Two jump meetings in U.K. today.  I just watched the 12:20 Carlisle, where the 2/5 favourite scrambled home.  Earlofthecotswolds whom I advised to back last time, did pretty much the same again today, jumping very high and not fluent.  He was fortunate that the stiff Carlisle finish helped, as he was 3 lengths down at the last, he has a good engine though, if he gets his jumping sorted out, he will be useful.

I thought Luckofthedraw had solid EW claims when I saw him at 5/1 last night, he runs in the 1:55 Carlisle, he has been backed, I did have a small interest EW , so hopefully he can run a good race, he has won at the track, he ran no sort of race last time at Aintree, this is a bit easier today, but he has to put his poor effort behind him to win this.

I was dissapointed with Rather Be yesterday, he never really got into the race, which was won by Frodon, who was well ridden by Bryony Frost.  One jockey who has not really had the luck this new jump season is James Bowen.  He is only young, had a fantastic year last year, and although he rides still for Nicky Henderson, he is only about 3rd or 4th choice, I think he is better than all the jockeys ahead of him, but I guess you have to be a bit loyal to jockeys who have been with you for a number of years, I respect Nicky Henderson for that,not too many trainers adopt the same policy.  I think James Bowen needs a couple of Saturday wins, and he may get some big race rides.