Bangor, Cheltenham Runners

*** Tobacco Road Non-Runner
3.00pm Bangor***

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with three jumps cards from Cheltenham, Doncaster and Bangor while there is an all-weather flat fixture from Newcastle.  It looks as though Tom Scudamore is going to have a busy day - he rides in the first at Bangor before flying to Cheltenham to ride.  Tom rides Starchitect (pictured above) for David at Bangor on his first start over fences - he was a 150 rated hurdler and was one of the best handicappers around last season.  He was the best of these over timber, has schooled well at home and is expected to go very well.

Tom then goes to Cheltenham to ride Ballynagour in the 1.30pm, a 3m2f handicap chase.  The Post make him a 20/1- he ran a couple of good races over the summer, including when second over this trip at Uttoxeter although he would probably prefer the ground a little softer.  Tom also rides Herbert Park in the 2.40pm which is a three mile handicap hurdle - he was beaten just a neck at Ffos Las last time out and is by no means handicapped out of this from a 3lbs higher mark.  He is a 7/1 chance in the Post and has sound claims.

Port Navas ran creditably at Taunton to finish fourth in the staying handicap hurdle - he was outspeeded from the last and can certainly be winning something similar in the future.

Jockey Andrew Thornton moved closer to his goal of 1,000 winners with a success at Taunton yesterday aboard Laugharne.  He is currently on 997 winners - it does seem like he has been in the nervous 990's for quite a while now.  Both Tom Scudamore and Paddy Brennan have recently passed him to reach the milestone - it must be frustrating to see his younger counterparts getting there before him.

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Manchester United won 2-0 at Zorya in the Europa League.  It was -9°c there last night and you have to question whether they should be playing in these parts at this time of year...I have my doubts.  They play Spurs on Sunday - that will really heat things up!

There was a great 100 from Keaton Jennings in the test match against India and he became the first England test batsman to hit a century on test debut since 2009.  England look to be building up a good first innings score.  Hopefully they will be able to consolidate.

Ali Carter and Ross Muir made maximum breaks of 147 within ten minutes of each other at the qualifying event for the German Masters in Barnsley yesterday.  It should make for an interesting match today as they take each other on for a place in the latter stages of the competition.

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Thought for the day.  I heard that reincarnation is making a comeback!  Have a nice day..

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