Weekend Winners!

There were a couple of nice winners for the yard over the weekend with Saint John Henry winning the staying handicap hurdle at Warwick on Saturday while Mr Clarkson was successful in the closing bumper at Exeter on Sunday - both were ridden by conditional jockey David Noonan.  Saint John Henry (pictured above) saw the 3m2f trip out very well and looked to win with a little bit in hand so it will be interesting to see what Mr Nasty does to his handicap mark.  Mr Clarkson (pictured below) made a winning debut for the stable having finished runner-up in an Irish point-to-point (behind a horse who has subsequently won under rules) and looks one to look forward to for our new syndicate 'Pipe's Prospectors' once sent hurdling.

Meanwhile Doctor Harper ran a great race to just be denied at Cheltenham, beaten only a short head.  He should be even better on a sounder surface and should not be long in gaining compensation.

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Plumpton and Ayr (who have to pass a 7.30am inspection) as well as an all-weather flat card from Southwell.  David runs classy hurdler Starchitect in the novices' chase at 1.20pm and Top Wood in the Sussex National at 2.50pm.  I thought Starchitect ran an encouraging first race over fences when third in a hot looking contest at Bangor last time and with a clean round of jumping he should go very close.  Top Wood has to shoulder top weight in the Sussex National but he has a touch of class and has been unlucky in some of the best staying handicap chases.  If he manages to avoid trouble in running I could see him surprising a few people.

What did everyone make of the ITV racing coverage.  The job I would like the most on the show is the weather girl - it's raining or it's dry...and she gets paid for it!  I reckon Victoria Pendleton probably knows less about racing than Mrs Barnes - it will be interesting to see how she fares on her second outing at Perth!  It is only now that I have begun to appreciate how good Nick Luck was...hopefully the ITV crew can only improve.

I had a good weekend with my football punting and will be playing up some of my winnings on Leicester to beat Middlesbrough at 19/10 and Everton to beat Southampton at 13/10.  Talking of football what a goal from Olivier Giroud for Arsenal - it was an over the head back heel - he will never score a better goal!

It looks likes Scotsman Gary Anderson can land the darts world title for a third time.  There is a cheque of £350,000 for the winner - whoever would have thought that the prize money in darts would have become that good?

Finally, a thought for the day...is it true that cannibals refuse to eat clowns because they taste funny?  Have a nice day...

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