling for that again!"

Have a lovely Sunday.