Three Meetings!

          Heure De Gloire runs today!
Our lorries are heading in three different directions today with runners at Fontwell, Hereford and Kempton.  We have two runners at Fontwell, King Turgeon and Heure De Gloire, one runner at Hereford, Lady Balko and one runner on the flat this evening at Kempton, Makanao.

The first lorry to set off was the one to Fontwell, with King Turgeon running in the 2.50pm handicap chase over three miles.  He is a previous course winner over a shorter trip last season so we know he handles the figure of 8 track, but will definitely appreciate the extra distance today.  He will also enjoy the testing conditions and this represents a slight drop in grade from the race he contested las time at Leicester.  He dropped a pound for that run but with Gearoid Harney back on board today (was on board for his win at Exeter earlier this season) he claims a valuable seven pounds off his back.  He does have to put a couple of slightly below par efforts behind him but I don’t see why he can’t and looks a good each way price at 10/1.

Heure De Gloire runs in the 3.20pm handicap hurdle over 2m1f and Gearoid Harney rides.  She was the impressive winner over hurdles last time at Ffos Las when ridden by Ellis Collier and will enjoy todays similarly testing conditions.  She does have to race of a six pound higher mark though today and that is my slight reservation over her chances, she has struggled off of these sort or marks in the past.  The favourite is a four year old who gets a nice weight allowance in this race, but I do think it is hard for juveniles in these races especially when the ground is testing.  We are about 5/1 in the betting and I am sure she can put up another bold show.  

Lady Balko runs in the 4.00pm mares handicap hurdle at Hereford over 2m5f and Jack Tudor rides.  She has run well in her two starts in handicaps and finished second at Leicester to an improving rival last time.  The pair pulled well clear and we were put up five pounds for finishing second, that makes life more difficult but she is 7/2 favourite and I think she has a great chance.  I fear the Hughie Morrison trained horse, Selkirk Grace most as she finished second on her handicap debut last time at Taunton, but she is no sure to appreciate the step up in trip so we will have to keep our fingers crossed she doesn’t!

Makanao runs in the 8.00pm flat handicap at Kempton over 1m4f and Rob Hornby rides.  This is the first time we have run him on the flat, but he is a winner on the level in France.  We have just run him the three times over hurdles and after a promising start where he finished second at Fontwell he was a little disappointing afterwards.  I am not sure quite what to expect today!  He has ability and goes nicely at home so hopefully he can put his best foot forwards in this.  He is about 8/1 in the betting.

There are no other meetings in Britain today other than the ones I have mentioned but in Ireland they race on the all-weather at Dundalk.

Yesterday at Lingfield, Iceo Madrik was let down by his jumping, gradually jumping further and further left as the race went on.  It is a trait he has had all his life when running in France but it seemed worse yesterday.  Jack felt he loved the ground but his jumping put him on the back foot, we may try him over hurdles next time.

Kingofwest backed up his win at Chepstow with another solid run to be second, he came under pressure from a little way out but responded to Jack’s urgings and was doing all his best work at the end.  We may try him over a little further in time.

Activist ran his best race since joining us to be second in his race under Gearoid Harney, the winner won comfortably in the end but after coming under pressure, he kept plugging on and hopefully he can build on this going forwards.

Last night in the football saw round of 16 in the Champion League matches, FC Copenhagen were against Manchester City.  Manchester City resumed their Champion League title defence with a comfortable victory of 3-1.  The other game playing last night was LB Leipzig and Real Madrid. RB Leipzig were feeling confident and after 2 minutes they did score a goal which was unfortunately disallowed.  3 minutes after half time, Real Madrid gained the advantage point and won 1-0.  The Champion League football action continues this evening, there are no British teams in action but Lazio are at home to Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain are at home to Real Sociedad.  Both matches kick off at 8pm.

I made a chicken salad…

Turns out they prefer grain! 

Have a good day!