Scu's Fastest 50!

It was another good day for the yard yesterday with our three runners finishing first, second and third in their respective races at Chepstow and Sedgefield.  Bengali (pictured above) was the impressive winner of the closing bumper, staying on nicely to win on her racecourse debut.  She is very well-related and obviously retains plenty of the family's ability - she looks as though she will be even better when she steps up in trip and has some obstacles in front of her.  This was Tom Scudamore's 50th winner of the season and is by some way his fastest to date, his previous best coming last year when successful aboard Dell' Arca in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on November 17th.  Also at Sedgefield, Decoy finished third in the handicap hurdle from a mark that he should be well capable of winning from - I am sure he will pop up again, but he is not one to rely upon.  Even so, the long trip of 318 miles was well worthwhile.

Meanwhile, over at Chepstow Barton Stacey probably produced a personal best to finish second in the novices' handicap chase from a mark of 132.  He came up against a very useful sort in the shape of Grade Two hurdle winner Creepy.  Our nine year old looks capable of winning again on this evidence as he won't always bump into one like Creepy.

I was nearly caught out this afternoon as I noticed late that the stable had a rare flat runner on the level at Salisbury.  Street Entertainer competes in the 1m6f hanidcap and will be partnered by Mikey Ennis.  He hasn't run on the flat for 474 days but is fit from a hurdling campaign and will be well used to this 'flip start'.

Looking back at yesterday's action I noticed one of Aidan O'Brien's to give a wide berth to; General Marshall conspired to get beaten at odds of 1/4 and looked more like a Private than a General - he is never a 92 rated horse and looks one to avoid.

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I reckon that playing in goal must be the worst position for any footballer.  If you make a mistake (like Jo Hart did last night against Roma) your whole team pays for it.  If  you are centre half or centre forward you can make plenty of mistakes and often get away with them, no so if you are the goalkeeper.

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Expect some interesting soundbytes about cricket over the next couple of days as former England batsman Kevin Pietersen's confidentiality agreement expires at midnight tonight!  I wonder which rags will have paid big sums of money for the inside track on the controversial player?  I would imagine that he will have a pop at near enough everyone...it should certainly be interesting.

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Finally, a sombre thought for the day - where there is a will, there are relations!  Have a nice day...

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