Pointing in Cornwall

It is a slightly quieter day on the racing front today with a single jumps card at Ascot and a single flat fixture at Doncaster.  The stable does not have any runners.  In Ireland, there is a jumps card at Downpatrick.  One of the most interesting runners today in my opinion comes in the 3.05pm race at Ascot, the juvenile handicap hurdle.  The favourite is a horse called Munsif for Charles Byrnes and today he will be partnered by Sean Bowen.  This horse was balloted out of the Fred Winter at Cheltenham having finished just behind the eventual winner of that race, Saratoga in Ireland before that.  He then finished third in a maiden hurdle at Navan the other day when sent off favourite and to me he looks primed to run a big race in today's valuable handicap.  He was rated 93 on the flat and so obviously has an engine and while today's race looks quite open, he would be my selection.

Having said that we do not have a runner today, we do!  I shall be heading down to Cornwall, near Newquay with by trusted side kicks of Jack Pipe and his friend Oscar as we are taking Ben Lilly down to run in the men's open at Trebudannon.  It is a long way down but is lovely when you get there!  Today, Ben Lilly will be partnered by Ashley Dascombe.  Mia Holmes was unseated off our gelding last week so we have decided to go again as he will enjoy today's conditions and the track and so we will see what happens and try our best! 

It was sad to read yesterday that World hurdle runner up Ballyburn will miss the rest of this season and all of 2026/27 after picking up an injury at Cheltenham.  A few of the Irish trainers were a little concerned about the ground not being soft enough and while I am not saying that this was the reason for his injury and they haven't said what the injury is, you probably don't have to be a rocket scientist!  Hopefully there will be no more news of injuries to come from Cheltenham and we can look forward to the closing few weeks of this National Hunt season though some rain will be most welcome! 

The International football friendlies continue today but there are again not that many matches that I would take much interest in watching.  It is the men's tennis final at the Miami Open this evening where Jannik Sinner will play 21st seed Jiri Lehecka.

I was out walking the dogs today and someone asked me if they were Jack Russells.

I replied, "No they are mine!"

Have a lovely Sunday!