Open Meeting, Day One

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Cheltenham and Newcastle and all-weather flat fixtures from Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  Today is the first day of Cheltenham's Open meeting and David has four runners, although three of those come in the amateur riders' race.  Impulsive American (pictured above) takes in the two mile handicap chase at 1.30pm and it is very competitive as you would expect.  The Post make our four year old a 7/1 chance - he always seems to run his race and seems to go on any ground.  This is as hard a test as he has faced but he still has each-way prospects under Tom Scudamore.

The amateur riders handicap chase takes place at 3.50pm and David runs What A Moment (who the post make the 5/1 favourite), Top Wood (10's) and For 'N' Against (a 25/1 chance).  This is another open looking race and I would not put you off backing either What A Moment or Top Wood who are partnered by Festival winner Richard Harding and Kerry National winning rider Lisa O'Neill respectively.  For 'n' Against is partnered by stable amateur Rex Dingle - he has been in good form this season but would need to improve again to figure here.

We finished up with a pair of seconds at Towcester yesterday as both Tobacco Road and Bella ran very well without quite getting their heads in front.  They both showed that they should be winning before too long providing the handicapper gives them a fair crack of the whip.

It was a costly day for Nick Scholfield as his trip from Towcester to Ludlow cost him a fine of £140 when he was five minutes late to take the ride aboard Miss Serious in Ludlow's 3.05pm race.

We could soon be seeing a new jump jockey, Cevin Chan who has been the German champion for the last seven years.  He is going to be riding out for Willie Mullins during the winter months and I would not be at all surprised were he to pick up a spare ride or two.  Meanwhile, I see that top lady jockey Nina Carberry is going to miss the remainder of the jumps season as she will be putting up overweight!  I am joking of course, Nina is pregnant with her first baby.

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England play Scotland tonight on ITV at 7.45pm.  England are a best priced 2/5 and they should win, although those are hardly attractive odds.

I would rather not talk about the cricket.  My bet on Joe Root to be the top first innings run scorer was looking great until Stokes chipped in with a cracking 128...how many times was he dropped though?!  The pitch is beginning to crack up but still looks like a good batting wicket.  A draw looks much the likeliest result.

How on earth can Maria Sharapova be reinstated as UN Goodwill Ambassador...surely I must be missing something?

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I used to date a girl who worked at an organ donor clinic.  I had to dump her when I found out she was only after my body!  Keep smiling...

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