One at Newbury!

Eden Du Houx runs at Newbury today!

It is just the one runner for Pond House today, Eden Du Houx at Newbury.  He runs in the 2.05pm handicap chase over 2m4f with Fergus Gillard on board.  He is a talented horse, probably more talented than his form figures really imply and he was a good second at Sandown last time out two weeks ago.  A mid race blunder put him on the back foot that day but what I really liked was how he powered up the Sandown hill and he would have won in another stride.  It looks a competitive race and I think we might even be the outsider of the field but I think he will be a cracking each way bet.  The track will suit and the more rain they get the better, it was certainly very wet during yesterday’s racing at the track.  He is not always the most consistent but with conditions in his favour I hope he can run well. 

Brinkley was very disappointing on his run at Newbury and so it is back to the drawing board with him and Shot Boii did not handle conditions.  There was a much more encouraging run from Royal Mer to be second at Hereford.  This was his second start for the stable, his first run after wind surgery and he travelled through the race nicely before getting a little tired approaching the last.  Hopefully this will have done his confidence the world of good after knowing he can breathe better and he looks sure to be found a winning opportunity going forwards.  It is funny how things work out, I think Royal Mer would have preferred the going conditions at Newbury and Shot Boii at Hereford, it is a shame we couldn’t have swapped them around!

There are plenty of runners at Newbury today including a 21 strong field for the valuable Goffs bumper at 3.50pm.  This was an early closing entry race for horses that have been sold through the Goffs store sales and the sponsors have put up a very valuable £100,000 added prize fund.  There is very limited form to go on but there are good yards with runners and so it will be interesting to see what the betting makes of them before the off for clues of the most likely winner. 

Alongside the Newbury card there is also jumps action at Kelso and Bangor.  Flat action returns to the turf in Ireland at the Curragh while over here they are on the all-weather at Lingfield and Wolverhampton. There is also some top flat racing in Dubai with some British interest.  ITV Racing are showing three races for first time from Meydan culminating the Dubai World Cup at 4.35pm.  Frankie Dettori is in action but it is James Doyle who is on the favourite, Algiers for the Simon and Ed Crisford team. 

There is more European qualifying football today with which includes Scotland at home to Cyprus and Wales are away in Croatia.  Away from the football I have been enjoying watching the World Match Play Golf Championships from Austin Texas.  All the top golfers are in action where there has been a round robin group stage with the top two from the group progressing onto the weekend action of the last 16.  I believe it is the only competition like it that the pros play in each year but it is good practice ahead of the Ryder Cup for several of the players. I am a big Rory McIlroy fan and he is through to the last 16 and hopefully he can go all the way but with Scottie Scheffler and a whole host of top players still involved it should be an interesting watch. 

At the therapist’s office I asked my husband “You are going to bring up my obsession with predicting the future aren’t you?”.  Him “Yes”.  Me “I knew it!”  Have a nice day!