Midlands National Day

The Cheltenham Festival may have been and gone for another year but there is some good jumps racing action today and the Irish still have some interesting runners in Britain.  The stable does not have any runners today but there is jumps racing at Uttoxeter, Kempton and Newcastle.  There are two all-weather flat meetings at Southwell and Wolverhampton and in Ireland they race over jumps at Thurles.

The Midlands National at Uttoxeter in the feature race of the day at 3.00pm and it will be attritional stuff as the horses race over 4m2f in heavy going.  Iron Bridge heads the betting for the Jonjo O'Neill team followed by My Silver Lining for Emma Lavelle and Mr Incredible for Willie Mullins.  I think I would favour one of these two over the favourite and My Silver Lining has had a terrific season and she has been wonderfully consistent.  She loves conditions and would probably me my choice as winner of the race. There are some competitive supporting races here and a good card at Kempton as well.  Jack Tudor looks to have a good chance of a winner in Lord Snootie who runs in the 2.25pm handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter while David Noonan also looks to have a good chance of a winner in the first race at Kempton, he is on board favourite Issar d'Airy for Gary Moore.  Fingers crossed for both of these.

I had another day out at Cheltenham yesterday so have to admit I am feeling a little jaded this morning!  It was Leanne's birthday so a few of us enjoyed a lovely day out.  It is the first time I have ever been on Gold Cup Day and it was great to be there while they were celebrating it's 100th year.  There was definitely a bigger crowd in attendance than was there on Tuesday but I though it would be even busier if I am honest.  Matt Chapman came and did tips in the marquee again and MCP presented the prize to Gordon Elliott who won his race, the final race of the meeting with Betterdaysahead.  I thought we had a good each way chance with Thanksforthehelp in this but unfortunately we could not run him as he was not quite right as we went to load him on the lorry yesterday morning.  It was difficult to find the winners yesterday but Jack Pipe did manage to have £2 EW on 33/1 shot Stellar Story and I was delighted Galopin Des Champs won the Gold Cup for the second time.  Racing always needs a superstar horse and he is definitely one of those.

Today is super Saturday in the Six Nations rugby with three matches today and technically four teams have a chance of winning the title but it is really in the hands of leaders Ireland and I expect them to win it.  Today, Wales play Italy at 2.15pm, Ireland play Scotland and 4.45pm and the final games is France v England at 8pm.  

In football, we have the first two quarter final matches in the FA Cup.  Wolves play Coventry City at 12.15pm while Man City play Newcastle at 5.30pm.  There are also three Premier League matches with Burnley at home to Brentford and Luton against Nottingham Forest at 3.00pm.  The tea time kick off is Fulham against Spurs at 5.30pm.

Rory McIlroy did not have a good second day at the Players Championship golf at Sawgrass and at the half-way point Wyndham Clark leads the way at -14.  Rory is eight shots back at -6.  I am looking forward to finishing work at lunch time and enjoying the feast of sporting action for the rest of the day!

It's my first week working at the bicycle factory...

and they've already made me a spokesperson!

Have a good day!