Four at Taunton!

Mr Tambourine Man runs at Taunton today!

Today we have four runners at local track Taunton.  We run Jilaijone and Only Fools in the opening juvenile hurdle race on the card at 1.30pm.  Philip Armson rides Jilaijone while Only Fools is making both her British and stable debut partnered by Jack Tudor.  Jilaijone has run well in his first four starts for the stable but did run below par at Exeter last time.  He won on stable debut at Fontwell and was then placed in his next three starts.  He has been running in handicap company but returns to compete against his age group in this and the betting has him at 100/30 second favourite.  If he bounces back from his last run I think he will win. 

Only Fools is making her hurdling debut in the colours of the David Pipe Racing Club in the same race.  A purchase from the November Arqana sales we have taken our time with her and done lots of schooling and she goes well at home.  She has won her last two starts on the flat in France over 1m4f and been placed third three times as well from about nine career starts.  She won a claimer and a handicap and should stay the extra distance no problem.  She is about 6/1 third choice in the betting and although she may need the experience today I think our racing club members will have plenty of fun with her over the summer.

Hammer Dan runs in the maiden hurdle at 2.05pm and Nick Scholfield rides.  He was very disappointing in a bumper on stable debut and it is back to the drawing board today.  He is about 8/1 in the betting but having travelled well last time he stopped rather tamely and so we are hoping he keeps going better and we see a bit more from him today.  He has run well in an Irish point to point and hopefully the jumping will be more to his liking this afternoon.

Mr Tambourine Man returns to action after a lengthy break but has actually won his last two starts.  There are only five runners but we have to shoulder top weight in what looks like a tight little race today.  He does not probably want the ground as soft as it is going to be today either but after a couple of little setbacks at home it will be good to get him back on the track and after which we can hopefully look forward to a good summer where he is likely to mix the flat and jumps.  Jack Tudor rides.

Alongside Taunton there is jumping action today at both Hexham and Warwick.  Amateur Martin McIntyre is in action in the Hunter Chase at Warwick at 4.45pm.  In Ireland they have two jumps meetings at Limerick and Naas while they race on the all-weather over here this evening at Wolverhampton. 

David and Mr and Mrs Pipe are all heading to Taunton today after being invited to lunch as guests with Princess Anne.  I believe Princess Anne is down officially opening the new Injured Jockeys Fund facility at Taunton rugby club which is a great facility for those who are involved in racing to use in the South West.  It is linked to Oaksey House in Lambourn and I know a few people who have benefited from going there already with it only opening at the end of last year.  After opening the facility I think they are heading over to the racecourse.  David is a bit worried he will miss lunch however with our runners in the first race but hopefully they will let him back in afterwards!

My boss came to me at lunch: “Where the hell have you been?  I’ve been trying to find you all morning!”  I shrugged and said “Good employees are hard to find!”  Have a good day.