Drum Roll.... And, Er, Night Orbit...

A short post today, dear reader, to tidy up some loose ends. Firstly, my sincere thanks to the many of you who were kind enough to offer your condolences: your generous thoughts were as unexpected as they were welcome. So thank you.

Now, as promised, on to matters equine. And first up a drum roll please..... announcing the new Geegeez website... is almost ready...! Actually, today only, you can have a sneaky peek at it on one of my old domains - go to www.specialgiftcards.co.uk to see the content-less site that will be built up over the next couple of months to be the part-singing part-dancing Lionel Blair of a website that I've promised you!

Note, it will not be there for longer than a couple of days, before assuming residency here at geegeez.co.uk - I'm just doing some final testing with my brilliant webbie, whose efforts I'm delighted with. I hope you are too.

Now, not a lot of people know this, but Drumroll was also one of the horses that I previously had a share in with Julia (Feilden, my trainer). She currently trains Night Orbit for me (and about six others in the syndicate), and he runs today, bidding for a second win on the spin.

He won over course and distance three weeks ago, and is fresh and well. I'm afraid to say that I have reservations about young Ross Birkett's panache in a driving finish. But Ross is Julia's son, and I shall be cheering him all the way today. Orbit's been in the first three on all of his last three starts, and he looks very solid for the place again, so may be an each way bet to nothing.

As ever, I shall be wagering as though it's a walkover, and repenting leisurely in the bar later no doubt!

Julia also has Bavarica in the 2.10. She's tough and consistent, if woefully one-paced (Bavarica, not Julia!). But she'll be doing her best and, if there's a true gallop, she ought to make the frame again. She's actually made the frame an astonishing 28 out of 56 career starts (exactly half), and in all of her last five runs.

Elsewhere, and there's not a lot to tickle my fancy today (my heart's not really in it just now), but a cursory glance at the cards this morning has highlighted another place possibility in Sun King at Catterick (1.10). Lugging top weight in a seller, the old boy faces a few has been's and plenty more never were's. Etoile Russe, from the wily Haslam yard, will take some stopping if fit and fleet of foot at his flights - fallen last twice (try saying that after a couple of rum's!).

So there we have it - a place treble on Night Orbit, Bavarica and Sun King. At about 7/1, there are worse wagers around today.

Right, I'm off for the free lunch at Leafy, and to give Night Orbit, and the Feilden family a right royal 'oi oi!'.

Please do leave a comment below on what you think of the new site, including any errors you spot (HINT: I know about the clock being +6 hours!)

Matt