2 Runners At Punchestown

It's a busy day with five flat cards taking place at Nottingham, Yarmouth, Lingfield, Newcastle and Wolverhampton  For us jumps fans it is the first day of the Punchestown Festival over in Ireland and we have two runners in The Liquidator (a Grade One bumper winner at the meeting last season) and Ballynagour.  Both are relatively big prices, although Ballynagour (pictured above) has run two good races recently - a facile success in the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival followed by a close third when stepped up to Grade One company at Aintree.  Although his profile can be rather in and out, his form looks rock solid and he fully deserves to take his chance in this Grade One line-up.  Tom Scudamore is aboard both of our runners and both he and David fly out this morning for the Emerald Isle.

What a result for young Sam Twiston-Davies to get the job as number one jockey to champion trainer Paul Nicholls.  Sam, who is currently away on holiday in Las Vegas was also apparently approached with a lucrative deal to ride for two of Nicky Henderson's high profile owners - what it is to be popular!  With the backing of a powerful yard behind him (and no doubt, plenty of good rides for his father) it would be no surprise to see him as champion jockey sooner rather than later, although I'm sure a certain A P McCoy will have something to say about that in the short term!

I see that top owner Michael Tabor has had a winner on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.  You would think this other West Ham supporters horses were too good to be running on the all-weather...mind you, he did pick up £2,500 in prize money!

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It's a good job that Newcastle had a great start to the Premier League this season because if they hadn't they would be in deep trouble now.  They were beaten 3-0 by Arsenal last time night and it looks as though manager Alan Pardew has run out of ideas.  He could be the next manager on a sticky wicket.

There is a great match to look forward to tonight as Bayern Munich take on Real Madrid in the Champions' League semi-final.  Surely messrs Bale and Ronaldo can score tonight?  Real Madrid are 15/4 chances to win tonight or just 4/6 to qualify...that could be tempting.  Coverage starts at 7.45pm on ITV and I can't wait.

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