Balgarry Tops At Taunton

The stable won the feature race at Taunton yesterday as Balgarry jumped well in the main to land the handicap chase under Tom Scudamore.  He is a free-going sort who was granted a soft lead yesterday so things played into his hands somewhat but he still produced a good performance to win this from a mark of 133.  This was only his third start over the larger obstacles and he can go on from here.

This afternoon we have four meetings taking place with three jumps cards from Cheltenham, Bangor and Doncaster as well as an all-weather flat fixture from Wolverhampton.  David runs Vieux Lion Rouge at Cheltenham, Cloughernagh Boy and Navanman at Bangor and Still Together and Kalifourchon at Doncaster.  Vieux Lion Rouge has a great strike rate throughout his career, winning nine times from sixteen starts.  He has won all three starts over fences this season and produced a career best at Haydock last time when a ready winner of a valuable handicap chase.  He goes on any ground, but a sign of the competitiveness of the race is that the bookies make him a 5/1 chance.  He still looks to be on the upgrade and has solid claims under Tom Scu.

Over at Bangor Cloughernagh Boy returns from a long absence and has 149 rated Vyta du Roc to beat, while Navanman should appreciate this softer surface although he needs to improve on recent starts to figure - Kieron Edgar is aboard them both.  Still Together makes his hurdling debut at Doncaster under Brian Toomey and David Noonan rides the progressive Kalifourchon in the handicpa hurdle.

There is a cross-country race at Cheltenham this afternoon - it is not one of my favourite types of race although the Irish seem to love it and Irish handlers are responsible for nine of the fourteen runners today.  Bless The Wings could give you a run for your money at odds of around 14/1 as the Gordon Elliott yard continue in good form.

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It looks as though Ryan Giggs is being lined-up for the Swansea job.  If I were Giggs I would be staying at Manchester United - if Swansea do not manage to stay in the Premier League he will come in for all manner of stick and will be seen to have failed by all of the 'experts'.  I think I would wait at United until Van Gaal gets the chop and I can't see that taking all that long either!

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There looks to be some great boxing action on Sky Box Office tomorrow night with Joshua versus Whyte.  I get the feeling they do not really like each other very much and for once it seems genuine!

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The world's ugliest man died today...now he's lying in a state!

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