Wincanton, Southwell Runners

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Southwell, Wincanton and Plumpton.  David has four runners today with Doyen La Lutte and Miss M running at Southwell and Pachacuti and Do Ya Feel Lucky at Wincanton.  Doyen La Lutte is the first of them as she contests the 2m4½f mares' novices' handicap hurdle at 2.45pm.  She finished a good second at Wincanton last time out from a 3lbs lower mark and the return to a left-handed track should suit.  Fergus Gillard is in the saddle once again and takes 3lbs off her back and she looks to hold solid claims.

Miss M (pictured above) is our other Southwell runner in the 3m½f handicap chase at 4.30pm.  A dual winner at the track, she has been running creditably and has become well-treated from a mark of 79.  She seemed to see this trip out okay at Taunton on her penultimate start and this better ground should also suit.  With plenty in her favour, she looks to have each-way claims with Philip Armson taking the ride.

Pachacuti runs in the 1m7f maiden hurdle at Wincanton at 3.30pm.  He confirmed the promise of his bumper effort when runner-up in an Exeter novices' hurdle last time.  He has a little bit to find on official figures, but is open to plenty of improvement on only his fourth start over timber.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle and he looks to have place prospects.

Our final runner is Do Ya Feel Lucky who contests the 2m5½f handicap hurdle at 5.40pm.  She won at Worcester last summer and was unlucky not to follow-up at Newton Abbot and is now lower in the handicap.  She has claims on that basis, although she has a couple of disappointing efforts to overcome.  The sounder surface should suit and she could outrun her odds with Tom Scudamore in the saddle.

Although we drew a blank over the weekend, Panic Attack ran a creditable third in the 2m4f handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter and would have finished closer but for an error in the closing stages.  Meanwhile, El Paso Wood ran a great race to finish fourth in the Midlands National from 4lbs out of the weights.

*****

There was more misery for the Everton fans yesterday after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Crystal Palace, losing 4-0.  Manchester City also put four past Southampton, who I thought may give them more to do.  Liverpool also progressed, beating Nottingham Forest 1-0.

There was an eventful opening Grand Prix at Bahrain yesterday with Charles Leclerc leading home a Ferrari 1-2 ahead of a surprisingly competitive pair of Mercedes.  The Red Bull's who had been running second and fourth, both retired with just a few laps to go, so they have some work to do on their reliability.  McLaren, who had shaped quite well during winter testing, looked woeful and it just goes to show how misleading those times can be.

*****

Did you know that a plateau is the highest form of flattery?!