Mer Does it Again

   Royal Mer Winner at Wincanton Again!

Royal Mer made it back to back wins at Wincanton with another admirable performance carrying top weight and he was given another lovely ride by Rian Corcoran.  Our eight year old is wonderfully consistent and it is great to see him in such good heart.  This was his seventh career win over fences from 21 starts and add that to eleven placed efforts as well and you can see why he is he is adored here at Pond House.  We know he loves heavy ground and that was my only worry ahead of racing yesterday that the ground was going to have dried out a bit too much for him but he looked happy from the start of the race and seemed to be enjoying it which is always a good sign.  The extra 2m4 distance is no problem at all and even though he won over two miles last time we actually think he will stay three!  He seems fine this morning and we will see what the weather does before making any plans but I am sure if it rains again he will be running and hopefully there may be another race back at Wincanton as he seem to love it there!

Penn Avenue ran another solid race to be third, she is admirably consistent and will be winning over hurdles soon.  October Hill did not appear to stay the three mile trip so we will come back down in distance next time.

There are three jumps meetings today at Ayr, Exeter and Leicester and we are represented at two of them.  River Run Free goes to Leicester while we have three runners a little closer to home at Exeter, Neon Moon, Harry Junior and Givehimthehonour.  River Run Free runs in the handicap chase at 3.00pm over 2m4f and Rian Corcoran rides.  He likes Leicester having won at the track twice, including on his penultimate start.  He found three miles on heavy ground at Ffos Las stretching his stamina last time and he drops back in trip today and we have added blinkers.  Rian's seven pound claim will also be a big help and providing the race doesn't come too soon after his last run I think he will take all the beating.

Neon Moon is our first runner on the Exeter card and he goes in the 3.40pm veterans handicap chase with Jack Tudor on board.  This race was rescheduled from Market Rasen earlier in the week which was abandoned and so good thinking from the BHA.  It is a qualifier for a valuable final at Haydock next month and that is our main aim.  Neon Moon won at Ascot earlier this season and while on a high enough handicap mark, he will appreciate the drying ground and he has an each way chance in a competitive race.  Harry Junior runs in the 4.10pm handicap hurdle over three miles with Jack on board.  He won at Lingfield earlier this season and you can forgive him for his last run at Exeter after this as he found the race coming too soon and the ground did not suit.  He will like conditions today and has had a nice long break and is fresh and well at home.  I think there is plenty of scope for improvement off his current handicap mark and he has a good each way chance.

Givehimthehonour is our final runner of the day in the 4.43pm handicap chase over three miles with Jack on board.  He ran his best race to date last time to be third at Southwell and if he can build on that he hopefully has an each way chance.  This track will suit him better than last time but the drying ground would be a slight concern.  There are two short priced horses in this race and we are currently third in the market.  If he runs like he did last time then hopefully we can be involved in the finish.

Things are not in a good way for Spurs who lost 3-1 at home to Crystal Palace last night and are being sucked deeper into the relegation battle.  FA Cup football action returns this weekend and this evening Wolves are at home to Liverpool.  This is a repeat of the league match from earlier in the week.  Wolves came out on top then and so will be full of confidence for a repeat performance.

The England men's cricketers lost against India in the T20 semi final yesterday.  India batted first and set a huge total but in fairness England chased it well and narrowly lost by just seven runs.

I failed my driving test today.

The instructor asked me: "What do you do at a red light?"

I said, "Usually I check my emails and see what people are up to on Facebook!"

Have a great Friday!