6 Runners At Exeter

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Leicester, Exeter and Newcastle, whilst there is an all-weather flat fixture from Wolverhampton.  We have had a wet and murky start to the day - let's hope that it is a bit better this afternoon on Haldon Hill as David has six runners today at Exeter; New Age Dawning, El Paso Wood, Seventeen O Four, Affoburg, Paradise Island and Red Happy.

New Age Dawning (pictured above) and El Paso Wood are the first of those as they both contest the 3m novices' limited handicap chase at 1.15pm.  El Paso Wood landed the Somerset National at Wincanton in January and again ran well there last month.  He is higher in the weights as a consequence, but should give a good account once again.  Philip Armson takes 7lbs off his back.  New Age Dawning showed the benefit of his first start after an absence of 1,000 days when winning at Ffos Las in January.  Still only lightly raced, he could improve further yet and is only 1lb higher this afternoon.  Has each-way claims with Tom Scudamore in the saddle.

Seventeen O Four runs in the 2m½f handicap hurdle at 2.55pm.  A winner at Chepstow on his second start over hurdles, he ran well when runner-up to a well-handicapped rival at Sandown last time and is 3lbs lower this afternoon.  He has a good record on testing ground and this stiff track should suit, so he is another with each-way prospects.  Fergus Gillard rides and takes 3lbs off his back.

Finally, we have three runners in the 2m3f handicap chase at 4.05pm.  Red Happy looks to be the pick of those and is the choice of Tom Scudamore.  A multiple winner in France, he ran well for a long way last time in the Devon National when he patently did not stay the 3m6f trip.  This should be more suitable and he could go well at a decent price.  Affoburg and Paradise Island also won plenty of races in France, but need to bounce back from below-par efforts and need to improve to figure here for Philip Armson and Martin McIntyre respectively.

The horses all ran creditably at Wincanton yesterday afternoon with Doyen La Lutte and d'Jango both finishing second.  We put in a good word for Doyen La Lutte, so hopefully a few of you were on each-way at fancy odds.  This was much more like the mare who was only narrowly beaten at Exeter in November, so hopefully she can build on this promise.  Meanwhile, d'Jango looked as though he may score when scooting clear on the home turn but was reeled in after the last.  This was a much better effort and he deserves to land something similar.

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We were right with the football last night with Chelsea pummelling Norwich and Aston Villa giving leads a hammering.  Meanwhile, Newcastle continue to show distinct improvement, winning their fifth game in their last six matches (drawing the other) as they beat Southampton away from home.  Wolves were also impressive, putting four past beleaguered Watford.

Testing is underway at Bahrain ahead of the new Formula One season and whilst there is still over a week until the first race, tensions are already running high with Red Bull suggesting that Mercedes' upgraded sidepods did not conform with the new regulations.  On the back of last season's controversial finish, the new campaign should certainly be spicy!

Ding Junhui produced a good performance to beat Kyren Wilson 5-3 in the Turkish Masters yesterday, whilst Judd Trump and Yan Bingtao had to survive final frame deciders to progress.  John Higgins is among the players in action during this morning's session.

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My friend keeps saying "cheer up man it could be worse, you could be stuck underground in a hole full of water." I know he means well.