Busy at Uttoxeter

       Katkeau returns to Uttoxeter

There are three meetings today, two jumps cards at Cartmel and Uttoxeter and also a flat card at Windsor.  David has six runners at Uttoxeter, Awesome Tunes, Ennistown, Ballynagour, Katkeau, Top Wood and Standing Ovation.  The big race is the 3.30pm John Smiths Summer Cup and this is where David has four runners.  There are 20 runners in the race over 3m2f.  David Noonan rides Ballynagour who is looking to recapture his form.  He is slowly coming down the weights and on his best form he would have a chance.  Katkeau is the choice of Tom Scu.  He won at the track last time out and will love any rain they get at the track.  Top Wood was running at great race in the Scottish National last time out when he fell and is the the mount of Wayne Hutchinson.  Standing Ovation is also looking to find a bit of form but he comes alive in the summer months, as shown when he won the big race at Newton Abbot last year.  He is ridden by Michael Heard.

Awesome Tunes makes his Pond House debut in the first race at Uttoxeter.  He has won an Irish point to point and runs in the 2m4f maiden hurdle in the colours of Somerset Racing.  Ennistown runs in the 3.00pm and he is also making his stable debut.  David purchased him at the Bloomfields dispersal sale at Cheltenham in April.  He has been working well at home so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.  Tom Scu rides both of these runners.

There is also racing at the Curragh and the big race is the 4.20pm Group 1 for fillies and mares.  There are only five runners for the £250,000 prize money on offer although it is not surprising that Minding has frightened them all off!  She looks a special filly.

Loud bookmaker Barry Dennis says he does not get a buzz anymore from being a bookie.  Mind you, he is 76 and has been betting for nearly four decades.  He says the exchanges have killed the on course bookies.  I know what he means.  Years ago you would have always had two rows of bookmakers at the races and now there are not even one at some tracks.  It is only machines that keep my local betting shop going.  I wonder what will happen in five years time?

The big England football match is tomorrow against Iceland on ITV at 8pm.  There is another big game today however, France v the Republic of Ireland on ITV at 2pm.  Just think if both Ireland and England win they would play each other in the quarter finals on Sunday 3rd July - I can dream!

Black Beauty:  He's a dark horse!  Have a nice day.

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