Winning Sail

                Sail by the Sea

Sail By the Sea made all yesterday and put in a good round of jumping to win well.  He won as he liked and the Arkle chase at Cheltenham look like the target.  Although this will obviously be a big step up in class he could do no more than win nicely yesterday and he is a general 33/1 chance for the Arkle.  What a race, Qalinas, David's other runner at Chepstow ran.  He finished second only beaten 1/2 a length in the 3 mile handicap hurdle.  This was a much improved return to form after only his third start back from injury and as long as the handicapper does not over react, he looks capable of winning off his current mark of 110.  

 Today we have four meetings, three jumps cards at Sandown, Ffos Las and Wetherby which passed it's inspection this morning and a flat card at Lingfield.  David has runners at all three jumps meetings.  At Ffos Las he has Virtuel D'oudon, Taj Badalandadbad, Smiles for Miles and Heath Hunter and Tom Scu goes here.  Virtuel D'oudon and Taj Badalandadbad both run in the Welsh Champion hurdle which looks competitive.  Both horses have already had very good season and although this looks tough they both come here in good form, both will stay and love the ground as they are both previous course winners.  Kieron Edgar rides Virtuel D'oudon as he won on him last time out at Taunton.  Smiles for Miles runs in the West Wales National.  This will be a thorough staying test in heavy ground and although Smiles For Miles is trying the distance for the first time he comes here in great form and recent runs suggest he should actually cope no problem.  Heath Hunter drops down in distance today after not quite getting home over 2m5f last time.  He is a previous course winner so fingers crossed he can bounce back to form this afternoon.  At Sandown, My Brother Sylvest returns from an injury absence in the 1.50pm handicap chase with Michael Heard on board.  He is the outsider of the field but i is just nice to get him back on the track.  David has two runners back up at Wetherby, Serienschock and Rinnca Fada and Conor O'Farrell goes here to ride both of these.  Serienschock was a good third at Chepstow last time out while Rinnca Fada was fourth on his racecourse debut at Exeter.  Hopefully he can improve on that and go close in today's bumper.

Hayley Turner got a 10 day suspension at Lingfield yesterday after mistaking the winning line.  She thought she had gone past the winning line and stoppped riding.  She says she cannot argue with the punishment - 10 days in Barbados at this time of year is quite nice!

Diego Costa has now put his hands up and admitted standing on the Liverpool player in the Carling Cup semi final match.  He has now got his just deserts and received a three match ban.  The big game today is Chelsea versus Man City at 5.30pm.  Guess where I will be at this time!  Man City at 11/4 looks okay.  

There was a new record set when Watford had a player sent off in 24 seconds against Bournemouth last night.  Bournemouth won 2-0.

2 Burglars stole 17 coffins in Melbourne, Australia.  Police said it was at the dead of night!  Have a good day.