Busy Day

Shot Boii runs in the first race at Lingfield Today

It is a busy day for the yard today with ten runners across two meetings, Lingfield and Taunton.  Our lorry set off for Lingfield at 6am this morning with three runners on board, Shot Boii, Red Lion Lad and Master Blaze.  Shot Boii runs in the opening conditional jockeys handicap hurdle at 12.25pm with Fergus Gillard on board.  He won at the track just over two weeks ago and the handicapper raised him four pounds for that win which seems fair enough.  He should be able to cope with the rise and I think there is more progress to come from our five year old.  Fergus Gillard was on board him when he won at Ffos Las last season and he might be a bit short in the betting at 6/5 but he hopefully has a very good chance.

Red Lion Lad makes his seasonal reappearance in the novices handicap chase at 12.55pm, again with Fergus Gillard on board.  Last season did not really go to plan at all and we are hoping a wind op this summer will really make a big difference.  He is a thorough stayer in testing conditions which he has today.  He is fit and well at home and while I think fresh could be the best time to catch him, we are just hoping he can show us a bit more this afternoon.  He works better than a 104 rated horse at home but he just has to put it all together on the track.  Master Blaze runs in the final race of the day at 3.35pm and Charlie Hammond is on board.  He ran well first time over fences in this country last time at Taunton when perhaps three miles was a bit far.  David thinks he might enjoy todays testing conditions and will be staying on at the end over this shorter trip so fingers crossed this will be the case!  Charlie Hammond has done well when riding for the stable in the past and rides our for year old as the weight is a bit too light for Fergus Gillard.

Two lorries will be heading to Taunton a bit later this morning with seven runners at our local track.  Via Dante and Bashful Kate run in the opening novices hurdle at 12.40pm.  Via Dante has had a couple of runs in English point to points and the form has actually worked out quite well.  He will probably find the track and trip a little on the short side today but it will be good to get him out in the colours of the David Pipe Racing Club.  Bashful Kate runs in the same race and she has to improve a lot on what she has shown so far.  She did learn from her initial experience last time at Exeter and hopefully she can take another step in the right direction today.

American Sniper runs in the second division of the novices hurdle at 1.10pm.  He was the impressive winner of a novices hurdle at Chepstow last time and although the track is less likely to suit this afternoon, I think the same can be said for the Evan Williams trained favourite in the race Can You Call.  That horse won a chase last season and has a rating of 122 so it will be tough to concede a seven pound penalty to him but I am just hoping we are the more sharper and speedier type of horse and can cope this everything better.  I think our four year old is our best chance of a winner on the Taunton card this afternoon.

Bumpy Johnson runs in the three mile handicap hurdle at 1.40pm.  He tackles three miles for the first time and I think this will suit at this course.  He is a strong traveller who doesn't always find as much off the bridle as you might hope.  It is a competitive race despite being a small field but the form of his Ffos Las 4th last time out is working out well with winners from the race since.  I think there is scope for improvement off his rating of 115 and if he puts it all together this afternoon he has a chance.

Nobel Joshua runs for the first time in two years in the 2.50pm handicap hurdle.  Coincidently he won the novices handicap hurdle (Bumpy Johnson's race) when last in action on the track.  This is a tough race on paper and it will just be good to get our six year old back on the track, come home safely and give us something to build on for next time.  Dindin runs in the 3.20pm handicap chase with Philip Armson on board.  He has held his form really well over the past few months and finished a good second at Fontwell last time.  While the trip maybe a little on the short side for him today, he should give you a good run for your money at an each way price.  Colony Queen makes her handicap debut in the last race on the Taunton card, a handicap hurdle over 2m3f at 3.50pm.  She has a very good level of flat form but then had some time off through injury.  She has improved with each of her three hurdle starts to date and was a good second at Huntingdon last time.  She looks well treated off a mark of 98 and despite the race being competitive for the grade I would be disappointed if the wasn't fighting out the finish.

There was another shock in the World Cup yesterday with Japan beating Germany.  There are another four group matches today so I wonder if there will be any surprises with Portugal and Brazil in action?!

A policeman stops a car...

Policeman "Who's car is this, where are you taking it and what do you do for a living?"

Miner "Mine".

Have a nice day!