4 Runners At Chepstow

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Chepstow, Huntingdon and Sedgefield as well as an all-weather flat fixture from Southwell.  David has four runners today at Chepstow; Red Lion Lad, Eamon An Cnoic, Poker Play and Barrier Peaks.  Red Lion Lad contests the 2m3½f maiden hurdle at 1.20pm.  An Irish point-to-point winner, he  produced a promising first effort under rules when third at Exeter but was a little disappointing next time in really testing conditions at Ffos Las.  A reproduction of his first effort would give him each-way claims under Tom Scudamore.

Eamon An Cnoic (pictured above) contests the 2m handicap hurdle at 1.55pm.  He was the easy winner of a conditional jockeys' hurdle last time out at Sandown, scoring by 20 lengths and the handicapper has reacted by putting him up 11lbs in the weights.  He is able to compete from his old mark today without a penalty, meaning that he is 11lbs 'well-in' whilst Fergus Gillard is able to claim his full 5lbs allowance today as well.  He should win this providing the race has not come too soon for him.

Poker Play runs in the Pertemps qualifier, a 2m7½f handicap hurdle at 2.57pm.  He ran his best race for some time when runner-up at Plumpton last time and is only 1lb higher today.  He loves soft ground and if he can build on his latest effort he would have every chance under Fergus Gillard.

Our final runner is Barrier Peaks who contests the concluding bumper at 4.35pm.  It is difficult to know what to make of this race as there is not an abundance of form to go on.  Barrier Peaks makes his racecourse debut this afternoon.  He is sure to learn plenty for this experience but he goes nicely at home and looks to have claims under Tom Scudamore.

Mr Clarkson took a step forward in the 3m handicap hurdle at Doncaster yesterday, finishing fifth at big odds.  A tough and genuine individual, he could probably just do with a bit of help from the handicapper.  Nordic Combined finished fifth at Ludlow and he may be better suited to a more galloping track.

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There were good results for the English football teams in Europe last night as Manchester City and Spurs both won convincingly.  There is Europa Cup action tonight with both Leicester and Manchester United in action at home.

England's cricketers have their backs against the wall after a disastrous first day to the third test.  England's batsmen collapsed from 74-2 to 112 all out and resume this morning with the hosts on 99-3.  The pink ball match was expected to suit seam bowlers better but with Patel taking six wickets for India, it would seem that is not the case.  A lot rests on Somerset's spinner Jack Leach today.

It was back down to earth with a bang yesterday for last week's Welsh Open snooker winner Jordan Brown as he was beaten 6-0 by John Higgins in the Players' Championship.  Neil Robertson takes on Kyren Wilson this afternoon in what should be an interesting match.  Robertson looked in tremendous form in the previous round and will be very difficult to beat if maintaining that level.

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 I rang up British Telecom the other day.  I said, "I want to report a nuisance caller", he said "Not you again".