Horses for Sale

   Tuxedo Junction (GB) 


Exciting dual purpose prospect,
click here for details!

 

    Fighter Allen (FR)  


Exciting new horse with proven form, 
click here for details!

 

 

There was a very good performance from Batavir yesterday to land the 2m6f handicap hurdle at Ascot in decisive fashion under A P McCoy.  The step up in trip paired with a first time tongue tie seemed to be the answer and that fellow McCoy isn't bad in the saddle either, I reckon he could make a name for himself!  Let's hope that David is able to find another race for him on Boxing Day where he can compete under a penalty as he could be facing a hike in the weights from the handicapper.  Meanwhile at the other meeting All Force Majeure finished fourth in the bumper at Uttoxeter - he had a penalty for his Worcester success and appeared to get stuck in the mud, these were certainly very different conditions to his debut.  He still looked very green and will continue to improve with experience.

There is some excellent racing to look forward to this afternoon with four meetings taking place, three over the sticks at Ascot, Haydock and Newcastle while there is also an all-weather card for those of you who enjoy a bit of flat action.  David runs Broadway Buffalo and Taj Badalandabad at Haydock and they are a couple of nice rides for Conor O'Farrell.  Meanwhile we have three runners at Ascot - Dell' Arca (Tom Scudamore) who participates in the Long Walk Hurdle and Swing Bowler (Kieron Edgar) and Balgarry (Tom Scu) who both go in the fiercely competitive Ladbroke handicap hurdle.  Balgarry is bidding to overcome an absence of 1011 days but David has already produced Katkeau and Unique de Cotte to overcome long layoffs this season so it will be interesting to see how he fares.

I see that Hot Madras was pulled out of the 3.30pm race at Uttoxeter yesterday afternoon.  The reason given on the vet's certificate was that he hadn't eaten up, mind you with a name like that I am not surprised!

It will be interesting to see how The Young Master gets on this afternoon.  You may remember that he was disqualified having won a race at Wincanton that he was not eligible to run in.  Not only was he thrown out, but he was put up a stone by the handicapper which seems a little unfair to me.  Having said that, it is a bit of a catch-22 as if he was left on his old mark you would risk upsetting everybody else taking him on.

*****

It has come as no great surprise that England cricket captain Alastair Cook has been dropped as skipper for the World Cup Squad.  A rest will do him no end of good.  Eoin Morgan is the new captain - he is a big friend of Kevin Pietersen so it should certainly be interesting!

*****

There is some quality football action to look forward to today and I will be having a little flutter on West Ham at 3/4, Manchester United at 4/6 and Liverpool at 9/5 to put the food on the table in the Barnes household this coming Christmas week!