Double Delight!

It was a good day for the stable yesterday with two winners from two runners at Newton Abbot's first meeting of 2014.  Sail By The Sea won the maiden hurdle with any amount in hand.  In fact he was a 25 length winner under Tom Scudamore - Sail By The Sea (pictured above) was a good ground winning Irish pointer over three miles so it bodes well that he was able to score so convincingly over 2m1f on a tight track like this.  David said that he could be sending a few over to Punchestown at the end of the month and this could be one of them!  David, Tom and owner Roger Brookhouse all doubled up when Volt Face won the National Hunt novices' hurdle.  Tom said that the horse is becoming more settled and that the hood probably helped - he should handle quicker ground too and both he and Sail By The Sea look like two nice prospects.

It was a good day for the stable yesterday with two winners from two runners at Newton Abbot's first meeting of 2014.  Sail By The Sea won the maiden hurdle with any amount in hand.  In fact he was a 25 length winner under Tom Scudamore - Sail By The Sea was a good ground winning Irish pointer over three miles so it bodes well that he was able to score so convincingly over 2m1f on a tight track like this.  David said that he could be sending a few over to Punchestown at the end of the month and this could be one of them!  David, Tom and owner Roger Brookhouse all doubled up when Volt Face won the National Hunt novices'  hurdle.  Tom said that the horse is becoming more settled and that the hood probably helped - he should handle quicker ground too and both he and Sail By The Sea look like two nice prospects.

Above left: Sail By The Sea and right: Volt Face complete a double for the stable at Newton Abbot yesterday

Today we have four meetings to look forward to - a jumps card at Wincanton and three flat meetings at Lingfield, Kempton and Southwell.  The stable has three runners, Makadamia, Vif Argent and Off The Wall and with the stable in such good form I would give all three a chance.  The blinkers seemed to work on Vif Argent last time out when successful at this track, so let's hope they have the desired effect again this afternon - if they do, he should take plenty of beating.

Looking through today's Racing Post, I see there is a big article on page three with Ruby Walsh's view on the Grand National.  The injured jockey says that he would not mind being on The Package in Saturday's big race.  If Ruby is right (and I reckon he is a pretty good judge) the 33/1 currently on offer with the bookies could be of some interest.

Stable jockey Tom Scudamore has made the front page of today's paper as he takes his first ride for Paul Nicholls at Aintree tomorrow.  Scu will ride Irish Saint for the former champion trainer - Tom is a good jockey who is riding out of his skin at present and he will give any horse a good ride whoever the trainer is.  By the way, Tom only needs three more winners to notch his first ever century.

*****

I thought that Manchester United did very well to get a draw at home to Bayern Munich last night.  Having said that, I did think the Germans looked by far the better side.  United now travel to Germany for the return leg and are 6/1 shots to know them out of the competition.

I see that West Ham captain Kevin Nolan thinks that my beloved Hamers can target a place in Europe next season.  Has he had a bang on the head or is he talking about where they are going on holiday?!  Much as I would like to believe he is right, this is a fanciful statement to say the least!

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