Club Runner At Cheltenham

Nordic Combined runs at Cheltenham this afternoon (pic courtesy of Kay Hornbrook)

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with a jumps card from Cheltenham, flat fixtures from Newmarket and Beverley and an all-weather card from Kempton.  David has one runner today as Nordic Combined (pictured above) runs in the 2m1f conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at 5pm for the David Pipe Racing Club.  He ran an excellent race to finish runner-up in the two mile Challenger series final at Haydock last time out and runs from the same mark today.  He was also in the process of running a big race at Cheltenham in December when impeded by a faller at the last.  Regular rider Fergus Gillard is in the saddle once again and he looks to have decent each-way claims in a competitive contest.

We drew a blank yesterday at Newton Abbot but Home Farm House was not beaten all that far in the 2m5½f mares' maiden hurdle, showing up well until the last.  She should now be eligible for a handicap mark, whilst Shoot To Fame found things happening a bit quickly for her on this sharp track.  She kept on past some others in the closing stages but looks sure to benefit from a stiffer test of stamina.

Godolphin landed a 1-2 in the Listed Fielden Stakes yesterday afternoon at Newmarket with Highland Avenue getting the better of Secret Protector, the pair of them well clear.  They both look capable of going on to better things this term.  It is the turn of the fillies' today with the Nell Gwyn the highlight of the day two card at 3.35pm.  Love Is You looked very promising in winning her two starts as a two year old and was most impressive in winning a Listed contest at Newbury on heavy ground.  If she handles this sounder surface she must go close.

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Chelsea did enough to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League last night despite losing 1-0 to FC Porto.  The Blues went through 2-0 on aggregate and will now face the winner of the Liverpool, Real Madrid match tonight.  Liverpool have a tough task on their hands as they are two goals down, although they do have an away goal to their name.  Meanwhile, Manchester City are a goal up as they face Borussia Dortmund in their second leg match this evening.

I see that Ronnie O'Sullivan has been stirring the pot ahead of the World Snooker Championships which gets underway in Sheffield on Saturday.  'The Rocket' has accused former champion Mark Selby of being a bad loser following his defeat in an epic semi-final last year.  Why he has decided to wait until now to bring it up is a strange one, but Ronnie has never worried about courting controversy.

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A man was driving along the road when a cat darted out in front of his car.  Unable to stop in time, he ran the cat over and killed it.  Feeling terribly guilty, he picked the cat up and took it to it's owner, an elderly lady.
"I'm really sorry," he said, "but I'm afraid I've run over your cat.  I would like to replace it."
"Sure," said the old lady.  "How are you at catching mice?"