Uttoxeter Runners

   Thanksforthehelp runs at Uttoxeter Today

Cheltenham may be over for another year but the jump race action continues thick and fast today with four meetings at Uttoxeter, Kempton, Fontwell and Newcastle and there is also a flat card at Southwell with no racing in Ireland.  We have two runners at Uttoxeter with their feature race being the Midlands National at 3pm.  17 runners go to post for their marathon chase and it looks very competitive as you would as expect.  The Emmet Mullins trained J'Arrive De L'Est just shades favouritism but the second horse in the betting, Aworkinprogress is a horse I like a lot and is steadily progressive as his name suggests! He looks tailor made for a race like this and I think he should run well for J P McManus.

One of our runners today also carries the green and gold colours, Thanksforthehelp runs in the opening handicap hurdle on the card at 1.50pm over 2m4f and Jack Tudor rides.  He ran well before not quite getting home over three miles the last day at Haydock so should appreciate the drop back in trip this afternoon.  He has not quite produced his Punchestown winning form since then but to be honest I think he has just been too high in the handicap.  This is a tough race and and while we are about 14/1 in the betting and have an each way chance, it will be a watching brief for me.

Jurancon runs in the 2.25pm handicap hurdle with Jack Tudor on board and it is his first try over three miles.  It is fair to see he has had a very disappointing season so far but he has had a few niggling problems behind the scenes and hopefully he appears in good form at home at present.  He is an Irish point to point winner and has been shaping like he will appreciate going up in distance today so we will see what happens!  The track and ground will be fine and I would just like to see him take a step in the right direction.  He is a big price in a competitive race and while I won't be backing him today I would not be surprised if he were to outrun his odds.  He is a very good horse who should be winning off his current mark so watch this space!

Yesterday at Fakenham, Cinammon Coco was very disappointing on stable debut.  He got squeezed out on the inside with just over a circuit to go and lost his position and I am not sure if he downed tools or what but the writing was on the wall shortly afterwards and Rian did the sensible thing and looked after him for another day.  He seems fine this morning and we know he is better than that.  Rian heads to Fontwell today for three rides for outside trainers.

Well done to Wrexham who beat Swansea 2-0 last night and today there are five Premiership football games to look forward to.  Arsenal v Everton is just one of the tea time matches at 5.30pm with the other being Chelsea v Newcastle.  West Ham against Manchester City kicks off at 8pm.

We also have Siz Nations rugby action today and thier promises to be some very good games.  Ireland are at home to Scotland at 2.10pm, while Wales host Italy at 4.40pm.  This evening, England travel to Paris to play France at 8.10pm which looks to be a very tough encounter after their recent matches.

Rory McIlory and Scottie Scheffler only just made the cut for the weekend at the PGA Players Championships at Sawgrass and both men are thirteen shots behind the leader, Ludvig Aaberg.

Just went into a coffee shop and the barista was wearing a mask,

I asked "Why the mask?"

She said, "It's a coughy filter!"

Have a good day.