Weekend Jottings

There are (hopefully!) two meetings taking place this afternoon.  Exeter need to pass an early morning inspection if their jumps meeting is to go ahead, whilst there is also an all-weather flat fixture from Southwell.  David is due to have three runners at Exeter today; Martinhal, Astigar and Brinkley.  It would be great if the meeting could go ahead, although I'm afraid I have my doubts.  Temperatures are due to pick up as the day goes on tomorrow but it may just be too late to save the meeting, let's hope not.

Should the meeting go ahead we will be represented by Martinhal (pictured above) in the first division of the 2m2½f novices' hurdle at 1.40pm.  He was a game winner at the track last time out and this slightly longer trip should only be a help to him.  The form of his last win has been well advertised with the third home winning well since at Ascot.  Even so, there are several promising types in the line-up so this is a competitive contest.  Looks to have decent each-way claims under Tom Scudamore.

Astigar contests the second division at 2.10pm.  He has run two really nice races in defeat, just narrowly being touched off by a couple of very promising sorts in a bumper and a novices' hurdle.  This is another competitive race but Astigar is an exciting type going forward and would have an each-way chance with Tom Scudamore in the saddle.

Our final intended runner is Brinkely who contests the 2m7f Pertemps handicap hurdle qualifier at 4.10pm.  He produced an excellent performance when a decisive winner on heavy ground at Wincanton last time out.  He is 10lbs higher this afternoon which obviously makes this more difficult but with Lisnagar Oscar in the line-up Brinkley has a nice racing weight of 10-7.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle and he looks to have a good chance.

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There are four Premiership football matches this afternoon with Arsenal versus Leeds perhaps the most competitive action.

The cricket continues today with India getting the better of day one.  The hosts ended the day on 300-6 and England will be hoping to finish off the tailenders and hit back with a decent innings of their own.

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I was having dinner with chess grandmaster Gary Kasparov the other day and there was a check tablecloth.  It took him two hours to pass me the salt!

Happy Valentine's Day everybody!

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