4 Runners At Kempton

Another cold start to the day with temperatures at -3ºc this morning with plenty of frost about.  The good news is that the wind is lighter this morning meaning the cold is not as biting.  It wasn't enough to save the turf cards with Doncaster and Huntingdon abandoned earlier in the week, whilst Ffos Las were forced to cancel yesterday.  That leaves us with a jumpers bumper card from Kempton and an all-weather card from Newcastle.  Newcastle need to pass a 10am inspection, something they failed to do yesterday - let's hope they have better luck today.  David has four runners at Kempton today; Home Farm House, Major Robinson, Iron Heart and To Fly Free.

Home Farm House makes her debut for the stable in the mares' bumper at 1.05pm.  She was the winner of her only start to date in an Irish point-to-point just over a year ago.  She is a nice mare but is entitled to improve for the experience.  Fergus Gillard takes the ride and takes 5lbs off her back.

Major Robinson runs in the 2.05pm race.  A bumper winner in Ireland, he produced a decent effort when third at Newbury on his penultimate start before finding the ground too testing last time.  A reproduction of his Newbury effort would give him each-way claims under David Noonan.

Iron Heart contests the 2.40pm race.  A dual-winner on the level last season, including on the all-weather, he has finished in the frame in two of his three starts over hurdles.  He receives weight from all of his rivals and Fergus Gillard is able to claim 5lbs off his back.  Looks to have good each-way claims.

Our final runner is To Fly Free (pictured above) who runs in the colours of the David Pipe Racing Club in the mares' bumper at 3.10pm.  A winner in France on the flat, she has shown a likeable attitude in winning over timber but this does look a hot contest with the likely favourite a very smart performer over jumps.  She gets a four year old's weight allowance but would need to improve to figure under Dougie Costello.

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Manchester City, Leicester and Sheffield United all progressed to the quarter finals of the FA Cup last night, whilst Everton joined them courtesy of a classic match against Spurs.  Everton won 5-4 with the decisive goal coming in the seventh minute of extra time.

There was a shock in the Australian Open tennis this morning as defending women's champion Sofia Kenin was knocked out in straight sets in the second round.  Rafa Nadal is in action in the men's tournament a little later on today.

Ronnie O'Sullivan was in tremendous form in the Champions League snooker yesterday, winning four matches and scoring six centuries, including three in succession as he beat Mark Selby 3-1 last night to head his round robin group.

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Apparently a lorry carrying Worcestershire sauce crashed earlier today.  When asked for a status update police officials said it was hard to say!

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