Taunton Runners

It is a little quieter on the racing front today, with just the two jumps meetings in Britain at Haydock and Taunton and with the big Irish Festive Festivals having finished there is a blank day of racing in Ireland.  Don't fear however, only two more sleeps before a bumper day of New Year's racing action to look forward to again!  There is also a flat meeting at Wolverhampton on the all-weather today.  We have two runners at our most local track, Taunton, with October Hill and Green Sky being our representatives.

October Hill runs in the 2.20pm listed mares novices hurdle and Rian Corcoran rides.  She is making her stable and British debut having finished placed in her last four starts over hurdles in Ireland.  She is the outsider of the seven runner field today because she is not well in at the weights and ratings.  We would have likes to have run her in the earlier novices hurdle on the card but we got balloted out of that so decided to go for this as we would just like to get a run into her.  She is a lovely big mare who will like the ground.  She might find the two mile trip sharp enough around this track but I think she could outrun her 40/1 odds.  We will see if we can nick as much of the good prize money on offer as we can.

Green Sky runs in the final race of the day, the 2.55pm handicap hurdle over 2m3f and Rian Corcoran rides.  She ran well enough last time at Hereford last time to be third in novice company and returning to a handicap with Rian taking a valuable six pounds off her back I would like to think she has a good chance.  This is her second run since a wind operation and the track and ground will suit.  She has a good each way chance.

Yesterday, Penn Avenue made a pleasing hurdling and stable debut at Doncaster to be third under Conor O'Farrell.  She jumped well and finished with just the two more fancied rivals with experience in front of her.  She will have learnt a lot from that experience and there is plenty of improvement to come.  Morradi ran well enough in a hot novices hurdle at Newbury.  He got a bit outpaced as things quickened up but Jack felt he hit the line strong and improved from his first start.  He is a work in progress and there will be easier opportunities.  Jurancon ran with much more enthusiasm in his race but is jumping let him down a little.  Jack felt the ground was too quick for him and a return to softer would see him in a much better light.

Lossiemouth won the Christmas hurdle at Leopardstown but it was a great run from Brighterdaysahead in second and she is the one to follow next time.  There was another lovely win for Wodhooh who is a mare I have a soft spot for!

The Premier League football action returns this evening and there are six games which includes Chelsea at home to Bournemouth, Aston Villa are away at Arsenal and Manchester United play Wolves.  I am enjoying watching the Darts at the moment, I wouldn't follow it at any other time of the year but I do think it is a fun watch.  Luke Littler won last night and Luke Humphries features in one of a few good matches this evening.  The tournament is getting to the latter stages now and the final will take place on Saturday.

I am opening a gym called "Resolutions".

It will have exercise equipment for the first two weeks and then it turns into a bar for the rest of the year!

Have a good day!