Lots of Rain!

           David Noonan in Great Form

We have all being calling for rain and we certainly have had some at Pond House in the last 24 hours!  24mm of rain has fallen during the day yesterday and overnight and local roads have been flooded at different times.  It is still currently raining and I am glad I am in the office and not outside riding out!  Let's just hope Newbury racecourse is getting the rain as we would love the conditions to be softer for both Remastered and Gericault Roque who we confirmed for the Coral Handicap chase on Saturday yesterday, along with Red Happy.

Today there are just two jumpers meetings at Sedgefield and Southwell but the stable does not have any runners.  Tom Scu goes all the way to Sedgefield for one ride so that is a tip in itself although you won't get rich if you back him as he is a 3/10 shot!  He rides Champagnesocialist in the 1.25pm maiden hurdle for Irish trainer John McConnell and barring accidents he should ride is 46th winner of the season, bringing him level with David's total for the season so far!  David Noonan also goes to Sedgefield for the one ride but he is not that likely to ride a winner as he is on 50/1 chance Imperial Senorita in the 1.55pm handicap chase.  David is a jockey on fire at the moment and he rode another winner at Kempton yesterday and has now had six winners from his last 29 rides, a strike rate of 21%.

In yesterday's action, our runners performed pretty much as I thought they may.  It looked tough to find any winners but several ran well and there will be other opportunities for them.  Lock Out ran well in the opening novices hurdle to finish fourth.  He was carrying a penalty and giving weight away to some useful rivals.  The trip on that track was always going to be a sharp side for him but he kept galloping all the way to the line as in was a good effort.  This now qualifies him for the EBF final at Sandown in March and a return to a more galloping track maybe over slightly further will play more to his strengths.  Moodofthemoment ran in the same race and he finished seventh without ever really being involved.  He is a lovely big horse we are still learning about and he will also appreciate further in time.  Itacare returned to action to finish fifth in a competitive handicap hurdle.  The rain probably went against him slightly but he kept galloping all the way to the line.  It was a pleasing return and hopefully the handicapper can give him a bit of help as he is several pound above his last winning mark.  Duc De Beauchene was beaten a long way from home but kept going to finish fifth while Bashful Boy ran a much better race to finish fourth.  The softer ground would have been against him as well and he was the outsider of the field but it was a good run with a big step back in the right direction.  Hopefully the handicapper will give him a little help to and he can get back to winning ways.  Ocean Heights got round in tricky conditions at Ludlow and he now qualifies for a handicap mark.

England got their World Cup off to a brilliant start yesterday with a convincing victory over Iran.  While I did not get to watch any of this match I did see the second half of Wales against the USA last night.  I gather it was a good job I missed the first half as Wales did not play well and were 1-0 down at half time.  I thought they played well in the second half and deserved there 1-1 draw after Gareth Bale equalised from the penalty sport.  There are four more group games today kicking off at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm our time.  I will try and watch bit of this evenings game, France against Australia.

Which is faster, hot or cold?  Hot because you can catch a cold!  Have a good day.