Vodka The Perfect Present!

Considering it was David's 40th birthday yesterday, there can have been few more appropriate winners than Shotavodka at Taunton.  Our seven year old ran a lot better than his finishing position would suggest on his seasonal reappearance and with that run under his belt and the drop back in trip suiting, he ran out a brave and impressive winner of the maiden hurdle under Tom Scudamore.  Meanwhile Home Run was far from disgraced as his run of successes came to an end with a second behind Mr Mole in the novices' handicap hurdle - the winner is probably okay.

Above: Shotavodka is the impressive winner of the maiden hurdle at Taunton yesterday

Considering it was David's 40th birthday yesterday, there can have been few more appropriate winners than Shotavodka at Taunton.  Our seven year old ran a lot better than his finishing position would suggest on his seasonal reappearance and with that run under his belt and the drop back in trip suiting, he ran out a brave and impressive winner of the maiden hurdle under Tom Scudamore.  Meanwhile Home Run was far from disgraced as his run of successes came to an end with a second behind Mr Mole in the novices' handicap hurdle - the winner is probably okay.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon, three over the sticks at Kempton, Bangor and Newcastle, as well as a flat meeting on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.  Newcastle have had a dusting of snow and the inspection they held at 8.00am this morning has proved inconclusive so they will be taking another look.  I am told that it is only a little snow and it has started raining at the course so I will be surprised if the meeting does not get given the go-ahead.  We have runners this afternoon at all three of the jumps meetings.

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I am sure there are a few sore heads this morning!  Carol put on a 40th birthday party for David last night and there were no fewer than three Grand National winning trainers in attendance, a Grand National winning jockey and champion jockey - that's Martin, David, Gordon Elliott and the incomparable A P McCoy.  Carol had arranged for two belly dancers to put on some entertainment and one of the highlights of the evening was definitely when they got David up to do a dance with them...I don't think I have ever seen him so embarrassed.  If any of the tabloids are reading, I do have the photos if someone would like to make a sensible offer!  I was wondering - do you need to have a big belly to be a belly dancer?  Everything wobbled, and I do mean everything!

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Ruby Walsh had a disappointing day at Clonmel yesterday as he only rode four winners for his boss Willie Mullins.  He must have hundreds of horses in his yard and loads of very wealthy owners - the longest price of the four was only 7/4 so they were all expected.

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I think I have found the perfect diet.  I read in the Sunday paper that comedienne Jo Brand sleeps in the nude...I haven't been able to eat since I read about it!