Exeter's Back!

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with two flat cards from Ayr and Wolverhampton supported by a couple of jump meetings from Exeter and Worcester.  It is good to have the first meeting of the new season at Exeter today and the stable has three runners at the Haldon track; Johnny McGeeney, Party Girls and Bathwick Man, while Tom Scu goes to Worcester to ride Mount Haven and Obistar for the yard.  Mount Haven (pictured above) bolted up in a Fontwell bumper in June on his debut for the yard and while this is a stronger race and he has a penalty to carry a big run is expected nonetheless.

We drew a blank at Ludlow yesterday with Massannie finishing fifth in the handicap hurdle - she has plenty of ability but does not always consent to put her best foot forward, perhaps some form of head gear will be reapplied in future?  Meanwhile Azza was third in a novices' limited handicap chase - she may prove best suited by a shorter trip and more testing ground.

I see that trainer Robin Dickin has told anyone who will listen that he has a four year old at home that is to die for.  "If ever I had a Gold Cup horse this is it."  Unfortunately he forgot to tell us the name of his star horse...I will endeavour to find out.

The new greyhound track at Towcester does not seem to be to everyone's liking - you can't see the open ditch from the stands and the bookmakers can't see half of the track!  Sadly it all looks a bit of a mess and a missed opportunity to increase the appeal of both horse and greyhound racing in that community.  The track is too far away from the grandstand and consequently it is unlikely to generate a great atmosphere.

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There is a Euro 2016 football qualifier tonight between England and San Marino on ITV at 7.45pm.  I reckon it would have been more exciting to have left Coronation Street on!  San Marino have suffered 64 defeats in qualifying games and if England (who are 1/100 with bookmakers) do not score six goals it will be a poor show.  As far as I am concerned there should be free entry for the spectators to try to encourage a decent turnout.  Their goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini is an accountant, so that should certainly help

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Finally, away from sport altogether I have heard that a new Dad's Army is going to be filmed.  I loved the original series..."Don't tell them your name Pike!"  I'm not sure how Catherine Zeta-Jones is going to fit in though!

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