Pachacuti Runs Hereford

Jilaijone due to run at Fontwell, however the meeting has been abandoned. 

Well hopefully we will have three runners today, two at Fontwell and one at Hereford but the meeting at Fontwell does have to pass a morning inspection due to potential waterlogging. If the meeting goes ahead, Royal Mer makes his stable debut in the 2m3f handicap hurdle at 2.00pm. He was claimed from France by his owner after he finished second at Fontainebleau last time. He has just had the three runs over hurdles in France and he improved with each start. He has settled in well since arriving and while we are still learning about him, I think he has a chance today off a fair handicap mark if 103. We have put a tongue strap on him for the first time and Philip Armson rides.

Jilaijone runs the juvenile hurdle at 3pm with Philip Armson riding. Our three year old is a course and distance winner and then ran well up at Wetherby over Christmas. A bad blunder later on didn’t help his chances that day but I was impressed by how he really picked up after the mistake which stopped him dead and he rallied to nearly regain second. He does have to give away a lot of weight to the Venetia Williams trained filly today who was second at Hereford last time but I think he is capable of doing it. He has a really likeable attitude and I think there is more to come from him. Both our fontwell runners carry the colours of owner Sam Sutton and fingers crossed they both can run well.

Pachacuti runs in the 4.10pm hurdle over 2m5f at Hereford and Tom Scu rides. He has only had the one start so far this season at Wincanton on Boxing Day and it is fair to say he was disappointing. He ran below expectations and works better than his handicap mark at home. Hopefully he can take a step back in the right direction today and he has a very good chance of winning if he does.

On Saturday, Ocean Heights did not enjoy the heavy conditions at a Warwick and was beaten from an early stage. We can put a line through this run and he will be seen to better affect on less testing conditions. Paricolor ran well enough for a long way in his race but ultimately got tired and weakened to finish fifth. On this ground he may not have quite stayed the 3m2f trip but he was racing from out of the handicap and can bounce back in a slightly lesser grade of race.

My racing tips weren’t very good at Warwick with Snake Roll pulling up and Grumpy Charley the disappointing favourite of the Classic chase. Davy Russell got his first winner back at Punchestown yesterday while Tom Scu made the king journey to Kelso worthwhile with a winner.

I was happy with the result of the Manchester Derby with United winning 2-1. It didn’t look good when they went a goal behind but the resolve and character of the team is so much better in recent weeks and they fought back gamely to win. While our equaliser was a little controversial with an offside dispute, I thought according to the rules of the game it was right to stand although I have to admit I wouldn’t have been happy had it been against my team!!

A man loses three fingers in a work accident.

At the hospital he asked the doctor “will I be able to drive with this hand?”

The doctor replies “maybe, but I wouldn’t count on it!”.

Happy Monday!