Kempton, Warwick Runners

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with three jumps cards from Warwick, Kempton and Wetherby as well as an all-weather flat fixture from Lingfield.  It is a busy day for the stable with Race To Glory, Dell' Arca (pictured above), Heath Hunter, Shotavodka and Swing Bowler at Kempton and Top Wood and George Herbert representing the stable at Warwick.  David is three-handed in the Lanzarote Hurdle and despite there being some fancy prices among them, a case could be made for all of them.  There are also a couple of interesting new ones among those, including Race To Glory who had some fair form on the flat - he seemed to stay well on the level, something that will augur well for today after plenty more overnight rain.  George Herbert makes his racecourse debut in the nine runner bumper at Warwick - there isn't an awful lot to go on with all nine of them having their first starts.  It will be a case of whoever handles the ground best.

Vayland proved a little disappointing when finishing fourth in the novices' hurdle at Huntingdon yesterday.  He had shown considerable promise on his previous start and is clearly better than this.

While we are on the subject of yesterday's action, it was good to see eight year old Sgt Reckless win the maiden at Lingfield.  This chaser won with any amount in hand - he is in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival although he is going to need more chasing experience before he contests a race of that nature.

It is owner Malcolm Jones' birthday today.  Malcolm was the joint owner of Pridwell - now there was a character (I'm talking about Pridwell!).  Pridwell was cleverer than all of the jockeys who rode him, but my goodness couldn't he run when the mood took him?  Just ask Istabraq!

How on earth can jockey Aidan Coleman be called in over his winning ride in the Welsh National two weeks after the event?  Raceday stewards clearly didn't have a problem, so why bring it up?  Perhaps I should send in all of my old tapes - I am sure they could find plenty more rides they are not entirely happy with!  The trouble is that it portrays the sport of racing in a very amateurish light and I don't see what good can come of this.

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There is a good weekend of football action ahead of us and I will be having a little flutter on Manchester United at 17/20, West Brom at 21/20 and Bournemouth at 21/20 to put the food on the Barnes table next week.  Both Chelsea and Manchester City should win so I see little change at the top of the Premier League.

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I hear that a statue of naked lovers that was taken down in the 1980's is to go back on display again in Doncaster...I suppose it is a second erection!  These are all true stories, no matter how difficult some of them are to believe.  Have a nice weekend...