Two Meetings!

Bashful Boy Runs at Warwick Today!

Today we have three runners across two meetings at Warwick and Taunton, Bashful Boy, Kingofthewest and Dindin.  Bashful Boy heads to Warwick to run in the 3.15pm handicap hurdle over 2m3f and Philip Armson rides.  He was running a big race in a very competitive contest at Haydock last time when uncharacteristically coming down at the second last hurdle.  I don’t think he would have been far away that day in a higher grade race and this represents a drop in class this afternoon.  It was quite a heavy fall for both he and Jack Tudor but thankfully both came home unscathed and he has had some physio and is in good form at home since.  Before his run at Haydock he had run two good races on the all-weather, winning and then finishing runner up behind the subsequent all-weather finals day winner Carzola.  At the time we were disappointed to be second but it turns out that was a very good run!  We have been waiting for the better ground over hurdles and I think he will enjoy the track, trip and ground today.  Philip has got on well with him in the past and I don’t think he will be far away in this at about 8/1 fourth best in the betting.

It is Taunton’s final meeting of the season this evening and I am sure there will be a big crowd in attendance.  Kingofthewest runs in the 6.25pm handicap hurdle over two miles and Fergus Gillard rides.  He was very unlucky last time and got no further than the first hurdle last time out at Chepstow when he was brought down.  He wore first time blinkers that day and he retains them tonight dropping down in distance.  He is a course winner over 2m3f so we know he handles the track and I think he will enjoy the better ground.  Things haven’t quite gone to plan for him this season after a good novice campaign but hopefully he can get back on track today.  There are only nine runners in a tight little race and we will be one of the bigger prices so he looks a decent each way bet.  

Dindin runs in the concluding handicap chase on the card at 8.10pm and Fergus Gillard is on board in the colours of the David Pipe Racing Club.  He carries top weight in this race which has some good prize money up for grabs.  He won at Wincanton on his penultimate start and was perhaps an unlucky loser at Plumpton last time.  He was badly hampered by a loose horse mid race and was staying on strongly at the end.  The trip, track and ground are all in his favour tonight and he is a very tough and genuine little horse.  I think we are forecast second best in the betting and I think he has a great chance.

As well as Taunton and Warwick over jumps today there is also jumping up at Perth.  There are two flat meetings at Beverley and on the all-weather at Chelmsford.  We also have Day 3 of the Punchestown Festival and there are nine runners in the Champion stayers hurdle at 5.25pm.  Teahupoo heads the market at 5/2 and I would take him to reverse the form with Sire Du Berlais from the Cheltenham Festival.  The Champion novice chase over 2 miles is at 6.35pm and Arkle winner EL Fabiolo is a very short priced favourite to follow up his Cheltenham win. 

Last night in the football Man City beat Arsenal 4-1.

Tonight there are three Premiership matches taking place and I am looking forward to watching Tottenham against Manchester United at 8.15pm.   Spurs were thrashed by Newcastle at the weekend and hopefully United will not get the backlash of this heavy defeat like can sometimes happen!  The other matches are Everton against Newcastle and Southampton against Bournemouth. 

My husband traumatically ripped the blankets off me last night…but I will recover!  Have a good day.