Two Runners At Chepstow

Amazingly it looks as though there is going to be a full programme of fixtures taking place this afternoon.  There are jumps fixtures from Haydock and Chepstow as well as all-weather flat meetings from Southwell and Kempton.  David has two runners this afternoon at Chepstow; Garran City and Great Tempo.  Garran City contests the 2m3½f maiden hurdle at 3.25pm having finished a very good third on his first outing for the stable after a considerable lay-off.  That effort should have put our former Irish point winner spot-on for this and he should go very well under Tom Scudamore (I notice the Racing Post have napped him).  Our other runner, Great Tempo goes in the 2m3½f handicap hurdle.  He is a big price in the Post this morning and has dropped considerably in the weights - we know he possesses ability, but he will need to show more than of late to figure here.

Warthog ran a perfectly respectable race at Wetherby yesterday to finish runner-up in the 3m handicap hurdle on his first start in handicap company from a mark of 127.  The winner, Eminent Poet just found more in the straight to deny our gelding.  Another former Irish point-to-point winner, Warthog will be winning his share of races - he has the size and scope for fences and remains a promising type.

I see that it is Paul Leach's 64th birthday today.  Many of you will recall that Paul rode Martin's first Cheltenham Festival winner, Baron Blakeney in the 1981 Triumph Hurdle.  He returned a 66/1 shot and I backed him at 50's (no best odds guaranteed back then!)...I obviously knew what I was doing back in those days!  Anyway, many happy returns Paul.

*****

West Ham's stadium is earmarked to host Europe's first regular season major league baseball fixture.  League chiefs are working to finalise two games between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in June 2019.  It would be better as a baseball stadium than a football stadium - there is just no atmosphere at all in there.  The fans are too far away from the pitch (unless they are fighting), whereas you felt you were right among the action at Upton Park which was brilliant.

England's cricketers start their first Test match against New Zealand at 1am tomorrow morning with coverage on Sky Sports.  My mate who is a big cricket fan tells me that the conditions will favour England's bowlers, so foolishly I will be backing the visitors at 7/5.

I will also be having a wager on Wigan to beat Walsall this evening at 3/4.  Wigan looked pretty good in the FA Cup and if they can play to a similar standard, surely they must get a result against Walsall?

*****

A topical one with all of the weather we have been having lately...What do you call a snowman with a six pack?  The abdominal snowman!  Keep smiling...

Tweet