Fontwell Runner

Above: Nordic Combined makes his debut in
 the David Pipe Racing Club colours today

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Fontwell and Catterick whilst there are two all-weather flat fixtures from Lingfield and Kempton.  David has one runner today as Nordic Combined makes his debut for the David Pipe Racing Club at Fontwell in the 1.30pm race.  Nordic is a talented individual, although he does have the odd quirk and consequently doesn't win as often as he might.  Even so, he put up a good performance when bolting up at Taunton last season from a 1lb lower mark (with favourite Mount Windsor 13 lengths behind) and he has obvious claims on that form.  The favourite has improved since then to win his last three starts but as a result we are 18lbs better off.  Fergus Gillard is in the saddle and takes 5lbs off his back and Nordic Combined looks to have a good chance, especially if there is significant rain.

Nordic Combined should certainly give racing club members a lot of fun.  If you would like to join the action, you can find out more details by clicking here...

I see that it is legendary Irish owner JP McManus 70th birthday today.  Mr McManus has been an incredible supporter of jumps racing on either side of the Irish Sea for many years with hundreds of horses in training, keeping countless people within the industry employed.  Many happy returns.

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Liverpool are in Champions League action tonight as they take on RB Leipzig for a place in the quarter-finals and they will be glad of their two goal advantage courtesy of the first leg.  Liverpool have had a torrid run in the Premiership, losing their last six home matches and they will be desperate to get a result here with little else going right for the reds.

Following their defeat against United at the weekend, Manchester City get the ideal opportunity to bounce back against struggling Southampton, whose only recent victory has come against bottom-placed Sheffield United.  Surely I couldn't hex City again?!

Tennis legend Roger Federer comes back from over a year off-court following two knee surgeries tonight as he takes on Britain's Dan Evans in the Qatar Open.  It is a long absence to overcome and represents a good opportunity for Evans.  Even so, they say class is permanent and that may well see Federer through.

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Times New Roman, Calibri and Arial walk into a bar.  The barman says, "Get out, we don't want your type in here!"