Two Ces Runners!

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with flat action from Newmarket, York and Newcastle, while there are jumps fixtures from Chepstow and Hexham.  It is one of those rare days that we have jump racing on, but David is represented on the flat with a couple of runners in the Cesarewitch.  The Cesarewitch takes place at 4.10pm and although it takes places over the marathon trip of 2m2f it is something of a cavalry charge with thirty-four participants.  David runs Starchitect and Ennistown (pictured above) and they both look to hold solid chances - Starchitect is the 8/1 second favourite having won at Salisbury last time from a 7lbs lower mark and he will be partnered by Jamie Spencer.  Ryan Moore is aboard Ennistown who takes a big step up in trip, although he stayed 3m11/2f very well when an easy winner over hurdles at Cartmel last time - I reckon he could run a big race and he can still be backed at 25/1 this morning.

I bet some punters managed to get their fingers burned at Newton Abbot yesterday afternoon when Old Guard was pulled up after making a horlicks of the first fence on his chasing debut.  He was sent off the 1/5 favourite and my betting pals keep telling me never to back these long odds-on shots in chases, especially novices...I reckon they might have a point!  Anyway, he looked none the worse after the race so that is good news.

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England take on Malta today in the football and I have to say that I am struggling to get excited at the prospect.  You can back Malta at 100/1 which is a big price in a two runners race, although it does accurately reflect how much chance they have.  England should win by 5 or 6 goals without breaking a sweat and it is a good opportunity for stand-in manager Gareth Southgate to try out some of the youngsters - lets see if he has the stones to try something different or if he sticks to the tried (over and over again) and not trusted formula

I see that the UK anti-doping chief, Nicole Sapstead has sensationally admitted that no sport is clean, now there is a bold statement!  Doping has been going on for so long that the people involved think they can get away with it.  I keep saying that the penalties have to be a lot tougher - ban cheats for life and then they cannot do it again.

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Every time I pour a round of drinks, they go all over the place...perhaps I need glasses?!  Have a nice weekend...

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