Ayr & Exeter Runners

There are two jumps cards taking place this afternoon with action from Ayr and Exeter while there is also an all-weather flat card at Kempton.  The stable has runners at both National Hunt meetings again with Mr Clarkson, Arkadios, Obistar and Red Square Revival on duty at Exeter, while Starchitect represents the stable at Ayr.  Stable jockey Tom Scudamore has stayed up in Scotland for the ride aboard Starchitect in the novices' chase at 2.20pm.  He was a 150 rated hurdler and looks to have been found a good opportunity here.  Mango Cap is a non-runner in the 2.55pm race following his run at the track yesterday.

Over at Exeter, Mr Clarkson (pictured above) was a winner of a bumper at the track last time out for David's new syndicate 'Pipe's Prospectors' and he makes his hurdling debut this afternoon at 1pm.  Winning jockey David Noonan is in the saddle again today and he looks to have a good chance of following-up.  Arkadios goes in the same race and had some decent form on the level in France although he would need to improve on his Hereford showing to figure.

Obistar makes his chasing debut this afternoon in the three mile novices' chase at 3.15pm.  He will appreciate the testing nature of the ground and track - some of last season's best form would give him a chance and Conor O'Farrell is in the saddle.  Red Square Revival is in the maiden hurdle at 3.50pm - he looked good when winning a bumper on good ground at Worcester but has disppointed in two starts over timber.  The latent ability is clearly there but he will need to improve on what he has shown thus far.

Work was the best of our runners yesterday, shaping with promise in the novices' hurdle at Plumpton.  She stayed on nicely in the closing stages and jumped much better - she should be capable of winning something similar.  Meanwhile, Bella was just run out of second close home in the mares' handicap hurdle, eventually finishing fourth - she looks as though she needs more of a test these days.

I was watching the Masters snooker yesterday afternoon and there was a great match between Mark Allen and John Higgins.  Allen beat Higgins 6-5 in a great final frame to go through to the next round.  Higgins looks tired to me and too many matches like this will do nothing to help that.

Arrowsmith Glen Durrant was considering switching from the BDO to the PDC after winning at Lakeside.  I think if I were him I would stay where I was as that championship is a good deal easier to win than the one at the Ally Pally.

I see that Rory McIlroy's back problem turned out to be a fractured rib.  Now, I know that such an injury is uncomfortable and can severely hamper movement so his recent second in the South African Championships is beginning to look like an incredible effort.  It's amazing what a couple of paracetamol can do!

Did you know that I used to work as a waiter?  The pay wasn't great but at least it put food on the table!  Keep smiling...

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