Nottingham Runner

  Bashful Boy runs on the flat at Nottingham

There are two jumps meetings today at Ludlow and Fontwell, the stable does not have any runners at either of these two places but we do have a runner on the flat today, Bashful Boy at Nottingham, ground permitting.  He is due to run in the 2m2f handicap at 3pm with Rob Hornby on board but we are just a little worried about the ground being too soft so we will see what happens.  They had 8.6mm of rain overnight turning the ground to soft, heavy in places with a bit more rain forecast before the start time of his race. 

He does have some form on soft, including a good fourth at Goodwood earlier this summer but he probably does prefer it a bit quicker.  He drops down in grade of race markedly today and I would like to think he has a good each way chance if he handles the ground.  He ran well in the Cesarewitch last time, has won at the course before and Rob Hornby has won on him before - lots of positives just one nagging concern about the ground, we will see what happens!

Yesterday at Worcester, Order of the Dance did not like the ground at Worcester and you could see from an early stage in the race that he did not look to be enjoying it.  The jockey's reported the ground to be riding much softer than the ground's official description of good.  Jockey Callum Pritchard did the sensible thing in pulling him up when his chance had gone and we will find the tracks with better ground next time and I am sure he can bounce back to form.  Harry Junior ran his best ever race to be second, bumping into a progressive rival.  He travelled and jumped well and kept responding for pressure when Jack Tudor asked him.  He will of learnt a lot again from this experience as he is a bit of a slow learner and so it was another step in the right direction and he can build on this again next time.

Aside from Nottingham there are also two other flat cards at Southwell and Chelmsford.  In Ireland, they have some jumps action at Clonmel.

Last night in the Champions League, there were easy wins for Liverpool and Chelsea while Spurs were held to a 0-0 draw away in Monaco.  Tonight there is Europa League matches with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace all in action.  The England women's cricketers were soundly beaten by Australia in the World Cup group match yesterday.  While the result did not matter as both teams are already qualified for the final, it shows that England have a mountain to climb if they want to win the competition outright.  The England men's cricketers are in action this morning against New Zealand in a Twenty20 match but rain has currently stopped play.

Why was a fraction so nervous about marrying the decimal?

Because he would have to convert!

Have a good day