Katchmore Bids For Hat-trick

The stable has five runners at Cheltenham this afternoon, including three (Fiulin, The Pier and Raslan) in the competitive 2m4 1/2f handicap hurdle at 3.10pm.  Water Garden participates in the three miler, while the progressive Katchmore bids to complete the hat-trick in the conditional jockey's and amateur riders hurdle.  Young Tom Bellamy, who was aboard Katchmore for his latest success at Exeter is in the plate again today.  The handicapper reacted by putting him up by 14lbs for his latest victory, so let's hope that he continues improving.  There is also some good action on the level from Newmarket this afternoon.

Katchmore bids to complete the hat-trick at Cheltenham this afternoon

The stable has five runners at Cheltenham this afternoon, including three (Fiulin, The Pier and Raslan) in the competitive 2m4 1/2f handicap hurdle at 3.10pm.  Water Garden participates in the three miler, while the progressive Katchmore bids to complete the hat-trick in the conditional jockey's and amateur riders hurdle.  Young Tom Bellamy, who was aboard Katchmore for his latest success at Exeter is in the plate again today.  The handicapper reacted by putting him up by 14lbs for his latest victory, so let's hope that he continues improving.  There is also some good action on the level from Newmarket this afternoon.

I thought that Midnight Tuesday performed creditably in fourth at Kempton yesterday afternoon - it was a competitive twenty runner handicap hurdle so if you had backed him each way you would have been paid out.  Over at Exeter Soulard was a little disappointing and the ground may well have played it's part.  Soulard's wins have come on top of the ground and while the going was officially described as good/firm (good in places), the fastest time of the day was still 13 seconds than standard - that doesn't sound much like good/firm ground to me!

There was very nearly a controversial finish in the opening race when odds on favourite Themilanhorse scrambled home.  He had got loose and galloped around the middle of the course for quite a long while and I felt sure (along with Matt Chapman) that they would withdraw him.  It is always worrying when I agree with Matt, but I do think that punters should have the option of withdrawing their bet in such scenarios.  If he had been beaten I bet there would have been some outcry!

To my mind the unluckiest loser of the day was the Philip Hobbs trained Bold Henry who was well clear when capsizing at the last.  It will be interesting to see what the handicapper does to him when he is awarded a handicap mark.

*****

There is some football match to look forward to tonight on ITV at 7.45pm as Chelsea take on Barcelona.  Lional Messi has only(!) scored 41 goals this season and I think that John Terry is going to have to show him that things are not quite so easy in the Premiership.  It's a shame that Ron "Chopper" Harris isn't playing anymore - you older readers will know who I mean!