Haydock & Huntingdon

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Haydock, Huntingdon and Ascot as well as all-weather flat action from Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  David has four runners today; Trusty Scout at Huntingdon and Brinkley, Martinhal and Ramses de Teillee at Haydock.

Trusty Scout contests the 2m maiden hurdle at Huntingdon at 12.15pm.  A winner on the flat over 1m1f, the sharp nature of the track should suit him and he has schooled well at home.  David Noonan takes the ride and looks to have each-way claims.

David is doubly represented in the Stayers' handicap hurdle - a race he has won in the past with the likes Grands Crus, Dynaste, Gevrey Chambertin and Main Fact last year.  Brinkley is a lovely prospect who did very well last season, winning twice before finishing midfield in the Pertemps final at the Cheltenham Festival on ground that was too quick for him.  He makes his seasonal debut today and has to concede weight to all bar one of his rivals.  He should go well under Tom Scudamore, although he would ideally prefer more give in the ground.

Martinhal is another progressive type who scored twice last season.  He steps up to this trip for the first time today and it looks likely to suit, although he is another who may prefer softer ground.  Richard Patrick is in the saddle.

Our final runner is popular grey, Ramses de Teillee, who runs in the 3m1½f handicap chase at 3.35pm.  He ran a nice race on his seasonal reappearance over hurdles at Newton Abbot last month and despite his welter burder, he looks reasonably treated from a mark 2lbs lower than when winning at Cheltenham last season.  He jumps and stays well and looks to have decent claims with Fergus Gillard taking 3lbs off his back.  Whilst effective under prevailing conditions, he is another that would ideally prefer softer ground.

We hit the crossbar several times yesterday.  It is a little frustrating to keep filling the places, but at least it shows the horses to be in good order - the wins will surely follow.  Last Quarter fared best of our runners when a narrow runner-up in the maiden hurdle at Chepstow.  The longer trip of 2m3½f seemed to help him and he looks a smashing type going forward - a real, old-fashioned staying chaser in the making.  Induno stayed on to finish third in the handicap hurdle earlier in the day, looking like he would improve for more of a test of stamina, whilst Morgenstern ran a nice race to finish fourth in the novices' handicap chase on his first start in this county.  He would probably prefer softer ground.

Over at Ascot, Leoncavallo ran his usual brave race, finishing third behind a couple of lightly-raced improvers.  I know I keep saying it, but he really does deserve a nice prize, but the handicapper continues to have him right where he wants him.

*****

There is plenty of Premier League action to look forward to today with eight matches taking place.  The Leicester City versus Chelsea and Liverpool versus Arsenal matches look the pick to me.

Judd Trump moved into the final of the Champion of Champions snooker tournament with an easy 6-0 victory over Kyren Wilson yesterday.  The worrying part for his potential opponent is that he wasn't at his best either!  He will face either John Higgins or Yan Bingtao in the final tomorrow and it looks as if they will have their work cut out.

*****

Where do you learn to make Knickerbocker Glory's?  At sundae school.