Seven Runners

         Problema Tic (near-side)

The stable has runners at both Exeter and Worcester this evening and David is looking for his first winner of the season.  Today there are five meetings, three on the flat at Bath, Lingfield and Yarmouth plus the jumps cards that I have mentioned.  El Lobo, Barney Cool and Military Precision run at Worcetser and Tom Scu goes there to ride all three.  Problema Tic fell last time out in the Scottish National and he just needs a bit of luck in running.  He drops down in grade this afternoon and has Kieron Edgar in the saddle who takes a vaulable seven pounds off his back.  With a nice clear round he could hopefully be in the shake up.  The same could be said of our other runner in the race, Palace Jester.  He ran a nice race at Taunton last time and but for being hampered would have finished even closer.  Conor O'Farrell rides.  Prime Location also runs at Exeter in the handicap hurdle and is looking to bounce back to form after a slightly disappointing run at Newbury last time.  High Ville is our fourth runner of the night.  He has some fair bumper form but has been a bit disappointing over hurdles so far.  He was fourth at the track last time but he does have to improve to win this with Conor O'Farrell on board.

Henok was a bit disappointing at Towcester yesterday but the weight probably beat him in the end.  He carried 12st5lb which is actually over three stone more than the eventual winner carried!  He is better than this run.  Five of the eight races at Towcester yesterday were won by conditional jockeys.  In fact young Joseph Akehurst rode his first winner on Jameel for John Ferguson.  It seems that a lot more trainers are using conditional jockeys as it is handy if they claim a valuable few pounds off a horses back.  They can take a penalty off if the horse has won his previous race and it all helps while trying to win another!  There does seem a talented bunch of young riders around at the moment.

There seems less and less bookmakers on the actual racecourses these days.  I guess the problem is that most people tend to bet online these days or have betting accunts.  I do hope they keep an on course booking system.  I used to love having some banter with the on track bookies.  There were some real characters, or maybe it was looking at there faces when they were paying me out!

It's Tom Dascombe's 40th birthday today.  I remember the days when he was a young conditional at Pond House and he wa crying in front of the Worcester stewards one day!  Happy Days!  Happy Birthday Tom!

Sunderland's manager Paolo Di Canio's problems now start after losing 6-1 at Aston Villa last night.  I do know someone in Cyprus who will be happy however, Mr Archer!