Iniciar Impressive!

What a performance yesterday from travelling head lad Bob Hodge!  He did a great job in getting Worcester winner Iniciar to jump off having looked a little reluctant at the start.  Of course Iniciar and Daryl Jacob did the rest, but Bob was certainly the unsung hero of the hour.  The application of first time blinkers certainly seemed to bring about some improvement as our gelding came home 11 lengths clear, albeit driven right out by his rider.  Iniciar has plenty of ability but clearly has a few of his own ideas and I reckon this was a great training performance by David.

Today we have four meetings with three flat cards from Doncaster, Carlisle and Kempton as well as a National Hunt card from Uttoxeter.  David has one runner this afternoon as recent Sedgefield second Skylander bids to atone for an unlucky defeat in the 2m7 1/2f handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter.  Michael Heard pulled off an amazing recovery last time when he looked to be all but out of the saddle, yet he was only beaten a head.  He runs from the same mark (and is due to go up a further 1lb in future handicaps) so a similar effort should see him go close once again.  Michael Heard once again claims a handy 5lbs off his back.

What a line-up they have for the Leger Legends this afternoon at Doncaster on the first day of their St Leger fixture.  There is a stellar line-up of jockeys (and Luke Harvey!) with Richard Huges, Joseph O'Brien, George Duffield among the competitors.  Gay Kelleway looks interesting aboard Hijran with the filly having some good form (and that is just the horse!).

I see that Uttoxeter are the latest track to trial the padded hurdles that have been in use at Newton Abbot for the last couple of years.  If it helps to make racing safer, it has to be considered a good thing.  As well as Newton Abbot, Taunton and Bangor already have them.  The hurdles cost £30,000 so it is quite an expense for the course, but what price can you put on safety?

*****

Our under 21 football squad beat Norway 6-1 with Marcus Rashford scoring a hat-trick.  These are the youngsters who they should be using in the senior side at the moment, gaining experience.  They are the future of the national side, not the failures representing us at the moment.  Speaking of which, they are even talking of bringing back Jermaine Defoe - at the age of 33, how can he be considered England's best option?  Having said that, Harry Kane is not scoring many goals and again looked out of sorts against Slovakia.

*****

My mate has been hanging out at the gym...I did tell him he should wear a bigger pair of shorts!

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