Jumps Racing Back On!

Shot Boii when he Won at Lingfield 

Unfortunately Lingfield was abandoned yesterday as I suspected it might be. Our lorry set off on its journey but didn’t get too far before having to turn around for home. No damage done but Craig and Mel missed out on their Sunday morning lie in!! Sizing Pottsie is now likely to be confirmed later today for the Clarence House chase which has been rescheduled for Cheltenham on Saturday.

Fingers crossed today we have our first runners in a week with Ffos Las taking place this afternoon where no problems are anticipated. This was an added meeting due to recent abandonments and we have two runners at the Welsh track. Little Red Lion runs in the staying handicap chase at 4pm with Philip Armson in the saddle. Our gelding is struggling for form at the moment but we have added the tongue tie back on today hoping this may help him see out his race a little better. He is looking very well handicapped on old form and will like the track and testing conditions. Hopefully he can just take a step back in the right direction today.

Shot Boii runs in the concluding three mile handicap hurdle on the card at 4pm with Tom Scu on board. He is three from three this season and I think he can make it four in a row. He does have to race off a career high mark but I think there is more improvement to come. He is a previous course winner who will love the testing conditions and looks to have a good chance.

As I have mentioned, Ffos las is an extra meeting put on because of all the fixtures lost to the recent cold weather. They actually put one on at Market Rasen tomorow (their meeting was lost on Friday) as well but that has once again been abandoned with the track frozen and significant improvement not anticipated in time! We have scheduled runners at Exeter and Leicester tomorrow but both tracks have to pass inspections today for racing to go ahead. While temperatures are starting to rise, when the ground has been frozen for days it does take a little while for all the frost to come out completely but all being well we look like returning to normal as the week progresses.

Unfortunately, our local point to point at Chipley Park was called off yesterday due to the track failing an inspection for frost. They had seemed pretty confident they would race in the last few days but the weather beat them at the final hour. Hopefully they may get to re-arrange the meeting for a later date.

In the football, Liverpool and Chelsea played out a goalless draw at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime and the game reflected two teams who aren’t at their best at the moment. Manchester City beat Wolves 3-0 while I got a little bit excited when Manchester United took the lead through Marcus Rashford against Arsenal but ultimately they lost 3-2. It was a good game for the neutral but I was gutted we conceded a very late goal to lose. Arsenal have therefore cemented a good lead at the top of the Premiership table and while still a long way to go in the title race,  I think they will take some pegging back. There is one Premiership game this evening where Spurs will be looking to play as well as they did against Man City the other evening and take all three points away to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

I am an optimistic pessimist. I’m positive things will go wrong! Happy Monday!