Runners At Uttoxeter

***Nice Thoughts non-runner
5.30pm Uttoxeter***

There are six meetings taking place this afternoon with flat action from Newbury, Newmarket, Thirsk and Doncaster as well as jump fixtures from Bangor and Uttoxeter.  David has three runners at Uttoxeter this evening; Westbrooke Warrior and Nice Thoughts in the novices' hurdle at 5.30pm as well as Cork Citizen in the three mile handicap chase.  Westbrooke Warrior was sent off favourite for his only start to date in a Ffos Las bumper in December but disappointed on the heavy ground and this surface may bring about some improvement today.  Nice Thoughts was a winner over a mile on the level at Lingfield and has run with credit on both of his starts to date and conditional jockey David Noonan takes 3lbs off his back.  Meanwhile Cork Citizen has some fair form over longer trips although this drop back to three miles should not inconvenience him.

We drew a blank at Aintree last night, although Kie ran a decent race in fourth in the competitive handicap chase, picking up some prize money in the process.  I thought our best chance of the evening was Ballywilliam, although he was withdrawn owing to the drying ground.  Meanwhile, also at the meeting David Noonan was in good form once again, riding a 14/1 winner aboard Ashcott Boy.

There is some excellent action to look forward to this afternoon at Newbury with the Group One Lockinge Stakes the obvious highlight.  The Hannon runner Toormore finished runner-up in this contest last year and ran very well on his seasonal debut at Sandown - he looks set to go one better today.

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There is no Premier League football action this afternoon although there are ten matches taking place tomorrow.  It is play-off day for a number of clubs today and I will be having a little wager on Barnsley at 29/20 and AFC Wimbledon at 6/4.  Talking of football, I struggle to believe that Watford sacked their manager Quique Flores - I thought he did a great job in just keeping the side in the Premier League.  As I said yesterday, it's a funny old game!

Former world number one golfer Rory McIlroy shot a great round of 64 in the Players Championship yesterday.  He should have shot a new course record but decided to play it safe by taking a 3 wood off the tee and ended up making a bogey six.  At present Jason Day just looks different class to everyone else.

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Patient: Doctor Doctor, everybody thinks that I'm a liar!
Doctor: I don't believe it!