Good Card At Kelso

Surprisingly both Kelso and Leicester host jump cards this afternoon and go ahead without a problem, while over on the all-weather there is a flat card at Kempton.  It is quite an interesting card up at Kelso with former Gold Cup winner Long Run competing in the 3.55pm race - according to official figure he has 17lbs in hand of second favourite Knockara Beau and 36lbs in hand of the third favourite so it looks like a penalty kick for the 4/11 shot.  Even so, I have seen plenty of missed penalties lately and Knockara Beau caused a bigger shock last time out when wining the Cleeve Hurdle (with Big Buck's back in third).  It is nice for Kelso racegoers to see some quality horses in action.

Surprisingly both Kelso and Leicester host jump cards this afternoon and go ahead without a problem, while over on the all-weather there is a flat card at Kempton.  It is quite an interesting card up at Kelso with former Gold Cup winner Long Run competing in the 3.55pm race - according to official figure he has 17lbs in hand of second favourite Knockara Beau and 36lbs in hand of the third favourite so it looks like a penalty kick for the 4/11 shot.  Even so, I have seen plenty of missed penalties lately and Knockara Beau caused a bigger shock last time out when wining the Cleeve Hurdle (with Big Buck's back in third).  It is nice for Kelso racegoers to see some quality horses in action.

Unsurprisingly the racecourse at Windsor more closely resembles a boating lake, while Sandown have already cancelled tomorrow's fixture.  Apparently the Thames is at it's highest level for sixty years - I wonder how they managed sixty years ago?  At least Fakenham are not reporting any problems so we should get some jumps action on Friday.

I see that the economic crisis has taken it's toll on trainers in Ireland.  Since 2007 no fewer than 76 trainers have packed the sport in, so it is clearly not just owners and tracks who are struggling.  Something has to be done before it is too late - I would suggest the tracks start with free admission and parking to get into the tracks to encourage racegoers back onto the courses.  I recently had an e-mail from someone who had forked out £48 for tickets to last season's Cheltenham Festival and he said the facilities, primarily the toilets were disgusting.  I have to say, I do agree with him...the prices are certainly prohibitive.

Despite the gloomy conditions, I have a nice picture to bring you (right) of exciting novices' chase prospect Gevrey Chambertin in action on the gallops.  Like his brother Grands Crus, he was a good winner of the valuable Fixed Brush handicap hurdle at Haydock and has been waiting to makes his chasing debut for a while now.  He is entered in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next month and has a number of shorter term entries over the coming days.

*****

There was a great win for Spurs last night as they beat Newcastle 4-0.  Alan Pardew will have the fans on his back as the Geordies will not stand for too many hammerings from the Cockneys!  Liverpool were successful 3-2 and did just enough to secure my Merseyside double.

We have the bag man at Chelsea giving the pre-match talk and now West Ham have former boxing world champion Lennox Lewis giving the players a gee-up before the match.  I don't think I would want to disagree with Lennox as he packs a fair punch...he is a big Hammers supporter.