Favourite Once Again

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Haydock and Warwick as well as all-weather flat fixtures from Newcastle and Kempton.  David has no runners today so stable jockey Tom Scudamore goes to Warwick for some outside rides and he looks to have a couple of small chances.  Of yesterday's runners The Two Amigos and Martabot finished fourth with the latter looking as though he would appreciate more of a test of stamina and possibly softer ground.  Carqalin ran his best race to date and maybe he would benefit from a slightly shorter trip.

There was a shake-up in the ante-post betting for the Grand National yesterday when favourite (and Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up) Minella Rocco was scratched from Aintree's centre piece at the latest forfeit stage.  It looks as though next year's Gold Cup is going to be the target for him, although connections will never get into the race as 'well-in' again.  It means that David has the favourite once again in Becher Chase and Haydock National Trial winner Vieux Lion Rouge (pictured above) - he ran well last year when seventh as a youngster and with another year on his back and the course experience, he is a worthy favourite.  David has some Grand National style fences at home on the gallops and I am sure he will be getting plenty more practice in the coming weeks.

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There is a good football match tolook forward to tonight as Germany take on England on ITV at 7.45pm.  You can back Germany at 3/4 and that could prove a bit of value as I think the current England side is one of the worst for many years.  They should be given the youngsters a chance and building a team for the future.  How can Jermaine Defoe be in the squad?  He hasn't played for the England side in almost four years and by the time the next championships start he will be 36!  Meanwhile Scotland should beat Canada and can be backed at 7/17 (I don't know where they get these obscure prices from?!)...I would have thought that Canada would have struggled to get 11 players together!

Plans for a statue of former world boxing champion Ken Buchanan in Edinburgh should be supported by the City Council.  Buchanan was a great world champion and an inspiration to many.  I was lucky enough to appear in Superstars alongside Ken and he was a really nice guy.

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Thought for the day...the early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!

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