Chepstow, Kempton Runners

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Nottingham and Kempton as well as jumps fixtures from Chepstow and Musselburgh.  David has two runners at Chepstow; Daklondike and Tigger Two and Skilful Lord on the all-weather at Kempton this evening.  Daklondike (pictured above) is turned out again quickly under a 7lbs penalty in the 2m7½f handicap chase having bolted up by 17 lengths at Wetherby on Saturday.  Even with the penalty he is still 5lbs ahead of the handicapper so provided the race does not come too quickly for him, he still has excellent claims.  Our other runner, Tigger Two makes his racecourse debut in the bumper at 4.15pm.  Plenty of the field are making their debuts so there is very little form to go on so we will know more after today.  Of those with form, Tossapenny cost £170,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point.  Skilful Lord reverts to the flat for the 1m4f handicap at Kempton tonight and would need to improve on what he has shown so far - P J McDonald is in the saddle.

What it must be like to be a part of the O'Brien family at present having saddled the first two home in the Melbourne Cup between them yesterday morning.  It would be amazing for most trainers just to have a horse good enough to contest the race.  I have relations in Australia who tell me that the phrase 'the race that stops a nation' is absolutely right.  Former Aussie spin bowling great Shane Warne backed the first two home in each way bets and also had the trifecta, netting him over $20,000...it sounds as though he bowled the bookies a googly.

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Jose Mourinho has already spent £300,000,000 but will be falling out with the board of the club very shortly as he wants more money!  Why not try some of the younger players on the squad?  It would seem that he would be happier just buying a new team rather than developing one.

I see that golfer and racing fanatic Lee Westwood has split from his manager Cubby Chandler after 24 years.  They are partners in a number of racehorses - I wonder what will happen to them?

The 2016 and Rio Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong of Kenya has been given a four year doping ban.  She was also the winner of the London marathon - you know my views on these drugs cheats - they should all be given a lifetime ban, at least then people will have to consider the consequences more seriously before they decide to cheat.

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I'm ashamed to admit that I once stole money from a Dutch holy woman.  She was Nun de Weiser!  Have a nice day...

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