Off & Running!

          Manuelito wins at Ffos Las!
It was great to get our first winner of the season at Ffos Las yesterday with Manuelito confirming all the promise he had previously shown with an impressive win under Jack Tudor.  This was our four year olds first run in a handicap and they went a strong gallop from the off, but Jack had him in a nice position throughout and challenged the leader just before the last and won going away.  He has a good level of ability with a great attitude to match, he loves good ground and will be kept on the go for now and may even have a run on the flat again at some point.

Activist was very disappointing in his race, dropping away tamely as the field exited the back straight, this was too bad to be true and we know he is better than that.  The first time visor had the desired effect on Mr Tambourine Man and he ran his best race for some time to be a close second.  He galloped all the way to the line, but could not quite reel in the leader and if he can build on this next time he can definitely win again. Paricolor ran well enough but Tom Bellamy thought the ground was plenty lively enough for him while Heure De Gloire also did not run too badly and Jack feels she can win over three miles going forwards.

Today we have one runner, Ocean Heights on the flat at Salisbury.  He runs in the 2.30pm handicap over 1m6f and Finley Marsh rides.  It is a valuable and competitive race and we are quite a big price in the betting.  Hopefully the ground will dry back a little more from good to soft to good and I think he has an each way chance.  This will be his first run on the turf on the flat but he has won a bumper before so this does not concern me.  He steps up in distance for the first time on the flat as well which I think will also suit and hopefully give him some scope to improve off his rating of 83.  He has a likeable attitude and I hope he can put up a bold show.

There is plenty of racing action to watch today with Jumps at Perth and Fontwell. The flat meetings are at Salisbury, York with their second day for the Dante Festival and Lingfield. In Ireland, there is jumps action at Clonmel and at Limerick, they race on the flat.

Declarations for the Lockinge at Newbury on Saturday will be announced today.

Last night in the football Brighton 1-2 Chelsea and Man U 3-2 Newcastle. Tonight in the football the English Football League in the Championship, they have the promotion Play-offs in the Semi-finals. Leeds vs. Norwich who kick off at 8pm.

You heard the rumour going round about the butter?

Never mind, I shouldn’t spread it!

Happy Thursday!