Paddy Power Day 2015

   Kings Palace - runs in the Paddy Power
We have five meetings today, jumps cards at Cheltenham, Uttoxeter and Wetherby plus flat cards at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  David has plenty running at Cheltenham, 8 runners in fact!  The card looks more like the Festival its that good!  In the first race, the 12.40pm we run another French recruit called Fingertips.  He won first time out in France and then finished second and he goes well at home.  Although only five runners it is a quality field.  In the 1.15pm novice chase, Un temps Pour Tout makes his chasing debut.  He has schooled well at home and this is his first outing since winning the French Champion hurdle at Auteuil in the summer.  We are hoping for a big run.

In the 1.50pm staying chase David runs Soll who was last seen in the Grand National.  This giant horse will love the trip and goes there fresh and well.  The 2.25pm is the big race of the day, the Paddy Power Gold Cup.  There are 20 runners and we run Kings Palace and Monetaire and they are about 7/1 and 12/1 in the betting.  Both are working well at home and I can't really choose betwen them.  David also has two runners in the 3.00pm handicap hurdle, Gevrey Chambertin and Batavir.  If I had to choose it would be Batavir but Gevrey Chambertin ran much better last time at Newton Abbot and you wouldn't rule him out if he is back to form.  Our last runner of the day is Herbert Park in the 3.35pm race.  He has finished first or second in all of his five career starts to date.  On paper David looks to have some good chances but it is very competitive and winners will be tough.

In yesterday's action, La Vaticane ran okay in the first race.  There were six in line jumping the last and she was one of them.  She can only improve with some softer ground and maybe a step up in trip.  Dell'arca ran a great race to finish third in the novice chase behind More Of That.  On hurdle form he had 25 pounds in hand and he was getting five pounds from us so it was a very good run.  Champers on Ice finished second but not to Penglai Pavillion but to Shantou Village who bolted up and looks very useful.  Baraka De Thaix fell 2 out and was beaten at the time but we are pleased to report he seems none the worse this morning.  Alternatif also ran well to finish third in the amateur riders handicap chase.  He was not beaten that far and jumped very well for a novice.  The stables horses are in good form ahead of today but we could just use that bit of luck.

There was a good maiden ODI century from Alex Hales helping England to a 95 run victory over Pakistan.  This levels the series at 1-1.  Another surprise is that there are actually people watching the match!  Someone told me it was a day off in Pakistan!  It is certainly better to play any sport with an audience.

England got thumped 2-0 by Spain in the football last night.  I don't think we are going to beat many of the good teams at football.  I don't think they even know what is our best team.  I bet Kane gets lonely up front on his own!

What do you get if you cross a couple of bananas with a pair of shoes...slippers!

What do you get if you cross a cat with a shark....a town with no dogs in it!  Have a nice day.