Two for Taunton!

Today we are back racing at our local track Taunton and we have two runners representing the stable. Skin Full runs in the opening race of the card, the Novices’ Hurdle over 2miles and Tom Bellamy takes the ride. Rebel Angel runs in the 2:43pm Handicap Hurdle over 2miles and Jack Tudor is in the saddle.

Skin Full is making his second appearance over hurdles after finishing unplaced at the track last time. He has been placed in an Irish point point so may appreciate further than today’s trip and he is more of a long-term prospect. He is a big price in the betting so it will be a watching brief for me today. It looks fairly open at the head of the betting and I wouldn’t like to pick the winner.

Our other runner is Rebel Angel. She was a shade disappointing on handicap debut last time at Fakenham, but I’m hoping she can put that run behind her today with the reason being as she did not handle the Fakenham track last time. She jumped a little right handed and never looked happy, she is a six time winner on the flat and has an ability so hopefully she can show us a bit more of that today. The Paul Nicholls trained favourite looks hard to beat being seven pounds well in for finishing runner up at Plumpton on his handicap debut last time. Hopefully we can give that one something to think about and take a step back in the right direction. We are about 12/1 fourth Best in the betting, and I’ll be disappointed if she is not in the first four.

Today the first day of the Aintree Festival kicks off and it is an exciting opening card with 4 grade ones scheduled. Nicky Henderson’s string is back in action for the festival and Sir Gino is the first one of his string to represent the stable in the second race of the card and he will be hoping for a much better turn of events with his runners than at Cheltenham. As we approach the end of the season slowly, it would be great for the Seven Barrows team to go out on a high after what can only be described as a frustrating season for them.

Other than the jumps card at Taunton and Aintree today, there is also flat action at Southwell and Chelmsford. In Ireland, there is a jumps card scheduled at Limerick.

Last night in the football there were 2 Quarter Final matches in the Champions League. Atletico Madrid 2-1 Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint Germain 2-3 Barcelona. Tonight there are 4 Quarter-Final matches in the Europa League to watch, which are all set to kick off at 8pm. Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. West Ham United. Benfica vs. Marseille. Liverpool vs. Atalanta. AC Milan vs. Roma.

Why did the banana go to the doctors?
She wasn't peeling well!

Have a great Thursday!