Horses for Sale

   Tuxedo Junction (GB) 


Exciting dual purpose prospect,
click here for details!

 

    Fighter Allen (FR)  


Exciting new horse with proven form, 
click here for details!

 

 

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with a jumps card for Ffos Las and flat fixtures from Carlisle, Redcar, Leicester and Windsor.  David has one runner today; Elan de Balme who contests the 3m handicap chase at Ffos Las at 3.30pm.  He has a disappointing effort to overcome but had previously looked to be going in the right direction, including when placed at this track.  He has to contend with topweight but Fergus Gillard takes a useful 5lbs off his back.  Cheekpieces are applied for the first time today and if those have a positive effect, he could have each-way prospects in an open looking race.

It is great news that the racecourses can begin to welcome in some paying spectators once again, albeit those in the most expensive enclosures.  Let's hope that they are able to do so safely and that concerns over the Indian variant of Covid-19 does not force an immediate about-turn.

I see there is a 1m4f flat claimer at Leicester this afternoon and I am sure there will be plenty of trainers with a keen eye on the result.  I really don't know why there are not more races like this on the calendar...they generate revenue for the racecourses and give trainers an opportunity to purchase new horses away from the sales ring, it seems like a win-win to me.  These longer races will draw the interest of NH trainers as a source of potential jumpers, whereas the shorter races (of which there are more) will not.

I couldn't quite manage a Guineas double, but I hope that a few of you were on St Marks Basilica in the French 2,000 Guineas at Paris Longchamp yesterday afternoon.  He was the commanding winner, coming well away once taking over inside the final furlong for the Aidan O'Brien team at the rewarding odds of 41/10.  He had given Poetic Flare a decisive beating in the Dewhurst last season and confirmed his superiority here.  He looks a force to be reckoned with over a mile and could be a legitimate challenger to the previous days' Lockinge winner Palace Pier, let's hope the two meet before the end of the season.

*****

Liverpool did themselves a massive favour by coming from behind to beat relegated West Brom 2-1 with their goalkeeper of all people scoring the winning goal in the fifth minute of injury time.  It is the first time that a goalie has scored a goal for Liverpool in their entire history dating back to 1892.  As the race for the Champions League places heats up, the result leaves Liverpool only one point behind Chelsea and three points behind Leicester with two games to play and those two sides set to meet each other.  It would bring some joy to Liverpool following a largely disappointing season only a year removed from their dominant title winning campaign last year.

*****

Thought for the day.  If a child refuses to nap, is it guilty of resisting a rest?!

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