Seven Runners

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps racing from Ludlow and our local track, Taunton, as well as an all-weather flat card from Wolverhampton.  There is a busy day ahead for the Pond House team with seven runners; six at Taunton and one at Ludlow.  The first of those is Kolisi, who contests the juvenile hurdle at Ludlow at 12.45pm.  Kolisi was a useful flat performer who has contested two hot races to date.  This represents a drop in class, although he will need to improve on what he has show so far to figure.  Charlie Hammond takes the ride.

Grangeclare Glory (pictured above) runs in the 2m3½f novices' hurdle at 1.00pm.  He won at Newton Abbot in October and followed that up with a good run at Ascot behind a subsequent Grade 2 winner.  He travelled really well at Aintree last time on his first try at three miles before plainly failing to get home.  This return to shorter should certainly help and whilst he has a bit to find with the favourite, he has sound each-way prospects under Tom Scudamore.

Ben Lilly is the first of three runners for the David Pipe Racing Club as he contests the maiden hurdle at 1.30pm.  A useful flat performer at staying trips on the level, where he won seven times and reached a rating in the early 90's.  He has done plenty of schooling at home and if taking to hurdles on the track, he could go well under Fergus Gillard.

Titian and Drag Race contest the second division of the maiden hurdle at 2.00pm.  Titian was another classy recruit from the flat and has been highly tried to date.  He ran better when fourth at Kempton at the end of December and further improvement would give him each-way claims with Tom Scudamore in the saddle.  Drag Race was a winner on the flat last time out, showing a willing attitude and she could go well at a big price.  She gets plenty of weight from her rivals and Philip Armson takes a further 7lbs off her back.

Leoncavallo runs in the 2m3f handicap hurdle at 3.00pm.  As tough and consistent as they come, he has finished in the frame on each of his four starts so far this season.  The trouble is, he remains on the same mark as he was at the start of the campaign and as such, remains vulnerable to young improvers.  He fully deserves to get his head in front as doesn't know how to run a bad race and has solid place prospects again today with Tom Scudamore in the saddle.

Miss M is our final runner in the 2m½f mares' handicap hurdle at 4.05pm.  She ran better last time when fifth at Uttoxeter, finding the 2m4f trip too far for her.  The return to shorter will help, whilst she is 4lbs lower in the weights.  The rain-softened ground would probably be the biggest concern, but if she handles it , she is another with place claims with Philip Armson taking 7lbs off her back.

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England's cricketers managed to hang on by the skin of their teeth to force a draw in the fourth Ashes test on Friday.  Australia managed to claim nine wickets but could not quite get over the line.  Meanwhile, still in Australia, there was controversy when a judge ruled that Novak Djokovic was allowed to remain in the country to compete in the Australian Open tennis.

Mark Williams produced a vintage performance to see off defending champion Yan Bingtao in the Masters snooker yesterday, whilst Neil Robertson was far too good for Anthony McGill.  John Higgins plays Zhao Xintong this afternoon, whilst Shaun Murphy takes on Barry Hawkins tonight.

Yesterday marked the final day of the NFL regular season and whilst eliminated from the play-offs, the Vikings signed off with a win against divisional rivals, the Chicago Bears.  Whilst they posted a good performance, in one of life's little ironies, it is a game I wouldn't have minded if they had lost as it would have secured a better position in the next draft!

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What do laywers wear in court?  Lawsuits.