2 Runners At Lingfield

This afternoon there are five meetings taking place with jumps action from Cheltenham, Doncaster and Lingfield while there are a couple of all-weather flat fixtures from Newcastle and Wolverhampton.  David has a couple of runners at Lingfield today; Alternatif and Bella and Tom Scudamore will ride the pair.  Alternatif (pictured above) contests the 2m7 1/2f handicap chase and he is the favourite according to the Post, although at 5/1 the field, it is clearly an open affair.  He has dropped to a reasonable mark and on the pick of his form he would have a decent chance.  Bella ran a cracker when just touched off at Towcester last time but is 4lbs higher this afternoon for getting beaten.  She is a 5/1 shot and should run her usual honest race.  Conditional jockeys David Noonan and Michael Heard have also picked up some outside rides at the meeting.

Racing starts very early today so make sure that you grab the television remote early or bags your seat in the bookies.  The action gets underway at 11.55am with Lingfield kicking things off.  Looking through the Cheltenham card, it must be strange for Sam Twiston-Davies not riding The New One in the International Hurdle for only the second time in his career.  He rides Old Guard for his boss Paul Nicholls while Richard Johnson partners The New One.  Having said that, it is going to be difficult for either of them to concede 8lbs to My Tent Or Yours.

Talking of Sam Twiston-Davies I have heard that his mount Wholestone should be difficult to beat in the 2.25pm race at Cheltenham.  Mind you, I have never known many jockeys to be good judges!

You may recall earlier in the week that we had a short-priced winner when Great Tempo scooted up at Hexham at odds of 1/25 (pictured right).  What you maybe don't know is that Tom Scudamore's dad Peter was on hand to greet him in the winners' enclosure.  Peter was beaten aboard Kabartaylar when second at odds of 1/8 at Ludlow in 1989.  Thankfully Tom was able to go one better!

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It looks like all the good football matches have been scheduled for tomorrow.  Today I will be having a little interest on Arsenal at 4/11, Manchester City at 8/11 and Swansea at 6/5...you heard it here first.

Just when I thought that England were making a better fist of things in the cricket against India, the home team look to be building a big score.  This looks like heading for a draw although you can never rule out an England batting collapse.

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I thought I had found the perfect website to overcome my fear of flying...until it crashed!  Have a nice weekend...

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