Bygones Exeter Success!

The stable enjoyed a welcome winner at Exeter yesterday afternoon as Bygones Sovereign benefitted from a positive ride from Tom Bellamy to avoid the chaos in behind and hold on for a tenacious success in the handicap hurdle.  Part-owner Alan Kaplan had told David to make more use of the seven year old and those instructions were passed onto the young jockey who carried them out to perfection.  Maybe the better ground also helped him?

This afternoon there are four meetings taking place, three on the flat at Lingfield, Southwell and Kempton as well as a jumps card at Wetherby.  The stable has just one runner today, Famousandfealess who takes in the Wetherby bumper at 5.40pm - let's hope that he can live up to his name!  Famousandfearless was the very impressive winner of his only start in a point-to-point over in Ireland and looks like an exciting recruit to the National Hunt game - Timmy Murphy takes the ride.

*****

I see that the Racing Post keep an eye on the racecourses to see if they have a big screen available to televise the meetings.  Apparently the newspaper reported that Huntingdon did not have a big screen present on Easter Monday when in fact they did...maybe the Post need a big screen to see all the big screens, if you know what I mean?!

Cartmel racecourse have some good adverts in the Post for hotels and campsites in the vacinity.  It's a place that you should visit at least once - there is good racing and an amazing atmosphere, the only trouble is it can be quite difficult to leave...all the roads were blocked when I was last up there!

*****

I see that Peter Scudamore is plumping for Balthazar King each way in this weekend's Grand National at Aintree.  Scu says that you need a bit of nous around there...does that mean staying away from the inside Scu?...he will know what I mean!

Talking of Scu, it was the Grand National preview at Somerset County Cricket Club last night and Peter was the host for the evening.  His father Michael (winner of the big race aboard Oxo) was also present as were National winners Hywel Davies (Last Suspect) and Neale Doughty (Hallo Dandy).  Below you can see a picture of Martin with Peter and Tom Scu as well as Hywel (left) and Neale (right).