Winning Sniper

  American Sniper Winner at Newton Abbot

It was another good day for the team at Newton Abbot yesterday as American Sniper was our fifth winner of the season under a front running ride from Rian Corcoran.  He led the field a merry dance from the off and jumped very well and Rian sent him on from two out and no-one got near to challenge.  Our eight year old was winning for the fifth time in his career and when back to a realistic handicap mark he performs well, and so it proved yesterday.  He improved for his come back run at Hereford last month and was always in control yesterday.  Even when re-assessed by the handicapper I hope he will still be on a winnable mark.  Ocean Heights also ran well to be third at Newton Abbot.  As the field exited the back straight on the final circuit he seemed to be in a bit of trouble but all he did was keep galloping and he finished a never nearer third.  On this evidence he looks like he will stay a bit further and definitely can win a race over hurdles.

There are two jumps meetings today, this afternoon at Worcester and this evening at Market Rasen.  The stable has one runner, in the lucky last at Worcester, Mancero.  He runs in the 5.05pm handicap hurdle over 2m4f and he will be partnered by champion jockey Sean Bowen, and this will be Sean's first ride for us, hopefully he can work his magic on our four year old.  Mancero has been running consistently well of late, enjoying the better ground and he looks to have a good chance in this.  He is about 4/1 second best in the betting, the favourite being the horse who finished second to our very own Saccary last week.  That one is stepping up in distance for the first time today and may prove difficult to beat but with the stable in good form I really hope Mancero can get off the mark for the first time over hurdles.

There are three flat meetings today at Ripon, Yarmouth and Sandown while in Ireland they have a flat meeting at Fairyhouse and a jumps card at Limerick.  The Sandown card is an evening fixture and it a a very good night of racing ahead with some Group racing on the card.  Tune in at 6.12pm to see top stayer, Sweet William in the Henry II Stakes while Ombudsman runs in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at 7.12pm.

Myself and Jack Pipe have returned from Newmarket having enjoyed playing in the stable staff golf tournament there yesterday.  Jack finished twelfth, and myself 24th of 44 players so we didn't do too badly!  Thankfully conditions were warm but not too hot and Jack actually only finished four points of the lead.  We met some great people and heard all the latest news about the Newmarket flat horses with representatives from all the top yards in action.  There is another competition at Malborough at the end of June and Jack and I plan to play in that.

Well done to Crystal Palace who won their European final last night 1-0 so it is just down to Arsenal now to complete the good run of Premiership teams in Europe this season!  In the French Open tennis, there was a shock result yesterday with women's number 2 seed, Rybakina exiting the competition.  Number one seeds Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are in action today.  The women's Somerset cricketers won their match against Yorkshire yesterday.

I had a pet newt once.  I called him Tiny...

Because he was my newt!

Have a good day!