One Runner At Exeter

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon at Exeter over the sticks, as well as two fixtures on the all-weather at Southwell and Wolverhampton.  The stable has just one runner, Henok in the novices' chase.  He has to face Jump City and Dare Me who were both rated in the 130's over timber so our runner appears to have a tough task according to official figures.  Nevertheless, he has schooled well at home and will be partnered by man-of-the-moment, Midlands National winning jockey Mikey Ennis.

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon at Exeter over the sticks, as well as two fixtures on the all-weather at Southwell and Wolverhampton.  The stable has just one runner, Henok in the novices' chase.  He has to face Jump City and Dare Me who were both rated in the 130's over timber so our runner appears to have a tough task according to official figures.  Nevertheless, he has schooled well at home and will be partnered by man-of-the-moment, Midlands National winning jockey Mikey Ennis.

It's amazing looking through the card at Exeter this afternoon that the biggest field of runners compete in the novices' selling hurdle.  Ten go to post for this modest contest - it just goes to show that there are plenty of poor horses around.  Personally, I think there should be more sellers as it would give everyone a better chance of winning a race.  It has nothing to do with the fact that we have managed to obtain many a good horse from sellers and claimers down the years, honest!

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I see that someone in the Racing Post is having their two penneth about the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.  I agree that it is very difficult to follow what is going on if you are on the track - television is definitely the best place to watch it.  I don't see why they don't just have a veteran's race instead - they seem very popular.  Perhaps they could even have a race for veteran's who have actually won at Prestbury Park, now does that seem like a good idea?  I reckon I will be working for Racing For Change (or whatever they are called these days) before we know it!

During the four days in our hospitality marquee at Cheltenham last week we always give a preview of the day's action.  This entails me talking with David and the jockeys and trying to point our guests in the direction of a winner or two.  I was so desperate by day four that I enlisted the help of some interesting new headgear (pictured right) that I thought might find me a few winners!

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I may pay my yearly visit to watch Torquay United to play against Chesterfield this evening.  It may not be the most attractive fixture on the calendar but the Gulls are in need of support and the money, so I will be doing my bit.  There are five teams on 40 points at the bottom of League 2 and another Devon team, Plymouth is one of them.

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If you see the picture of Callum McManaman's tackle in the papers, I am sure you would disagree with the Wigan chairman who said the horror challenge was "as clean as a whistle".  He must have some strange whistles!

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Thought for the day.  There are three types of people, those who can count and those who can't!