A Busy Day Ahead!

There are just two meetings taking place today with jumping action from Sedgefield and our local track at Exeter.  Over in Ireland there is also a terrific looking card featuring the Irish Gold Cup.  It is going to be a busy day for David as he has no fewer than eight runners at Exeter; Mr Clarkson, Taws, Lady Of Longstone, Red Sherlock, Virtuel d'Oudon, Eamon An Cnoic, Katkeau and Shotavodka.  Mr Clarkson (pictured above) has won both his starts at the track since joining Pond House and he contests the opening race at 1.50pm - the slight step up in trip ought to suit and he looks a useful novice, although he will need to be conceding a penalty to most of his rivals.

Taws goes in the Listed novices' hurdle and it looks a hot race with plenty of winners in opposition including Grade One winner Finian's Oscar.  Taws had some good form on the level.  David runs four in the Pertemps qualifier at 2.50pm and Tom Scu has opted for Eamon An Cnoic.  Red Sherlock makes his eagerly awaited reappearance in the same race - he has only met with defeat once in seven starts and that was behind Faugheen at the Cheltenham Festival, but he does have a layoff of over 1,000 days to overcome and he is entitled to improve. Virtuel d'Oudon will be ridden by David Noonan and Lady of Longstone will be partnered by Michael Heard - Dell' Arca is a non-runner here.

The veteran's series is always well-received and David runs two in the series qualifier; Katkeau and Shotavodka.  They are a great pair to have in the yard and retain all of their zest and enthusiasm.  Between them they probably know as much about racing as the trainer!  I must congratulate Exeter on a job well done, securing good prize money for this meeting.  They have been rewarded with quality fields and I hope they get a good turn out of spectators.

Can you believe that a lot of the jockeys have metal detectors?  Sam Twiston-Davies, Nick Scholfield, Tom Cannon, Tom O'Brien and even Tom Scudamore to name but a few.  So, if you see anyone walking around the golf course looking at the floor it will be one of the jockeys looking for the loose change they have dropped!

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Premier League leaders Chelsea travel to Burnley today at 1.30pm and ought to win, mind you they are only 4/9 chances.  Meanwhile, the big game is Swansea against reigning title holders Leicester at 4pm.  How have Leicester become so poor so quickly?  It seems that the other sides have worked out how to play them...either that, or the players are not putting it all in...probably a bit of both.  I will be having an interest on Swansea at 6/4.

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At least the Eurostar is comfortable...it is murder on the Orient Express!

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