Challenger Finals

    Rathlin Rose runs at Haydock today

Today there are seven meetings, flat cards at Brighton, Kempton and Musselburgh plus four jumps cards at Haydock, Carlisle, Newton Abbot and Stratford.  David has runners at Haydock and Newton Abbot.  David runs Monetaire, Rathlin Rose, Chic Theatre and Abracadabra Sivola at Haydock.  There is good prize money on offer as it is the Challenger series finals, a great initiative for horses in the 'middle band' of racing, giving them a nice chance of winning some valuable prize money.  David also have four runners at Newton Abbot, Arkadios, Gabrial the Great, Celestial Path and Midnight Magic.  There are plenty of runners at our local track for their first meeting of the year.

Tom Scu goes to Haydock to ride all the runners up there.  Monetaire runs in the 2.05pm and our 11 year old was third last time out at Stratford on his return from a break.  This was a good run but he would have to improve on that to win today.  He was runner up at the Cheltenham Festival not that long ago and on that form he is well handicapped.  Rathlin Rose carries top weight in the 2.40pm.  He has won his last two starts, if you remember these were both military races at Sandown where he was partnered by Guy Disney. As you would expect with the prize money on offer this looks a very competitive race.  He should run well again.  Chic Theatre returns from a break having won at Market Rasen last time out.  He steps up in trip but we think this should suit and again we are hopeful of a good run.  Abracadabra Sivola runs in the final race of the day.  He won at Taunton last time and although his form is a little in and out he will enjoy conditions and fingers crossed he can also run well.  Tom Scu also rides for his brother Michael in the 4.55pm, a horse called Two Smokin Barrels which is favourite.  Tom could have a good day.

Back at Newton Abbot, Arkadios runs in the 1.55pm and Michael Heard is on board once again.  He needs to step up on recent form.  Gabrial the Great runs in the 3.05pm handicap chase with David Noonan in the saddle.  He has had a little break since his last run and he should be thereabouts.  David has two runners in the 3.40pm, Celestial Path ridden by Conor O'Farrell and Midnight Magic partnered by David Noonan.  They both need to improve on recent form.

There are some interesting football matches on today.  Crystal Palace 5/6, Man City 4/5, Stoke Evs and Watford 6/4.  I think that's enough bets for me!  The World Snooker Championships start today.  The winner gets £375,000, the highest break £10,000.  Mark Selby is 9/2 and Judd Trump at 4/1 gives me some interest, hopefully for the next 17 days!

I see the photographers must camp outside Prince Harry's girlfriends house.  They have got a photo of him going into her place after dark!  Top news!

The judge has a stutter so it doesn't look like I'm getting a sentence!  Have a nice day.