Newton Abbot Runner

    Lock Out runs at Newton Abbot Today

We have one runner today, Lock Out in the 2.54pm conditional jockeys handicap chase at Newton Abbot and Rian Corcoran rides.  This is is first run back from a break and he tends to go well fresh so fingers crossed he can do that today!  There are six runners in the race and we are 3/1 second favourite.  Newton Abbot is probably a sharp enough track for him but he did run well around Hereford last season and he will like the ground.  Rian claims his valuable ten pounds again and that will hopefully make all the difference.

Yesterday, Purple Own ran as I hoped and out ran his odds.  He travelled and jumped well and held every chance before a mistake at the second last ended any hope of winning.  The winner was very impressive so I am not sure we would have beaten him anyway but it was an encouraging run from our hurdling debutant and he can build on this next time.  In the long-term I am sure he will appreciate a step up in distance but I imagine he will be kept at this trip for now and we will be looking for a similar type of race for him in a few weeks time.  He has come out of the race fine this morning which is the main thing.  First Lord Du Cuet was a non-runner yesterday.

There are two jumps meetings today at Newton Abbot and Stratford but a lot a eyes will be on Ascot for the Champions Day flat season finale.  The cracking card gets underway at 12.55pm and I think the first two races are likely to go the way of the royal blue colours of Godolphin.  Not very original but they have the favourites Trawlerman and Words of Truth so it should be a good start for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.  Things are a little trickier after this but hopefully Kalpana will win the Fillies and Mares race and Fields of Gold will show his class in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 3.25pm.  The race I am most looking forward to is the 4.05pm Champion Stakes and the clash between Ombudsman, Delacroix and Calandagan and I think Ombudsman just has my vote to make it a very good day for the Godolphin team.  The day finishes with a handicap and best of luck to Aidan Ryan who has a runner in the race, Golden Mind trained by Richard Fahey.  He is a big price so looks to have it all to do but these colours won at Ffos Las earlier in the week so I hope they can make a bold showing this afternoon!

There are two other flat meetings today at Catterick and Wolverhampton, while in Ireland they race on the flat at Leopardstown and over jumps at Limerick.   The action continues this evening and there is a big jumps race at Far Hills in the US, the American Grand National hurdle stakes at 8.50pm British time.  There is some Irish interest with Gordon Elliott having two runners in the race, Fil Dor and Zanahiyr and Gavin Cromwell send Ballysax Hank over.  There are only eight runners and Jamie Bargary who used to work at Pond House is riding in the race.  He has been based over the for a good few years now and is doing very well.  I shall try and watch the race and see how they all get on.

Premiership football action returns today after the International break.  Nottinham Forest against Chelsea is the early kick-off at 12.30pm while Fulham are at home to Arsenal in the 5.30pm match.  The England men's cricketers are in Saturday morning T20 action over in New Zealand.

All of us older folks know about living on the edge, we used to answer the phone without knowing who it was!!

Have a good day!