Aintree Day Two

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Aintree and Newcastle as well as flat action from Leicester and Wolverhampton.  It is fancy dress day (otherwise known as ladies' day) so the orange brigade will be out in force!  The stable has three runners for the second day of the Grand National meeting; Starchitect, Un Temps Pour Tout and La Vaticane.  Starchitect runs in the 1.40pm and he ran very well to finish a close fifth in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival - the step up in trip looks likely to suit while any drying of the ground could be in his favour.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.  Un Temps Pour Tout (pictured above) is the favourite for the Grade One novices' chase having won at the Festival last time and I think with a clear round he should win, now that's a positive.  La Vaticane competes in the Topham Chase, a thirty runner handicap over the Grand National fences - she jumps well and the trip should suit so she will give Conor O'Farrell a nice ride.

What a great day at Aintree yesterday with the likes of Annie Power and Cue Card both winning impressively.  David was talking to Cue Card's trainer Colin Tizzard after the race and he went into his best Colin Tizzard impersonation...in fairness he sounds very much like him and Colin thought it was hilarious.  Meanwhile, following Annie Power's success Willie Mullins is now only £25,000 behind Paul Nicholls in the trainers' championship.  The outcome could end up being decided by the Grand National itself.

It was a lovely bright day at Aintree yesterday although it was very cold.  I thought that Dynaste (pictured right) ran well to finish fourth to Cue Card and picked up over £8,000 in prize money.  There was a bizarre incident during the race when one of the photographers leaned back on the running rails, dislodging them right in front of Dynaste who ran right through it.  It could have been nasty, especially if the photographer involved had fallen into the path of the horses.  Fortunately for everybody no harm was done.

I recently had flat trainer Dandy Nichols remind me of how I caught him out some thirty years ago at the Newmarket Sales.  He asked me if we wanted a drink to which I replied "yes please"...little did he realise that he was buying for 14 of us and the bill came to £123!  It is not very often you catch someone like Dandy out.

*****

Liverpool managed to get a 1-1 draw at Dortmund last  night and manager Jurgen Klopp received a great reception from his former side.  Liverpool could be a decent side next season if he can sort a few players out.

There was a great round of 66 from Jordon Spieth in the first round of the Masters yesterday.  Apparently A P McCoy is out there spectating - it is a hard life being retired!

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