Exeter Double

The stable enjoyed a good weekend with racing on the turf finally allowed to go ahead with Exeter's jumps card yesterday.  As you know, I had my doubts about the meeting getting the green light, but the temperatures rose enough to allow the course to hold an all hurdle/bumper card even if the chases had to be abandoned.  David and Tom Scudamore enjoyed two winners courtesy of Martinhal and Brinkley who both produced excellent performances in really testing conditions.

Martinhal is clearly improving rapidly and followed up his recent course success with another win in the 2m2½f novices' hurdle.  Making all the running, he stole a few lengths entering the straight and he held on bravely from a very useful rival in second.  He is a really likeable sort who should get further in time and is an exciting prospect for the stable.

Brinkley (pictured above (he is grey, honestly!)) was a ready winner of the Pertemps qualifier over 2m7f.  He really enjoyed the testing conditions and came away in the closing stages to record a 3¼ length success.  This was a really good effort from a mark of 140 and he is now eligible for the final of the contest at Cheltenham next month.

Astigar was disappointing in the second division of the novices' hurdle.  He had shown a good deal of promise in two starts prior to this but just seemed to get stuck in the mud.  I am sure there will be plenty of other days for him.

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon which is good news.  The action comes from Warwick over the jumps, Lingfield, where they host an all-weather jumpers bumpers card and Wolverhampton where there is an all-weather flat fixture.  Warwick host their rescheduled card from Saturday which includes a Grade 2 novices' chase and a Listed hurdle - not bad fare for a Monday!

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There are a couple of Premiership football matches taking place tonight with West Ham hosting Sheffield United and Chelsea at home to Newcastle.  They don't look the most competitive of matches and a home double looks by far the most likely result.

India's first innings total of 329 looks very good as England were toppled for just 134 in their first innings.  With the home side having added another 210 runs for 7 wickets, they already hold a commanding advantage of over 400 runs.  England are going to have to do something very special if they are going to get a result out of this.

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What's the worst thing about driving a time machine?  Your kids in the back asking, "Are we then yet?"

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