Leicester Duo

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Catterick and Leicester as well as all-weather fixtures from Newcastle and Chelmsford City.  I should at this point congratulate Newcastle for their effort in putting up £117,000 in prize money for their all-weather card - I am quick to criticise when it comes to the poor prize money often on offer at these fixtures so it is only right that I am lavish with the kudos when they do a good job.  David has a couple of runners today at Leicester as Thunder Pass and Great Tempo represent the stable.  Thunder Pass drops into selling company for the first time at 1.35pm - he was a decent stayer on the flat but is yet to produce that level of form over timber.  He has it to do according to official figures but he could yet improve.  Great Tempo (pictured above) was disappointing on his handicap debut in the fog at Haydock but back in novice company he looks to have a good chance.

Stay Out Of Court finished runner-up in the maiden hurdle at Taunton yesterday behind impressive winner Overland Flyer.  I wonder how good the winner is and more importantly what the handicapper will make of the performance.  Tobacco Road finished fourth in the handicap hurdle, running creditably although he looks like he could do with easing a little in the weights.

I was watching Davy Russell at Hereford yesterday as he steered a couple of winners home, in the process looking different class to his rivals.  Meanwhile Yorkshire trainer Phillip Kirby said it would take them five hours to get home and that Russell would be home in Ireland before them!

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I hope a few of you followed me and had a bit on Southampton to beat Liverpool last night.  The Saints won 1-0, mind you they did get a lot of help from Liverpool who were simply dreadful.  Van Dijk looks a class act at centre back - he had Sturridge in his back pocket all night...it will not be long before one of the big clubs sign him.  Southampton should have won this by three goals so Liverpool will at least have a chance when it comes to the return leg, but they will need to improve.  I am going to have a few quid on Reading at 10/11 tonight to beat QPR - the Londoners look terrible.

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Mrs Barnes says she is leaving me because I am not an effective communicator.  I will drop her an e-mail about it tomorrow!

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