Newton Abbot Runner

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat action from Beverley, Brighton and Leicester (who are inspecting this morning), while there is a jumps fixture from Newton Abbot.  David runs Willem (pictured above) at Newton Abbot in the 6.30pm race - it is a 2m5f handicap chase and our ex-French gelding carries joint top-weight of 11-12.  He ran well on his chasing debut at Fakenham when a narrow runner-up before disappointing last time at Huntingdon.  He has a decent chance if putting his best foot forward although he is not easy to win with.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.

I did say yesterday that Tom Scu's best chance of a winner at Southwell yesterday looked to be Benenden for his brother Michael and so it proved as he won by six lengths.  It would be no surprise to see him turned out again quickly under a penalty before the handicapper gets a chance to reassess him.  I hope a few of you were on.

It is difficult to believe that on the second day of summer we are having to wait on inspections for meetings to go ahead.  Leicester have had an astounding 127mm of rain in the last nine days, while yesterday Chepstow lost their flat card due to waterlogging - the weather has gone mad.

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Well, I was pleased to show a profit on my football bets last night as Wales beat Russia 3-0.  I would have fared much better if England had beaten Slovakia rather than settle for a stagnant 0-0 draw.  England finish runner-up in the group behind Wales and qualify for the next round but I hate to say it, that is about as good as we are.  Roy Hodgson has definitely lost the plot - only Albania have used more than the 19 players Roy Hodgson has fielded.  Unfortunately, even if we played all 19 at the same time I don't think it would make a lot of difference.  We can only get better...can't we?!

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I see that tennis player Maria Sharapova has decided to appeal against the two year drugs ban she is currently serving.  Surely she either took the drugs or she didn't...she must know.  Or have the drug agency made a mistake?  I know who I would sooner believe.

Talking of tennis, there was a strange site on the District line of the London Underground yesterday with Novak Djokovic taking selfies on the tube.  Maybe he was on his way to Wimbledon?  You would have thought he could afford a car (or maybe a cab at worst)!

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When I was a child I remember asking my old dad if I could go ice skating on the frozen lake.  He told me to wait until it was warmer!  Have a nice day...

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