Taunton Tuesday!

         King Turgeon runs today!
Today we have three runners at Taunton Skin Full, Manuelito and King Turgeon.  Skin Full and Manuelito both run in the 2.50pm novices hurdle over two miles.  Jack Tudor rides Manuelito while Tom Bellamy is on board Skin Full who is making his Pond House and rules debut.  This five year old has finished third in an Irish point to point and will make a lovely chaser in time.  Today’s trip may be on the short side, but it will be interesting to see how he gets on.  He is about 20/1 in the betting.

Manuelito is a four year old I like a lot.  He has had just the one start over hurdles to date at Wincanton where he was an encouraging third.  He has experience on the flat and is a lovely big horse, who has taken to hurdling nicely.  While he is another for the future I wouldn’t put anyone off him each way at 12/1 today.  I think he will have improved for his last outing and he can improve on that debut effort.

King Turgeon runs in the 3.50pm handicap chase over three miles and Jack Tudor rides.  He made a very promising start to the season when he was second at Chepstow and won at Taunton.  He was then probably in the grips of the handicapper in some competitive races but returns to a little calmer waters this afternoon.  He wears blinkers for the first time in a while and that might just sharpen him up a little more.  The handicapper has given him a little help and at 10/1 I will be disappointed if he is not at least involved in the finish today.

There is also jumps racing up at Newcastle this afternoon and there is an all-weather fixture on the flat at Southwell.  In Ireland they race on the all-weather at Dundalk.

Yesterday, Royal Defender was very disappointing at Exeter.  He travelled and jumped very well until the last hurdle down the back straight before stopping quite quickly.  The trip ought to have been no issue and he goes nicely enough at home so it will be interesting to see if anything comes to light in the coming days.

There is plenty of  International football action this evening and England play Belgium in a friendly at Wembley, 7.45pm kick off.  Scotland play Northern Ireland in a friendly while the most important game this evening is probably for Wales.  They play Poland in a European Championship eliminator match at 7.45pm.

“Head, shoulders, knees and toes,” went from being a fun little kids song to a list of things that hurt!

Have a good Tuesday!