Worcester Runners

     African Lady runs at Worcester Today

Today there is jumps racing at Worcester and we have two runners at the track this evening, Walk of the Roses and African Lady.  We did have Micronormous also declared but she will have to wait for another day.

Walk of the Roses runs in division two of the mare’s maiden hurdle at 6.30pm and Jack Tudor rides.  Her first two runs over hurdles earlier this summer were good but she was a little below that level at Uttoxeter last time.  She wears a first time tongue strap this afternoon and she is third best in the betting.  I hope she won’t be too far away at the finish.

African Lady makes her Pond House debut in the concluding race on the card, a handicap hurdle over 2m4f and Jack Tudor is on board.  This is a big night for young Jack Pipe who bought her at the sales just last month.  She is his first ever buy and he is super excited that she is running and very hopeful of a good run!  This is her handicap debut and she steps up in trip, which looks like should suit on her Irish form.  She has ran okay in maiden and novice company over there and we have put cheek pieces on for the first time as this will help her concentrate a little more.  We were a little disappointed with her rating of 100 here when in Ireland she has one of 92 but they do tend to be higher here and we hope there is still scope for improvement off this mark.  She is about 7/1 in the betting and hopefully Jack will still be smiling after the race!

Worcester is the only jumps meeting today in Britain but they do race in Ireland over jumps at Sligo.  The big meeting of the day is of course at York.  I have never been to York but I am told it is well worth a visit with quality racing, a nice track and facilities and not as pricey as some courses.  There are three Group races on the card today with the Group 1 Judmonte International Stakes at 3.35pm the feature but in truth it is a cracking card throughout.  City of Troy is the favourite and is a horse I like a lot but he does seem a little uneasy at the head of the market.  The French trained Calandagan won at Royal Ascot in June and could be the one to give the favourite most to think about.  Los Angeles and King's Gambit share favouritsim  for the Great Voltigeur Stakes at 3.00pm and I think it could be a big race double for the Aidan O'Brien and Ballydoyle team.  

Away from the racing there is more Champions League football qualifying action this evening while we have day one of of the cricket test match between England and Sri Lanka at Old Trafford.  England will be without captain Ben Stokes because of injury and so Ollie Stokes now takes over the honour.

Two robber were robbing a liquor store when one robber grabs a bottle and asks the other robber, "is this whiskey?"

The other says "yeah but not as whiskey as wobbing a bank!"

Have a great day!