Runners In 3 Countries!

It's a big day for the yard with runners in three countries; Wales, Ireland and France.  We run Houston Dynimo at Chepstow, Alternatif in the Irish Cesarewitch at The Curragh and Dynaste (pictured above) at Auteuil.  The one that could surprise a few people could be ex-French Alternatif - a winning hurdler and placed over fences since joining David, it has been over 800 days since he last ran on the level.  Even so, he had some smart form and is working well on the gallops.  He will be a decent price and I think he will go well under Colm O'Donoghue who won the Epsom Oaks this season abaord 50/1 chance Qualify and was narrowly beaten in the St Leger only to be awarded the race in the stewards' room and then have it taken away again.

Houston Dymino constests a £30,000 veterans handicap chase at Chepstow and he has a nice racing weight of 10-2.  Furthermore, in-form amateur David Noonan takes a useful 7lbs off his back and he looks capable of a bold showing.  There is some excellent prize money on offer at Chepstow so unsurprisingly the fields are very competitive.

Meanwhile Dynaste makes his seasonal reappearance when contesting a Grade 3 hurdle over 2m3 1/2f at Auteuil.  It would be great if it was on the box but somehow I doubt it.  If you can find somewhere to watch it, he runs at 3.55pm (British time) - it is a competitive race with a couple of Grade 1 winning hurdlers in the line-up as you would expect with prize money worth around €150,000.  Tom Scudamore travels across to partner the dashing grey.

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I must admit I did love the interview with Jurgen Klopp when he was announced as the new Liverpool manager.  Describing himself he said, "I'm the normal one!"  I wonder who he was taking the mickey out of?  He went on to add, "Everyone has told me about the British press, now it's up to you to show me they are all liars" a very clever opening gambit although I doubt very much it will save him if things start to go wrong!  At least the press conferences should be interesting if nothing else.

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I see that England have taken the unusual step of letting Moeen Ali open the batting for England against Pakistan in the first Test match on Tuesday.  He has never opened a first class match before so this will be very different to going in at number 7 or 8 which he is more accustomed to - he will find things much tougher and I can see him struggling.  You normally need spin bowlers to succeed in Pakistan so I can understand his selection.  I still think that Gillette should sponsor Ali...it would be a great advert if they shaved that beard!

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Last week I flew on one of those budget airlines and before we took off the stewardess reminded us to fasten the sellotape!