Three Meetings

                Legacy Gold - Exeter

Today we have three jumps cards at Kempton, Chepstow, and Newcastle plus a flat card at Lingfield.  David has runners at all three jumps meetings.  Our lorry went up to Newcastle yesterday with three runners, Edmund Kean, Junior and Consigliere.  Tom Scu makes the long journey up North.  Edmund Kean has won his last two starts over fences and will handle the heavy going.  He has to give weight away to his three rivals but he was the best of these over hurdles should take all the beating and a big run is expected.  Tom also rides veteran Consigliere who has top weight but is coming back to form and was a good second last time out at Sedgefield.  The third placed horse that day, Tranquil Sea won at Doncaster earlier this week so the form looks good.  He will love the ground and the trip and should go well.  

Junior also has to carry top weight in the Eider chase.  He ran well to finish fourth at Ffos Las last time out and although he steps up in trip it looks like he will get every yard of it.  Mikey Ennis claims a handy seven pounds off his back and although a bit of character, fingers crossed he should go well.  Standing Ovation is our only runner in the big race of the day at Kempton.  He rattled off a quick four timer back in the autumn, including winning the Badger Ales chase at Wincanton.  Although disappointing at Cheltenham after that he has had a break and returns fresh and well this afternoon.  Conor O'Farrell who has ridden him to all four of his victories is back on board again.

Poole Master runs in the 3.05pm race at Chepstow.  He was a winner at Ffos Las on his latest outing.  He went up 11 pounds for that win but Tom Bellamy rides this afternoon and takes a handy seven pounds off his back.  He drops back in trip slightly but with conditions set to be testing this should not be a problem as he does like the testing going.  Buddy Bolero (Kieron Edgar) and Tullyesker Hill both run in the Pertemps handicap hurdle.  This is a very competitive race but both horses look to have some sort of chance.  Buddy returns to hurdles after being chasing while Tullyesker was a winner at Warwick last time out.  This race is tougher but they should hopefully run okay.

It was great to get a winner at Exeter yesterday courtesy of Legacy Gold.  Although she did not look like she was loving the ground which was pretty testing she still won nicely enough.  This was her third win from three starts over hurdles and she now looks set for a step up in class at Cheltenham though her exact target is till to be decided.  Alderluck finished fourth at Warwick running okay and hopefully he handicapper will drop him a few more pounds for this which should help him be more competitive.  I am pleased to report that our other Warwick runner, Western Diva appears to be okay this morning after her tumble.  She took what appeared to be a nasty looking fall rounding the home bend in the bumper and lay winded for a while but thankfully seems none the worse today.

Back at Exeter, David worked Kings Palace alongsides The Package at Exeter after racing.  The workout went well and will have done both horses good and David was pleased with both of them.

I see that today's Racing Post is full of adverts for Cheltenham preview nights.  In fact I have counted 17 in all!  I once did one in Ireland and it want on all night into the early hours of the morning.  I have not seen one yet where AP is appearing?!  Maybe he wants to keep his winners a secret!!

In the football my bets today are, Arsenal 4/11, Man Utd 8/13 and Liverpool 3/10.

I see that Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan as received a three day for grabbing his crotch on TV.  He also got a £2500 fine.  That is an expensive balls up!!  Have a nice day.