3 Bangor Runners

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Musselburgh and Bangor while there is an all-weather flat card from Newcastle.  David has three runners at Bangor; Cafe de Paris, Red Square Revival and Celebre d'Allen.  Cafe de Paris contests the 1.15pm race, a 3m handicap chase - this multiple French winner has shaped with some promise in this country although he will need to improve further if he is to land this under Michael Heard.  Red Square Revival runs in the novices' hurdle at 2.20pm.  He was a bumper winner on his racecourse debut before disappointing on his first start over hurdles at Ayr, I am sure he is better than that.  Celebre d'Allen is our last runner of the day in the bumper at 3.50pm - he was in with every chance when falling at the last in an Irish point-to-point, form which gives him a good shout here.  Tom Scudamore took a horrible fall yesterday and has decided to take the day off, as such David Noonan will take the rides aboard Red Square Revival and Celebre d'Allen.

I thought that Starchitect jumped nicely yesterday to finish third in a decent novices' chase on his second start over fences and he looks as though it will not belong before he is winning in that sphere.  Top Wood also performed creditably to finish fifth, beaten only 6 lengths in the Sussex National under the big weight of 12-1 and he deserves to win a nice prize.  Meanwhile conditional jockey David Noonan was among the winners again yesterday as he rode outside mount Johns Luck to victory at Plumpton and now only needs another six winners to ride out his claim.

It is Towcester clerk of the course Robert Bellamy's birthday today.  Robert was a conditional jockey for Martin and used to run around the yard with an empty clipboard trying to look busy!  Many happy returns Robert.

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We must start using replay technology in Premier League football matches.  Referee Mike Dean is not too old to officiate these matches - he sent off West Ham's Sofiane Feghouli - even the experts in the studio said he had it completely wrong.  Also, Manchester United's second goal was clearly offside - we must implement technology for these important decisions.  I will be having a little trixie on Stoke at 5/6 to beat Watford, Crystal Palace at 5/6 to beat Swansea and Arsenal at 5/6 to beat Bournemouth.

Michael Van Gerwen picked up the £350,000 first prize for winning the world darts at the Ally Pally yesterday as he beat Gary Anderson 7-3 in a one-sided final.

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I certainly seem to buy a lot of alcohol...I hope I am not a shopaholic!