Gwen runs at Cheltenham!

Gwencily Berbas runs at Cheltenham today!

Today we just have the one runner at Cheltenham, Gwencily Berbas. He runs in the 2:40pm marathon handicap chase over 3m4f with Jack Tudor riding. Our veteran chaser was a winner at Exeter over 3m6f earlier this season and has finished third on his last two starts. It is a very competitive 20 runner affair and we are about a 16/1 chance. He may be 12 years of age but Gwen loves his racing and I think he will enjoy the hustle and bustle of today's big field. He is a strong traveller and I think the better ground will see him finish up the hill well. Whether that is good enough for him to win today I am not sure but i don't think he will be far away. 

Yesterday at Lingfield, it was a bit of a frustrating day! Pepsiwithacap ran well until her rivals quickened past her approaching the furlong poll. Jockey Cieren Fallon thought she tried her heart out put probably does want 1m4f to give her the best chance. 

Talap was in the process of running a cracker but got badly hampered at a crucial time and that meant race over. The jockey felt he would have won had that not happened and he looked after him when his chance had gone. I feel he would have been placed at the very least but that is what can happen in flat racing. He looks more than capable of winning on the level, given more good fortune. After the race we were approached by a lady called Isabelle who is one of the executives at Lingfield. She came to say hello to Talap as she broke him as a youngster. She was delighted to see him again. 

Alongside racing at Cheltenham today, there is day two of Newmarket's Craven meeting, plus flat action at Beverley and Kempton. In Ireland they race on the flat at Gowran Park. There are plenty of runners and competitive races to look forward to at the feature meetings this afternoon and Fergus Gillard has picked up an interesting ride in the last race of the day. He rides Walhaaan for Irish trainer Cieran Murphy. The gelding won a maiden hurdle at Leapordstown and then didn't like the testing ground last time. He runs in his first handicap today at about 18/1, he looks an interesting each way shout. 

Last night in the football, Real Madrid beat Chelsea 2-0. Tonight it is the turn of Man City in the champions league quarter final action. They take a handy 3-0 advantage away to Bayern Munich. It still won't be easy for them no doubt but I am sure we will see them through to the semi-finals. The other quarter final match is Inter Milan against Benfica, with Inter holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg. 

Why are French snails the fasted in the world? L'ess cargo!! Have a good day!!