Rasen Runners

***Update – Wincanton Abandoned***

There are four meetings this afternoon (inspections allowing) with jumps action scheduled at Leicester, Market Rasen and Wincanton while there is a most-weather card from Chelmsford City.  If all the racing goes ahead without a problem David will run Martabot at Wincanton in the 1m7 1/2f handicap hurdle at 2.15pm - our five year old has not run for 907 days but he had some fair form in France and David Noonan takes 3lbs off his back.  Meanwhile, we will also have three runners at Market Rasen courtesy of Vincent's Forever, Susie Sheep and Chic Theatre (pictured above).

Vincent's Forever was an 82 rated flat performer for John Gosden where he was twice a winner.  He has schooled well at home ahead of this hurdles debut and he should go well.  Susie Sheep contests the novices' handicap chase at 1.55pm and she ran well without quite getting her head in front the last time we saw her.  The step-up in trip to three miles should suit her and she has fair claims, while Chic Theatre has been running in better races than the 2.25pm and he also looks to have decent prospects from a mark of 115.

The Tingle Creek at Sandown is looking like a real conundrum from a betting point of view with Douvan being backed from 5/1 to 4/7 after he was added to the re-offered race.  He has now drifted to 6/4 in the wake of support for stablemate Un de Sceaux - it looks like someone is going to get their fingers burned, although as yet I can't decide if it is the punters or the bookies.  Douvan's regular pilot, Ruby Walsh described the bookies who priced him up at those generous early odds as 'mad in the head'.

Former Pond House jockey Rodi Greene is shortlisted for a Performance Development Coach of the Year award.  Rodi was a good, strong jockey for us during his time at the yard and he was a real grafter.  He famously rode Ilnamar to glory in the 2002 Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival and we wish him the best of luck with his nomination (even though I am not keen on his hat in today's Racing Post!).

I see that official figures have suggested that there are now a further 2890 gaming machines in the betting shops since 2015.  That is inspite of a decrease in the number of shops (there are now 163 less than in 2015).  It would seem that the gaming machines are the only things that are keeping the High Street bookmakers in business - a shame really, but you hardly ever see anybody rushing to the counter to have a wager on the horses or the dogs - they would rather gamble on a 'virtual ball' on a 'virtual wheel' or have a flutter on some 'virtual horses' on a 'virtual track'...what on earth is the world coming to?

I don't want to talk about football this morning!  Who wants to win the EFL Cup anyway?!  I'm really not upset that my beloved Hammers lost 4-1 to Manchester United last night.  Meanwhile Arsenal lost to Southampton last night in front of a half empty Emirates Stadium.

It pains me to say it, but I have a sore throat!  Have a nice day...

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