Clarkson Goes To Sedgefield

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Huntingdon and Sedgefield supported by all-weather flat cards from Chelmsford and Wolverhampton.  David has one runner today as Mr Clarkson takes in the 3.20pm race at Sedgefield.  It is a 2m1f conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle and his last start at Exeter is safely ignored as the bit slipped through his mouth - his previous two successes read well and a repeat of those efforts will see him go very close.  David Noonan is in the saddle and takes 3lbs off his back.

It is not very often that you see a good horse on the all-weather during the winter but there could very well have been one yesterday at Lingfield.  Mitigate may only have had a rating of 69 going into yesterday's maiden but David Elsworth's filly produced a really good turn of foot to turn the race into a procession and she looks very much on the upgrade.  I am sure you will be hearing more of her over the coming months.

Champion jump jockey Richard Johnson looks as though he is set for a couple of days on the sidelines after being brought down at Ludlow yesterday and aggravating an already bruised shoulder.  It probably hurt even more when Tom Scudamore replaced him aboard a winner later in the day.

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There was a good result for Leicester last night as they were beaten 2-1 by Sevilla in the Champions League.  Take it from me a 2-1 defeat for them these days is nearly as good as a win!  Vardy scored his first goal in 12 hours and 39 minutes of play, although it is still going to be very difficult for them to beat Sevilla in the return leg at Leicester.  Manchester United beat Saint Etienne 1-0 last night, while Wayne Rooney's agent was in China - it looks like he is about to become the best paid player in the world.

Force India unveiled their new Formula One car ahead of the season opener next month.  Owner Vijay Mallya reckons the team who finished fourth in last year's constructors championship can gatecrash the top three teams party this season, "It is not the size of your weapons, it is the quality" he said.  If they are as hot as some of Mrs Barnes' curries they will be on fire this year!

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I once had a romance at the Highland Games...it was just a fling!

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