Busy Bank Holiday!

         Heure De Gloire runs today!
The busy Easter period for racing continues today with four jumps meetings at Chepstow, Fakenham, Huntingdon and Plumpton. We are represented at two meetings, Chepstow and Fakenham. We have three runners at Chepstow and two make the long journey to Norfolk.

Phantom of the points, fighter Allen and Heure De Gloire are our three runners are Chepstow, Rebel Angel and Via Dante are our runners at Fakenham. Phantom of the Points runs in the 3:45pm, novice hurdle over 2 miles. After a terrific first run over hurdles for the yard, he didn’t enjoy going right-handed at Ascot and then was a bit below part at Hexham in finishing second last time. Conor O'Farrell rode him that day and the ground was described as nearly unraceable which she did not appear to enjoy. The ground is described as soft at Chepstow today, which should be fine for him and a stiff 2 miles should be right up his street. This is a novice event and the handicapper has given him a rating of 125 already. The Philip Hobbs/Johnson White trained Ballee has a rating of 135 and is the one we have to beat. That horse has won impressively around Taunton twice this season and has a rating of 135. He has to give us twelve pounds today, which puts us in with every chance. The course is also a fair bit different from Taunton, the horse is a keen front runner and will have to stay well to last out on this track in these conditions. Jack Tudor knows our gelding well and hopefully he has a great chance.

Fighter Allen runs in the 4:18 pm handicap chase over two miles and Jack Tudor rides. He has just had the one start for the yard at Cheltenham last time. He found that competition a little hot, but will appreciate the return to calmer waters today. He drops back in distance to 2 miles, which is possibly not ideal, but regular work ride at Ashley Farrent thinks he will have no trouble coping with that trip, he is not slow! he was a winner on his penultimate start at Sligo before that and is in good form at home. I see he is about 10/1 in the betting and I can see him running a big race. Heure De Gloire runs in the 4:55pm handicap hurdle over 2 miles 3 furlongs. This is the furthest trip she has been over for a while, but has been placed over 3 miles in the past. The softer the ground the better and while this looks a competitive race, she can be in the shake up. She has ability and hopefully, she is in the mood to run a big race today with the Gearoid Harney riding.

The lorry to Fakenham set off fairly early this morning, but we picked this race for Rebel Angel to make her handicap debut in the 1:57 pm mares handicap hurdle. She is a six time winner on the flat and has run in three novice hurdles. She has had wind surgery since her last run and makes her handicap debut getting a handy four-year-old allowance in this. This represents her best winning opportunity to date, but there are a couple of rivals in this race that are a danger. Fakenham is a bit of a quirky track, but I don’t see why it will not suit and I think she has a good chance. Conor O'Farrell ride both of our runners at Fakenham.

Via Dante runs in the 3:42 pm handicap chase over 3 miles. He has just had the two runs to date so far this season, running well at Market Rasen to be fourth on seasonal reappearance, but he never went to yard at Chepstow last time. hopefully that can be put down to the ground and he will prefer the return to quicker conditions this afternoon. He has ability, but is a little bit of a monkey! He would have won at Newton Abbott last season, but for falling two fences from home and a repeat of that run will hopefully see him go close in this but he does have to bounce back From a poor effort last time. He is about to 7/1 in the betting and hopefully we can see the true Via Dante in this.

Over the weekend Paricolor was very disappointing at Haydock. He travelled and jumped well for much of the way before stopping quite quickly. I am not sure he is putting in 110% effort as David tells me he was very fresh and well yesterday morning. A change of tactics and maybe headgear might be on the cards next time.

Sizing Pottise ran well enough at Ffos Las. He made the running in first time blinkers, and despite being overtaken jumping three out, he kept plugging on. The ground can never be soft enough for him and a trip to France may be on the cards.

As well as the jumps meetings today there are also three flat meetings, two on the all-Weather at Kempton and Wolverhampton while they also race on the turf at Redcar. There are two jumps meetings in Ireland, at Cork and Fairyhouse with the feature being the Irish Grand National at 5pm. It is an 18 runner competitive field and Willie Mullins has the favourite.

Liverpool are top of the premiership table after beating Brighton yesterday, while Arsenal held Man City to a 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium. Liverpool lead the way on 67 points, Arsenal are in second on 65 points, while Man City are in third on 64 points. It promises to be a thrilling end to the football season over the next few weeks. There are no premiership games today, but plenty of action in the championship league you can follow if football is a sport you want to watch.

Unfortunately, the point point at Cherrybrook was abandoned yesterday following overnight rain on Saturday. Fingers crossed the meeting at Cothelstone, just outside Taunton will take place today but that does have to pass a morning inspection. It has to stop raining soon!

It doesn’t matter if you’re tall or short, fat, or thin, rich or poor, at the end of the day… It’s night!

Have a good bank holiday Monday.