5 Meetings Today

Our only runner yesterday Too Generous proved something of a disappointment at Bangor.  Having won her previous two starts in bumpers it was a shame to see her well beaten here, but I am sure she is better than that and there will be other days for her.  There are five meetings on this afternoon - three of them on the flat at Ascot, Yarmouth and Wolverhampton, while there are jump cards at Fontwell and Hexham.  As you would expect, Ascot holds a very good, competitive card with four tight handicaps on the menu, meanwhile Hexham are giving their ground as heavy.  It is a stiff track at the best of times and I notice there is a novices' hurdle over three miles...I suspect the finish will look as though it is in slow motion!

Our only runner yesterday Too Generous proved something of a disappointment at Bangor.  Having won her previous two starts in bumpers it was a shame to see her well beaten here, but I am sure she is better than that and there will be other days for her.  There are five meetings on this afternoon - three of them on the flat at Ascot, Yarmouth and Wolverhampton, while there are jump cards at Fontwell and Hexham.  As you would expect, Ascot holds a very good, competitive card with four tight handicaps on the menu, meanwhile Hexham are giving their ground as heavy.  It is a stiff track at the best of times and I notice there is a novices' hurdle over three miles...I suspect the finish will look as though it is in slow motion!

I am pleased to bring you more action from the gallops - this time of smart ex-French performer War Singer who was completing a solo piece of work.  He could be seen out again very shortly as he holds entries in the near future at Huntingdon and Kelso at the weekend.  Meanwhile a couple of horses yet to make their debuts for Pond House, Palace Jester and Smooth Classic also worked nicely together.  Palace Jester, a three time winning hurdler (rated 135) and nice novice chase prospect is currently for sale and looks to be very good value for just £16,000 (or £4,000 per 25% share) - we have a video of him in action from earlier in the week and you can see it by clicking on the following link:  Palace Jester For Sale

  
Above left: War Singer and right: (l-r) Palace Jester and Smooth Classic

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I see that there has been a jockey and three footballers charged with serious breaches of the rules of racing in relation to race fixing, including Ipswich striker Michael Chopra.  Chopra clearly wasn't very good at it, considering he is believed to have lost in the region of £2 million.  Personally, I don't think that banning these people will make much difference - the sentences should be much more severe.

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Leading jumps owner J P McManus is playing in the annual Dunhill Championship golf tournament in Scotland.  It is usually a great event with the professionals each teaming up with an amateur partner.  J P always plays with Padraig Harrington and it is an event they have won in the past.  J P is a more than capable player in his own right and I wouldn't be surprised to see him towards the top of the leaderboard once again.