Runners At All Jumps Meets

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Plumpton, Stratford and Taunton as well as an all-weather flat card from Wolverhampton.  There is a busy day ahead for the Pond House team with six runners spread across the three jumps meetings.  Unfortunately Cadeau d'Or and Pachacuti are non-runners, but that still leaves us with Ladykiller and Abaya du Mathan at Taunton, Dell' Arca (pictured above) at Plumpton and Morgenstern and Al Roc at Stratford.

Morgenstern is our first runner at 1.45pm as he contests the 2m1f novices' handicap chase.  A winner in France, he ran creditably on his first start over fences in this country when fourth at Chepstow and went close to winning over timber when runner-up at Wetherby.  He has a couple of disappointing efforts to overcome but is not out of things on his best form and could outrun his odds under Philip Armson.

Ladykiller runs in the 2m3f handicap hurdle at Taunton at 2.00pm.  A quality performer on the flat in Germany, he is yet to match that form over timber.  He is blinkered for the first time since his flat days and has the ability to be involved if putting his best foot forward.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.

Evergreen veteran Dell'Arca contests the 3m1f handicap hurdle at Plumpton at 2.10pm.  He is now 4lbs lower than when a good second at Chepstow in December.  He retains all of his enthusiasm and with conditions to suit, he should go well with Fergus Gillard in the saddle.

Al Roc runs in the 2m6½f handicap chase at Stratford at 2.55pm.  He ran much better when third at Plumpton on his penultimate start and is 10lbs lower today.  This shorter trip looks sure to suit and he could outrun his odds under Philip Armson.

Abaya du Mathan is our final runner as he contests the 2m handicap chase at Taunton at 4.20pm.  He has some decent bits and pieces of form since arriving from France, although he has a disappointing effort to overcome last time.  Martin McIntyre takes the ride.

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Liverpool cut Manchester City's lead at the top of the Premier League to just three points with victory over Brighton at the weekend, although City have the chance to extend that tonight as they visit Crystal Palace.

Former world number one and world champion Judd Trump looks to be peaking at just the right time with the World Championships snooker starting next month.  He was an easy winner of the inaugural Turkish Masters yesterday with a commanding 10-4 win over Matthew Selt, capped by a maximum 147 break.

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A furniture store keeps calling me. All I wanted was one night stand.