New Year Cheer!

    Champers on Ice runs at Cheltenham

The good news is that Exeter has passed it's inspection and racing goes ahead!  So today we have six meetings, jumps cards at Cheltenham, Musselburgh, Catterick, Fakenham and Exeter plus a flat card at Southwell.  David has three runners at Cheltenham, Champers on Ice, Alternatif and Batavir and all are ridden by Tom Scu.  Champers on Ice won on soft going at Newbury last time out but has to give weight away to some useful opposition.  It looks a good race but there is no reason why he should not go close.  Alternatif is favourite in the Racing Post for the 12.45pm handicap chase.  He won with any amount in hand at Fontwell last time out.  Although this is only his fourth start over fences he jumps well, stays well and hopefully he should run well.  Batavir runs in the 2.30pm handicap hurdle.  He was third last time in the Fixed Brush hurdle at Haydock although he was beaten a fair way.  He is five pounds higher today than his winning mark but cheekpieces are on and with a little improvement hopefully he can be competitive.

David has five runners at Exeter and four of them are in the 1.10pm maiden hurdle.  Iniciar (Kieron Edgar), Pilgrims Bay (Conor O'Farrell), Still Together (Brian Toomey) and The Minkle (Ian Popham) make up the quartet.  David also runs Cheap As Chips in the 2.55pm.  She has not run for over 600 days but she works well at home and it is just great to get her back on the track.

I have had a quick look at the Fairyhouse card and Ruby Walsh is only booked for one ride in the 2.35pm, Sambremont.  It is 8/13 in the Racing Post and looks the banker on the card.

Claudio Ranieri says Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are staying at Leicester.  Just wait until one of the big clubs offers £25 million and we will see how long they are staying.  Money talks.

It was a shame that Phil Taylor lost in the last 16 of the darts.  He is 55 years of age and I just hope he does not try and continue playing too long and starts losing to players he would have murdered in his prime!  You have to know when it is time to retire, mind you I still think AP would have won another jockeys title!

How do you make a horse box?  Stick him in the ring with Mike Tyson!  Have a nice day.