Friday Four!

   Phantomofthepoints runs today at Ayr!
Today we have four runners spread at opposite ends of the British Isles with, two at Ayr and two in Devon!  Phantomofthepoints and Royal Mer made the journey to Scotland yesterday and had a good journey up, David and Leanne are flying up this morning.  Vision De Maine and Tough Approach have a short journey to run at Exeter this evening.

Phantomofthepoints runs in the opening contest of the Scottish National meeting, the handicap hurdle over two miles at 2.00pm and Jack Tudor rides.  This is his first run in a handicap after winning a Chepstow novice event last time and he runs off a mark of 127.  I see he is about 13/2 second best in the betting in an open looking race, but I would like to think he has a good chance.  He has been running consistently well all season with one slightly below par effort at Ascot where he didn’t enjoy going right handed.  He has finished runner up three times to some useful horses, including over course and distance on hurdling debut.  It was raining up at Ayr yesterday, which would suit and he is a horse I like a lot.  I can’t wait to see him chasing next season but I am sure he can put up a good account of himself this afternoon.

Royal Mer runs in the 3.55pm novices limited handicap chase over two miles and Jack Tudor rides.  Our six year old has been in red hot form of last and won for the fifth time this season, third time in a row at Wincanton last time.  That was just eleven days ago so we are turning him out again quite quickly under a penalty put he is effectively three pounds ‘well in’ today.  He seems in great form at home and the more rain that falls the better and I don’t see why he won’t run well again, he is about 5/2 favourite in the betting. 

Vision De Maine runs in the opening race of the Exeter card, division one of the national hunt maiden hurdle over two miles at 4.25pm and David Noonan rides.  Our five year old has won an Irish point to point and ran well in a bumper, but has been a little disappointing in two hurdle races to date.  This is his second run since wind surgery and we have waited for some better ground, so I hope we see a better performance on the racecourse as he does go nicely at home.  There is a short priced favourite who may be hard to beat but at 20/1 I hope we can give him at least something to think about.

Tough Approach runs in the 6.30pm handicap hurdle over 2m7f and David Noonan rides.  He is having his first run since wind surgery and I hope we see a bit more today.  He ran well to be second on his penultimate start at Kempton, but was too bad to be true at Taunton last time.  This track should suit better and he has been placed in an Irish point to point as well.  If he shows us what he does at home tonight on the race track, then he has a good each way chance.

As well as jumps racing at Ayr and Exeter they have jumping at Fontwell.  There is flat action at Newbury and Bath and in Ireland they have two jumps fixtures at Limerick and Ballinrobe.  Plenty of racing to keep us all entertained today!

Last night in the football Liverpool won their game against Atalanta 1-0 and West Ham were knocked out of the Europa League as Bayer 04 Leverkusen made a late level to the 1-0 result after full time with Bayer 04 Leverkusen after 3-1 advantage point, meant West Ham were knocked out. 

The dry weather is good for the cricket at Somerset are in action at home today in a County Championship match against Nottinghamshire.

PS Happy 89^th birthday for yesterday Nan, thank you for a nice lunch!!

If you ever think English is not a weird language just remember that read and lead rhyme and read and lead rhyme.

But read and lead don’t rhyme and neither do read and lead!

Happy Friday!