Six Friday Runners

   Phantomofthepoints runs at Ayr Today

It is a busy day for the team today with six runners spread across three meetings, it does seem a bit feast or famine for us at the moment but that is the nature of things at this time of year, especially with the weather being dry.  We have two runners up at Ayr, three at Exeter and one on the flat at Bath.  Penn Avenue and Phantomofthepoints are our runners at Ayr and they travelled up yesterday.  The ground is described as soft, good to soft in places and should suit both horses.  Penn Avenue runs in the 2.55pm novices hurdle over 2m5f and Harry Cobden rides.  While she may be better off in a handicap, our four year old filly gets the age and sex allowances in this race which means she will be competitive at the weights on the ratings.  She has been ultra consistent in her six hurdle runs for us, being placed each time until a blip at Carlisle last time.  There were excuses for this run and it came on the back of a few quick runs together so I think she can bounce back and show her true running today.  She has a great attitude and while for win purposes it could be tough today I think Harry will get on well with her and I wouldn't be surprised if she were to outrun her odds and get in the prizes.

Phantomofthepoints runs in the 4.05pm handicap hurdle over 2m5f and Rian Corcoran rides claiming his valuable five pounds off of top weight.  He was an impressive winner at Warwick two starts back under Rian, probably a career best performance and he found the National Spirit hurdle at Fontwell coming a bit too soon after last time.  He seems in good form at home and will love the ground softer than it was twelve months ago when he finished fourth in this race.  He is perhaps plenty high enough in the weights so it's won't be easy but I hope he has a good each way chance.

Bashful Boy runs in the opening race on the card at Bath, a two mile handicap and Rob Hornby rides.  He has been running consistently well on the all-weather in recent starts without winning and has not been beaten far in any of the races.  Rob Hornby gets on with him well and he has the blinkers back on today just to change things a little.  The handicapper has given him some help and he is about 9/2 third best in the betting.  I am sure he won't be too far away again come finish and I would dearly love for him to get his head in front again.

We have three runners at Exeter and Jack Tudor goes here to ride all three.  October Hill runs in the opening two mile maiden hurdle at 5.10pm.  There are just five runners and I think she has a great chance with the Jamie Snowden's horse the main danger.  We have experimented with her trip wise, she appears like she wants further but has been disappointing over further when tried.  I think two miles at Exeter will be the making of her and hopefully can get her her first win!  She ran well over two miles at Ludlow last time when just outpaced at the end of the race so I think this track will play to her strengths.  We have added cheekpieces just to help her concentrate but I think she is very honest and genuine and will run her race tonight.

Green Sky runs in the 5.40pm handicap hurdle over two miles.  She probably ran her best races to date for us over hurdles at Newton Abbot last time to be a close fourth when she did not have a lot of luck in running.  She is in good form and a repeat of that run will see her go close in this.  She will like the ground and my only concern is perhaps the track, she is not that big and this is a stiff finish, is that what she wants?  Hopefully the answer is yes and I don't see why not!  It is the right race and hopefully she has a good chance.  

Show Your Hand runs in the concluding bumper at 7.40pm.  It is again a small field and I think he has a great chance.  We like him a lot at home and he was thrown in the deep end a little at Newbury last time and I hope he will take all the beating in this race dropped down in class.  He ran better than the bare result last time and we have added a tongue strap to him this evening.  I hope he can win this before going on his summer holidays and we can look forward to hurdling with him in the autumn.

There is also flat racing at Newbury and Wolverhampton this evening and in Ireland they have a jumps card at Ballinrobe.  

Last night in the football there were wins for Aston Villa and Nottingham Forrest and while Crystal Palace did lose, all three teams are through to the semi-finals.  Somerset are in County Cricket action today away at Hampshire.

I am looking forward to watching the World Origami Championship.

It's on Paper View!

Have a good day!