Pachacuti at Wincanton!

     Pachacuti runs today at Wincanton!
Today we have one runner at Wincanton, Pachacuti who runs in the 3.35pm handicap chase over three miles and Jack Tudor rides.  I think he has got better with each run this season over fences and it would be great if he could record his first victory over the larger obstacles this afternoon.  He was second last time out at Ffos Las in a similar race and the form of that race looks strong with the fourth horse, Pimlico Point winning at Exeter last week.  He is 5/2 second best in the betting the track and ground will be fine and I think he has a good chance. 

As well as Wincanton there is jumps action at Bangor and there is all-weather action at Kempton and it is another blank day under both codes in Ireland.  Martin McIntyre goes to Wincanton to ride in the concluding race on the card a hunter chase, but he is the outsider of the field. Last year’s Aintree Foxhunter hero, Famous Clermont heads the market and looks the one in they all have to beat under Will Biddick.  I am sure all roads lead back to Aintree for this horse ultimately, but after being placed and winning a point to point last time. 

Yesterday news broke that Constitution Hill worked badly in his pre-Cheltenham gallop at Kempton and then scoped badly afterwards.  He was scoped in the racecourse stables straight afterwards which revealed significant mucus, this has now cast doubt over his defence of his Champion hurdle crown which is just two weeks away.  It is most likely a respiratory infection and he will be put on antibiotics straight away.  It was a similar infection that was reported for him missing his last intended engagement at Cheltenham in January.  While I am no expert, horses are like humans and can pick up bugs and infections quite easily, some are more susceptible than others, some will be more greatly affected by the same bug as others and some will recover much more quickly than others!  I wouldn’t be writing him off just yet but it is far from ideal and it will be a race against time for their team to get him to Cheltenham in top condition.  I think they are planning to re-test him again at the end of the week and then they will know whether Cheltenham will be on the agenda or not.  As a result of yesterday, State Man now heads the betting for the Champion hurdle with most firms.  I also read that Bravemansgame and some of the Paul Nicholls team were at Kempton galloping yesterday as the countdown to the Festival begins in earnest.

Last night in the Football FA Cup fifth round matches Bournemouth 0-1 Leicester, Blackburn 1-1 Newcastle but Newcastle won 4-3 on penalties in the end, Luton 2-6 Manchester City.

Tonight the Cup action continues with four games, Chelsea are at home to Leeds at 7.30pm, Nottingham Forest play Manchester United and Wolves play Brighton at 7.4pm while Liverpool are at home to Southampton at 8pm. 

I saw a man going up a hill with a trolley full of horseshoes, four-leaf clovers and rabbits feet.

I thought: “Wow, he’s pushing his luck”!

Have a good day!