Seven Runners At Worcester

We had some pretty heavy showers around Pond House yesterday with 29mm of rain falling in quite a short space of time, whilst there are further weather warnings in place for today.  There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with a jumps card from Worcester, flat fixtures from York and Musselburgh and all-weather action from Wolverhampton and Kempton.  It's a busy day for the stable with no less than seven runners at Worcester.  The track had 25mm of rain overnight, which has altered the going to good (good/soft in places).  Abaya du Mathan is the first of our runners as he contests the 2m4f handicap chase at 4.29pm.  He was a winner under similar conditions at Ffos Las back in April and has each-way chances from a 5lbs higher mark.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.

Red Happy (pictured above) and El Paso Wood contest the 2m7f handicap chase at 5.32pm.  Red Happy was a good second at Bangor last time but remains 7lbs above his last winning mark.  Conditions should suit and he is another with each-way claims under Tom Scu.  El Paso Wood was behind Red Happy last time and has a bit to find on that basis, although he has gone close from this mark previously.  David Noonan takes the ride.

Nibras Gold runs in the 2m novices' hurdle at 6.05pm.  A good winner over course and distance last time, conditions will obviously suit.  He has a bit to find with Light N Strike on official figures, although his best form is over fences and a bit further, so hopefully we can give that one something to think about.  Winning jockey David Noonan rides again.

Awesomedude and Al Roc contest the 2m4f handicap hurdle at 6.40pm and it looks a hot race for the grade.  The former won first time out this season and looked as though this longer trip would suit when staying on last time out, whilst Al Roc has done well over fences and is well treated from this mark, but is yet to prove as effective over the smaller obstacles.

d'Jango is our final runner in the 2m7f handicap hurdle at 7.40pm.  He has won twice here over the distance during the summer and is only 2lbs higher than when successful over fences.  He seems a bit more fluent over hurdles and has each-way claims under Tom Scudamore despite the burden of top weight.

Over on the flat, it is day one of the Ebor meeting at York.  There is some great action to look forward to, not least the unbeaten Baeed in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at 3.35pm and the Group 2 Great Voltigeur at 3.00pm - a recognised St Leger trial.

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Away from racing, the first Test match gets underway today at Lords with England hosting South Africa.  The tourists should provide stern opposition and the two sides recently played out an exciting limited overs series.  It will be interesting to see how England's new positive approach to five day cricket will hold up.

Emma Raducanu easily beat Serena Williams in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open yesterday.  Williams plans to retire after the upcoming US Open and on this display, it is easy to see why.  She has been a great champion, although she looked a shadow of her former self as she was beaten 6-4 6-0.  Meanwhile, this was a good confidence booster for Raducanu as she will be the defending champion in New York when that gets underway a week on Monday.

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What do you get when you cross a joke with a rhetorical question?