Two Runners At Rasen!

Today we have four meetings taking place with jumps cards from Newbury, Musselburgh and Market Rasen while there is an all-weather flat fixture from Chelmsford City.  David has a couple of runners at Market Rasen; La Vaticane and Mr Burgees.  La Vaticane (pictured above) contests the three mile Listed mares' chase at 2.45pm and the Post make her a 3/1 chance - she possesses some decent form and looks sure to put up a bold bid.  Meanwhile, Mr Burgees has to shoulder a penalty and top weight in the 2m7 1/2f handicap chase - he was a ready winner at Uttoxeter last week and is 3lbs 'well-in' this afternoon.  Although this is a longer trip, a similar effort should see him go close once again under Tom Scudamore.

The lack of rain certainly seems to be taking it's toll on the jumps tracks.  Newbury host a card which fields two and three runner races - if you get round in the 3.10pm race you will pick up at least £2,000, not bad for a gallop!  At Chepstow yesterday there were 27 non-runners, while Taunton have already abandoned their fixture for next Thursday as the ground is currently firm (hard in places).  It is hardly surprising when you consider that this was the driest October we have had since we have been recording the rainfall with just nine days of rain.

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I did my money last night as Spurs were beaten 1-0 by Leverkusen at Wembley.  The gate at Wembley of 85,512 was a new English club record, but unfortunately for Spurs, like West Ham they do not seem to be able to win away from home.  Manchester United take on Fenerbache tonight in the Europa League and manager Jose Mourinho will be a bit lighter...£58,000 lighter to be exact!  That is what he was fined for his behaviour against Burnley and his comments about the referee before the Liverpool match.  Mind you, it's only money and a mere drop in the ocean compare to what United are paying him!  United are 11/8 chances tonight - surely they can win this match, or have they gone that far backward?

Joey Barton will be made to train with the kids at Rangers.  I am not sure he would act as a good role model for the youngsters, although hopefully they will all have more sense than him.  Rangers are keen to offload him in January.

I see that Lewis Hamilton was wrestling with a tiger in Mexico City.  I thought the advert was to "Put a tiger in your tank"...you oldies will remember that one.

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Researchers claim that trees are not adapting well to climate change and they pine for a simpler time.

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