4 at Wincanton!

            Only Fools runs today!
Today we have four runners at Wincanton, Royal Mer, American Sniper, Only Fools, and First Lord Du Cuet. Jack Tudor rides all four of our runners and the first of those is Royal Mer in the 3:38 handicap chase over 2 miles. He has had a wonderfully consistent season and put up his most impressive display to date winning at Wetherby last time. That was off his highest rating yet but he he’s been put up a further nine pounds for that win so races off a mark of 116 today. Life will be tougher but he will enjoy the heavy ground and he won’t mind the track. This is a much higher grade of race, but he deserves to take his chance and I don’t think he'll be far away.

American Sniper runs in the 4:08 pm handicap hurdle over 2 miles 4f. He won at the Cheltenham November meeting, but was a little disappointing. Last time at Newbury that run was over 3 miles and I think he will appreciate the drop back in trip this afternoon, though I am not sure he really enjoyed the testing conditions, it is a competitive race and he is about 13/2 in the betting so hopefully come run well but I’m not overly confident.

Only fools is another, who has been admirably consistent all season winning twice, the first time at Ludlow and then at Fontwell on her penultimate start. She ran well under a penalty at Hereford last time just getting caught after the last and despite racing off a career high handicap mark, I think she will enjoy conditions and another big run is expected. She is about 100/30 second-best in the betting and I don’t think she’ll be too far away.

First Lord Du Cuet runs in the final race on the Wincanton card, a handicap Chase for veteran horses, 10 years old and over. I see he has put up in the betting once again, but he is nought from 13 over fences in his career, but he never runs a bad race - He just finds it difficult to win! He has won at Wincanton before, the blinkers helped him last time and this is a slightly lower grade of race. You should handle conditions and will hopefully make the frame again and maybe even get his first win over the larger obstacles.

Yesterday, both horses at Exeter were disappointing. It was difficult conditions on horrible ground and we know both horses are better than that so it's back to the drawing board.

Wincanton is the only jumps meeting today, but there are three on the all weather at Newcastle, Lingfield and Wolverhampton this evening.

It was another entertaining football match yesterday afternoon between Manchester United and Liverpool, great for the neutral, but perhaps not if you are supporter of either team! The game finished in a 2-2 draw, but Liverpool will be ruining their miss chances. United are fun to watch, but equally there are plenty of head in the hand moments!

It is still very tight at the top of the premiership table with Manchester City and Arsenal both winning, so it’s only one point between all three teams. There are no premiership football matches this evening, but I shall be attending a quiz put on by racing welfare for local stable yards. We have a couple of teams entered so I’ll let you know how we get on tomorrow!

It was also an entertaining rugby match on Saturday between Exeter, Chiefs and Bath, Chiefs ran out 21,15 winners in the invest champions cup and go through to the semifinals.

I know a lot of jokes about retired people, but most of them don’t work!

Happy Monday!