Friday at Newbury!

             Kepagge runs today!
Both our runners at Chepstow yesterday ran very good races but unfortunately both finished second!  Shot Boii made virtually all of the running on his first try at the marathon trip of 3m6f but saw it out well but could not quite hold off the challenge of the favourite.  He really looked to be enjoying himself at the head of affairs and jumped well bar a mistake at the last, which ended any chance of winning but I don’t think it mattered that much in the end.  It was probably a good a run as he has had over fences and he is definitely worth another go at a stamina test.

I felt a little sorry for Lady Balko, who was narrowly denied her fourth win in a row with a close second.  We made the running with her because we were dropping back in trip and she jumped very well and tried really hard as horses came to challenge up the home straight.  She held off all, bar the final challenger and it was a good effort under top weight.  I am sure we will run her over further again next time and I don’t think she has finished improving yet.

Today we have three runners at Newbury, Neon Moon, Kepagge and Bumpy Johnson and Jack Tudor rides all three.  Neon Moon runs in the 2.30pm novices limited handicap chase over 2m7f and after a dazzling comeback win at Ludlow this season, he hasn’t quite backed that up, running well but not quite as well as we hoped!  The handicapper has given him a little bit of help again and we have freshened him up and he will enjoy the drier ground this afternoon.  He has run well at the course before and while this does look competitive and he is the outsider of the field I would like to think he has a good each way chance.

Kepagge runs in the 4.43pm handicap chase over 2m6f and he is about 7/1 in the betting.  He has had just three starts over fences this season and has run well each time to be placed.  Jack felt he didn’t like the heavy ground at Wetherby last time, so we have deliberately been waiting for some drier ground which we have today.  The handicapper has given him a bit of help and the track will suit. It looks another typically competitive Newbury race, but I think he has a good each way chance.

Bumpy Johnson runs in the concluding race on the Newbury card, a handicap hurdle over three miles at 5.20pm.  He hasn’t quite discovered his form of late last season, but again he has had a little break since his last run and I think he may appreciate the better ground today.  He has to carry top weight in this and I hope again he has an each way chance.  He is about 10/1 in the betting and hopefully he can show us a bit more of his true form today.

There is also jumps racing today up at Hexham while there are two all-weather flat meetings a Lingfield and Newcastle and in Ireland they race at Dundalk. 

There is lots International football action this evening and Wales are at home to Finland in a European Championship qualifying match, with kick off 7.45pm. 

What is the longest word in the English language?

Smiles.  The first and last letters are a mile apart!

Happy Friday!