Four Runners Today

Today we have four meetings and it is looking like a balanced fixture list today with two meetings on the level from Ayr and Newbury and a couple of jumps meetings from Newton Abbot and Worcester.  The stable has runners at both jumps tracks.  I drove past Newton Abbot at 5am this morning and the rain was absolutely lashing down and I wouldn't be at all surprised if there was any standing water, the ground could definitely change.  Party Girls and Hawkhill represent the yard at Newton Abbot while we run Navanman and Houston Dynimo at Worcester.  The owner of Party Girls has gone to China...let's hope that he has got it wrong!

Meanwhile Mildmay Chase runner-up Houston Dynimo (pictured above) reverts to hurdles this afternoon and despite top-weight our nine year old is in cracking form and has sound claims of following-up.  He has proved a really good buy since David claimed him for £6,000 having finished down the field in a seller - he won on his debut for the yard and was beaten only a head in a Listed chase last time.  Once again the trainer has demonstrated his eye for a bargain and he has a great record of finding the right horse for the right sort of money, so if you are interested in joining the ranks of owners at Pond House, do feel free to get in touch...it needn't cost the earth!

I was most amused by the comments of trainer Alan McCabe following the antics of his horse Sov yestserday at Pontefract.  "He walked around the paddock thinking he was a porn star!" - despite winning he was very coltish on this first trip to the racecourse and I think a visit to the vets could be on the cards.

Martin and Carol are currently in China and will be visiting the races at Shah Tin, while also meeting with former jockey Mark Richards.  Some of you may remember Mark - he used to ride a lot for Oliver Sherwood and Peter Hedger and had a couple of winners for Martin as well as a couple of rides for the stable in the Grand National.  I think Mark is the handicapper at Happy Valley these days.

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I think it is great news that the Scots have voted against independence, although I was left somewhat puzzled by the comments of the pro-independence Scottish MP who said even though they had lost the vote, they had won!  I wonder if my bookmaker will pay me out if I said that although I lost, I really won?!  It seems to me that the Scots want to stay a part of the UK but want some changes.  I wonder why we don't have a vote on whether we want to keep Scotland as a part of the UK?  The first thing I would do is get rid of the haggis...only joking Shaun!

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Some of the Ryder Cup players struggled yesterday in the Wales Open golf.  Lee Westwood is 2 over par while Stephen Gallagher posted a score of 78.  Nevermind, once Poulter winds them up, I'm sure they will be okay!

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