Plumpton Monday Duo

     Only Fools runs at Plumpton Today

Hopefully today, there are two jumps meetings at Ayr and Plumpton and there is an all weather flat fixture at Wolverhampton as well. Plumpton does have to pass an 8am inspection however, with significant rain due Sunday night into Monday morning, fingers crossed racing goes ahead and the stable has two runners. Activist and Only Fools are intended runners at the Sussex track and Jack Tudor rides.

Activist runs in the 2.50pm novices handicap hurdle over 2 miles. He returned to action a couple of weeks ago after a little break at Lingfield and ran well to be second. That was in extremely testing ground so he won’t mind today’s conditions if it is on. That was his best run in Britain to date and even though he was quite a long way behind an easy winner, it was a definite step in the right direction. I think that run will have brought him on and hopefully he can put up a bold show in this race at about 6/1 in the betting.

Only Fools run in the concluding mares handicap hurdle at 5:05 pm over 2m4f. Her two runs stepping up in distance have been her best and repeat of those should see her go close in this. It was an amateur race last time and she was nearest finish so even though she has to carry more weight today with Jack back in the saddle I think she has a good chance. She is second best in the betting, The favourite trained by Fergal O’Brien does look the one they have to beat as that one is having her first start in a handicap.

Yesterday I went to Larkhill point point, and we ran Castle Daragh in the restricted race, giving Luke Morris who works for us, just his second ever ride.  Everything went well and both have returned safe and sound which is the main thing. He raced towards the rear of the field throughout, but then started to pass horses inside the last mile. He would’ve been fourth if he had jumped the last fence, but Luke felt he was a little tired so pulled him up, doing the sensible thing. He will improve for the run and it is a turn of Conal Kavanagh will be in the saddle next time!  Luke had the biggest smile on his face ever after coming back and it was a pleasure to see how much joy he got from the ride. I am sure the horse and jockeys are capable of winning between the flags this season.

Liverpool won the Carabao cup semi-final at Wembley yesterday beating Chelsea 1-0 in extra time. I was just back from racing to see the extra 30 minutes being played and by the sound of it Liverpool with their team of youngsters were the deserved winners. In the only Premiership match of the day Wolves beat Sheffield United 1-0 and there is just one match this evening, West Ham are at home to Brentford at 8pm.

I was wrong in my prediction that France would win their six nations rugby game against Italy easily yesterday, the game ended in a 13-13 draw with Italy actually missing a penalty kick to win the match outright.  On Saturday, Ireland beat Wales while Scotland beat England. Ireland have a six point lead in the six Nations championship and are the best team in the Six Nations right. I thought England were rather disappointing, but it was a good win for the Scots! Travelling head lab Bob Hodge was very happy and our Work WhatsApp group on Saturday evening.

England, bowled the Indian cricketers out for 307 runs in their first innings, but the home side battled back in the second innings bowling England out for just 145 runs. There are two days play remaining but India are now chasing just 152 runs to win with all 10 wickets remaining. Things now look very tough for England after a promising start.

Did you know that hummingbirds are just regular birds that can’t remember the lyrics?!

Happy Monday!