Sunday Runner

   Vision De Maine runs at Ffos Las Today

There are two jumps meetings today at Ffos Las and Wincanton and we have runners at the first mentioned, Vision De Maine and River Run Free.  They both run in the same race, the 4.50pm handicap chase over three miles and Jack Tudor is on board Vision De Maine while River Run Free is partnered by Rian Corcoran.  Both horses have to bounce back from disappointing runs last time but I think they will today.  Both horses wore blinkers last time and Vision De Maine travelled well in his race at Market Rasen, perhaps too well before getting a bit stuck in the soft ground while River Run Free never 'faced' his blinkers and basically never went a yard on his last start at Leicester.  Both horses have cheek pieces today instead of blinkers which should suit and Vision De Maine has a tongue strap back on which he has not had in his last two starts.  There is rain forecast at Ffos Las which may not suit Vision De Maine so we will have to see how much they get and decide if he runs or not.  Typically, we planned to run here because the ground is generally safe and softer than most places but we would not mind if they did not get the forecast rain on this occasion - perhaps they could send it on to some of the other courses who are desperately in need of it!

The ground is much quicker at Wincanton and some of their races have small field sizes because of it.  There is a flat meeting up at Musselburgh while in Ireland they race on the flat at Leopardstown and over jumps at Down Royal.  

Yesterday, Aintree was sadly without Vieux Lion Rouge in the legends parade before racing but I am sure he would have been looking down at all that went on.  I had seen several re-runs of past Grand Nationals in the last week and what was remarkable was that in the majority of those races Vieux Lion Rouge can be seen contesting the end of those races and it just reminds you how good he was and we were lucky to have him.

There are four Premiership matches today, three of them kicking off at 2pm, Crystal Palace v Newcastle, Nottingham Forrest v Aston Villa and Sunderland against Spurs.  Chelsea are at home to Manchester City at 4.30pm.

Hopefully Rory McIlroy will win the Masters golf at Augusta this evening and make history.

My sister just delivered a baby.

I knew she had it in her!

Have a lovely Sunday!