Hill At Ludlow

       October Hill runs at Ludlow Today

There are two jumps meetings today at Ludlow and Sedgefield and we have one runner, October Hill.  We were due to have Walkadina running there as well but she is not quite right this morning and we have taken her out.  October Hill runs in the opening race on the card, a mares maiden hurdle at 2.20pm over two miles and Jack Tudor rides.  She drops drastically back in trip for this race, after she didn't stay three miles at Wincanton last time.  We have always thought stamina was her forte but her best two runs have been over 2 miles and 2m3f at Taunton so I think she will like the track and the ground today.  It is the first time Jack will be on board and it looks a good opportunity for her to get her head in front.  She is a very consistent mare and has lots of places to her name but it would be fantastic to get that elusive first win beside her name.  She is 6/5 favourite in the betting so let's hope that is correct!  Thankfully Jack Tudor is okay this morning following a fall at Hereford yesterday.  Riding for Christian Williams he had every chance of riding a winner and was upsides in front when a bad mistake at the last fence caused him to come off.

There is an all-weather flat meeting today at Newcastle and in Ireland they have a jumps fixture at Cork.

I was reading that Willie Mullins paraded three of his Cheltenham heroes in the village of Leighlinbridge on Wednesday evening.  Cheltenham Boodles Gold Cup winner Gaelic Warrior was joined by Queen Mother Champion chase winner Il Etait Temps and Champion hurdle winner Lossiemouth.  Fans turned out in large numbers to see the stars and it looked like all of them loved the occasion, especially Lossiemouth who was enjoying the attention and some carrots from some of the children who were lucky to get up close.  Paul Townend and Willie Mullins were pictured enjoying a drink or two along the way.  I remember similar scenes in our local village of Culmstock when Comply or Die won the Grand National back in 2008, fond memories.

I also see that former champion jockey Brian Hughes broke his leg in a fall at Newcastle on Saturday.  The 40 year old is on 99 winners for the season and would love to be back to ride one more winner before the end of the season but I am not sure that will be possible.  He does want to return long term however and thinks he has at least a couple of good more seasons in him left riding.  He is also only six winners shy of riding 2000 career winners which would be an incredible achievement.  Only A P McCoy, Richard Johnson and Ruby Walsh are ahead of him and so he would join a very elite band of riders.

There are just two Premiership sides left in the Champions League after Spurs and Newcastle were knocked out last night.  Liverpool won 4-0 at home to Galatasary and so join Arsenal in the quarter final stages.  Arsenal have drawn Sporting Lisbon while Liverpool have a tough draw against Paris St Germain.  Tonight, in the Europa Cup, Nottingham Forrest have to try and overcome a 1-0 deficit, while Aston Villa have home advantge and a 1-0 lead from the first leg against Lille and so are in a strong position.  Crystal Palace are 0-0 from the first leg and are away at AEK Larnaca.

I am getting stronger with age.

I can now lift £100 worth of groceries with one hand.

Have a good day!