7 Runners, 2 Meetings

Today we have four meetings four meetings with jumps cards from Ludlow and Newbury as well as flat cards from Lingfield and Kempton.  David has runners at both of the jumps fixtures - we run Closer To Home and The Minkle at Newbury.  Closer To Home won his last race on the flat in France on soft ground and has schooled well at home and he is partnered this afternoon by Kieron Edgar who claims 3lbs off his back.  The Minkle has had just one run to date and would need to improve on that effort to figure in what looks to be a hot maiden hurdle.  It is a busy day at Ludlow with five runners; Junior Package, Skylander, My Brother Sylvest, Katkeau and Mozo.  Katkeau (pictured above) was a ready winner of his chase debut at Fakenham on good/soft ground - he jumps and stays well and should go close under Tom Scu, while Mozo was runner-up in a novices' hurdle last time on bottomless ground and also looks to have decent prospects.

It is hard to believe that Ludlow has £100,000 in prize money while Newbury, a supposedly Grade One track are offering only £50,000.  I wonder when the last time Ludlow were offering more money than Newbury when they were racing on the same day?  I suspect never, but it doesn't really bode well for the Berkshire track does it?

I see that Paul Nicholls is giving Sam Twiston-Davies a tube of super glue for Christmas.  It is good that he is sticking with his stable jockey - they obviously have a good bond!  I do hope you are glued to my blog and you don't find it too tacky!

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If I was the Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri I would dread the January transfer window.  The will be plenty of interest in Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy - I know they say that they want to stay but if one or two of the supposed big clubs come in with big money offers as well as a large pay increase it will be difficult for a relatively small club like Leicester to refuse.

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Surely Andy Murray will win Sports Personality of the Year having won the Davis Cup for Britain pretty much on his own?  I can't remember the last time that a supposed team event was dominated so much by one individual...he is the 10/11 favourite and quite rightly so in my book.  Tyson Fury has upset far too many people to be considered a serious contender so Jessica Ennis looks like the one to give Murray the most to think about.

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Did you hear that there was a fire at the Inland Revenue Office in London last night although the fire brigade managed to extinguish it before any good was done!  Have a nice day...

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