Evening Runners

Today, there is jumps racing at Newton Abbot and Market Rasen with the flat scheduled at Sandown, Chester, York and Goodwood. In Ireland, they race over flat today at Cork and Fairyhouse.  We have three runners at Newton Abbot this evening, Hammer Dan, Born In The West and Tres Bien.

Hammer Dan runs in the 7:55pm Handicap Hurdle over 3miles 2½f with Jack Tudor in the saddle.  It is fair to say things have not really gone to plan with him thus far and his form figures are not the most inspiring but he goes okay and home and definitely should be competitive off his handicap mark.  While I am not sure I would be rushing to back him, I think he will enjoy the better ground this evening and would not be surprised if he weren’t to run better than his odds suggest.

Our other two runners are in the last, the bumper at 9:00pm over 2miles 1f. David Noonan rides Tres Bien and Born In The West is ridden by Martin McIntyre. Tres Bien has had two starts in point to point bumpers where she finished fourth on her most recent outing at Milborne St Andrew. Although she was beaten quite a long way, the form of that race has not worked out too badly.  Today is a learning curve but the track and ground should suit.  Born In The West was a point-to-point winner on his last outing at Colthestone and finished strongly to the line there under Martin McIntyre.  He is a nice individual who goes well at home so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.  The Charles Byrnes trained Irish raider looks the one they all have to beat in this but our Westerner gelding can hopefully give him something to think about. 

Yesterday evening we had Coltor run at Worcester and he showed up well for a long way before getting tired, this was his first run back in a while.  It was a competitive race and he carried top weight.  I hope that the handicapper might give him a little help and there is a much more fun to be had with him this summer over hurdles and on the flat.  Groundbreaker was a non-runner and did not go to the races but he will be out over hurdles again soon.

The Euro’s kick off tonight with Germany and Scotland being the first match for Group A which is set to kick off at 8pm.  It is a very tough start for the Scots but it would be great if they could sneak something from the game.

The US Open Golf is underway at Pinehurst and Rory McIlroy shares the lead with Patrick Cantlay after Day One at -5.  World number one, Scottie Scheffler was far from his best but did scramble a +1 round of 71 so is not too far off the lead.  

I ordered this book title: "How to Scam People".
It's been three months now - hope it'll arrive soon!

Happy Friday!