Newbury, Rasen Runners

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Market Rasen and Newbury as well as all-weather flat cards from Lingfield and Newcastle.  Market Rasen have to pass a second inspection this morning after snow hit the track yesterday.  Looking at the people stuck on the M74 overnight after severe blizzards, it is hardly surprising that Ayr lost their meeting yesterday...hopefully the racing will go ahead without disruption today, but more importantly let's hope that everyone stranded gets home safely.  David has three runners at Newbury today; Friday Night Light, Saint John Henry and You Say What, while It's Obvious runs at Market Rasen.

Friday Night Light contests the 1.20pm race at Newbury, a two mile handicap hurdle.  He had some good form on the level in France including on heavy and soft ground so underfoot conditions should hold no terrors for him.  He makes his handicap debut this afternoon under David Noonan and he looks to have a decent chance.

Saint John Henry runs in the three mile handicap chase at 3.00pm and he is another who will appreciate the testing conditions.  He would need to improve on his most recent outings to figure here, but the form of his Chepstow success was boosted when the fourth home won the Sussex National recently.  Michael Heard is in the saddle.  You Say What is in the same race and would have chances on his Exeter win and close second next time out over 3m6f.  An early mistake had him on the back foot from an early stage and he is clearly better than that and can't be discounted under David Noonan.

Tom Scudamore heads to Market Rasen where he partners It's Obvious for the stable in the 2m7f  handicap hurdle at 1.00pm.  He has to shoulder the burden of 12-3 but the step up in trip should help this former Irish pointer.  I am not sure how the assessor has arrived at a mark of 117, but let's just hope that he is right!

I see that racegoers will be able to take on local professional darts player Terry Jenkins at the next Hereford race meetings and have the chance to earn £250.  I hope that Phil 'The Power' Taylor doesn't go racing, otherwise it could prove an expensive exercise for the track!

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There are more FA Cup replays taking place tonight as Chelsea take on Norwich, Swansea play Wolves and Wigan host Bournemouth.  The Wolves versus Bournemouth match could be quite tasty with the home side at the top of the Championship and Bournemouth struggling towards the bottom of the Premier League.  You can get a bit of 22/19 about Bournemouth to qualify if you shop around.

What a performance from Ronnie O'Sullivan yesterday in the first round of the Masters snooker.  The defending champion took just 86 minutes to beat his opponent Marco Fu 6-0.  He scored three breaks of over 100 another in the 70's and two more over 50 (despite feeling poorly).  Fu potted only 8 balls and said that he could have played his best snooker and still lost 6-0!  When Ronnie plays like that he is different class to anybody on the planet.

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I was attacked by my tobacconist the other day...I still have the cigars to prove it!

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