Ascot, Haydock Runners

We have four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Ascot, Haydock and Newcastle, while there is an all-weather flat fixture from Lingfield.  There is some excellent racing to look forward to and David has runners at Ascot and Haydock.  He runs French Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Festival winner Un Temps Pour Tout (pictured above) in the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.  He is clearly better than his last run in the Hennessy and would have been a lot shorter in the market without that effort - he looks to have place prospects in the hands of Tom Scudamore.

Over at Haydock David runs Eamon An Cnoic, Batavir, Top Wood and Great Tempo.  The action starts early with Eamon An Cnoic (pictured right) contesting the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle 

at 11.50am - he was a winner last time out and looks to have a good chance under David Noonan.  Batavir goes in the 2m7f handicap hurdle at 12.55pm - his latest run should have put him spot-on but this does look like a competitive race.

Top Wood was unlucky once again at Cheltenham last time when badly hampered and unseating his rider at the fourth last when still in with every chance - a reproduction of his best form would give him a chance and Michael Heard takes a handy 5lbs off his back.  Great Tempo is our final runner in the 2m3f handicap hurdle at 3.15pm.  He was a facile winner of a small race at Hexham last time and is at the right end of the handicap with his weight for age allowance meaning that he only has 10-0 to carry less David Noonan's 3lbs claim - he looks sure to go well.  Hopefully we will be celebrating a winner or two tonight!

Saint John Henry finished unplaced at Uttoxeter yesterday afternoon and surely it is about time that the handicapper dropped him from his current rating of 121?  He is still 8lbs higher than his last winning mark which was almost two years ago (February 2015) - it is coming up to Christmas, how about the assessor shows a bit of festive cheer?!

Stable jockey Tom Scudamore was at Olympia last night for the International Horse Show for the jump jockeys versus flat jockeys showjumping challenge.  Frankie Dettori, Richard Johnson and Sam Twiston-Davies were also in action.

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It looks as though England are going to need around 500 runs to be safe in the fifth and final test match against India.  Ali was out just short of his 150 - they set him up with a bouncer and three fielders waiting for the catch.

I will be have a little double on West Ham at 4/6 and Stoke at 8/5 to put the bread on the table in the Barnes' household as we approach Christmas week.  My mate tells me that the mighty Hammers were terrible against Burnley the other night so I am expecting an improved performance today.

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Thought for the day...for a lion to become a cannibal, first he must swallow his pride!

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