Two at Market Rasen!

Today we have two runners at Market Rasen all being well, First Lord Du Cuet and Sizing Pottsie.  We were due to have runners at Exeter as well but unfortunately that meeting was abandoned yesterday due to frozen ground.  There is an all-weather fixture at Southwell and no racing in Ireland today.

First Lord Du Cuet runs in the 2.10pm novices limited handicap chase and Jack Tudor rides.  It is fair to say this season has not gone to plan for him so far in two runs to date.  While he was pretty unlucky at Cheltenham he put in a lacklustre performance, very unlike him, at Bangor last time for no obvious reason.  The handicapper has given him some help and this is by far his easiest winning opportunity for a while so fingers crossed he can get back on track.  He is about 4/1 in the betting and I will be disappointed if he is not involved in the finish.

Sizing Pottsie runs in the 3.10pm handicap hurdle over 2m4f and Jack Tudor rides.  The softer the ground the better for him and after a good seasonal reappearance to be second at Uttoxeter but he didn’t run so well at Wincanton last time.  I think the smaller field size today will suit better, there are seven runners and he is about 5/1 in the betting.  There is not much between the whole field in the market and while his best form is at 2 miles he hints that the extra distance will suit so fingers crossed it does!

Yesterday at Taunton Johannes was very disappointing.  Our four year old goes nicely at home so it was strange he did not translate this to the track, the only thing I would say is that it was too bad to be true.  He was never going from the start so we will see how he is in the coming days and if anything comes to light but initially he seems absolutely fine this morning.  Bashful Boy is also okay today after his run.  The ground was too holding and tacky for him in what was a very competitive race.  He was not actually beaten that far in the end but will now go on his holidays before returning for a spring campaign on some better ground.

Last night in the football Manchester United V Wigan in the FA Cup 3^rd round. Manchester United took the glory finishing with a 2-0 win for them.  The match was played in front of the first sold out crowd at DW stadium in more than 10 years.  The attendance of 22,870 was the highest at the ground since 23,001 watched Wigan play Aston Villa on the 19th May 2013.

Tonight the football continues but we have a chance of competition.  It is the semi-finals of the EFL Cup and Middlesborough are at home to Chelsea, 8pm kick off.

I do not really follow the snooker but the Masters is currently taking place at the Alexandra Palace in London.  Ding Junhui lost to Ronnie O’Sullivan yesterday in the first round 6-3 but scored a magnificent 147 maximum break during the game.  It was only the fourth ever in the tournaments’ history and it was the second time Ding had done it! Only Kirk Stevens in 1984 and Marco Fu in 2015 are the only other players to have done it at the event.

Did you hear about the poker player who broke his arm? 

He’s finding it really hard to deal with!

Have a good day!