Warwick Runners Today

*Grand Exit N/R at Warwick this afternoon*

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon - two over the sticks at Haydock and Warwick as well as an all-weather flat card at Kempton.  The ground at the jump meetings will be pretty testing and the stable has two runners at Warwick, High Ville and Grand Exit (pictured above, left).  Both have the form required to be competitive in their respective races and should handle the ground so we will be hoping for the best with them.

I thought that Henok ran okay at Exeter yesterday on his first start over fences.  He had to run against a couple of rivals that were rated significantly superior over timber and acquitted himself well under Mikey Ennis.  The ground at the Devon track was obviously fairly testing and that was backed up by the times, two of which were over a minute outside of the standard time.  The hunter chase in particular turned into something of a farce with none of the four runners wanting to make the running.

Over on the flat at Southwell, the filly Hannahs Turn still looks to be on the upgrade following a facile success in the six furlongs handicap.  She won with any amount in hand and must be followed if turning out again quickly under a penalty.

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I see that footballing legend Michael Owen has decided that the time is right for him to retire from the game at the end of the season.  Owen is now at Stoke, although he doesn't seem to see an awful lot of action these days.  He says that he hopes to stay in football and has no desire to be a trainer - I am sure his tenant Tom Dascombe is delighted to hear that!

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I see that former champion flat trainer Richard Hannon has 264 horses in training this year.  He must have quite a few staff at his yard in Marlborough.  Having said that, he is down 5 on last year so he must be feeling the pinch!

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Swedish jockey Lars Kelp is 46 today.  Lars (pictured right with Martin) used to work at the yard and had a number of rides for Martin.  I actually saw Lars at the Newmarket sales recently and he is still looking well (and still a bit of a poser)!  Many happy returns Lars.

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I'm glad I'm not a Blackburn Rovers fan!  They have now had four permanent managers this season!  I am not sure that the owners the Venkys know an awful lot about the beautiful game.

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Thought for the day...Where there's a will, there's relations!  Have a nice day.