A Winning Weekend!

It was another great weekend for the yard with David unleashing a couple of extremely promising individuals.  Moon Racer absolutely bolted up in what is traditionally a very competitive bumper at Cheltenham's first meeting of the season and David now has to decide whether to keep him to bumpers or run him over hurdles - a very nice problem to have!  At Kempton on Sunday Stars Over The Sea won with any amount in hand on his hurdling debut - his jumping will improve with experience and he looks sure to take very high rank among this season's juveniles.  All in all I would say that David would be very pleased with his weekend's work!

Meanwhile, there were plenty of other promising performances, including from Standing Ovation who ran well in the staying handicap chase - he looks set to have another good season and Ainsi Fideles who will have a little break after meeting with his first defeat over fences - he was only receiving 2lbs from a highly rated hurdler in Splash Of Ginge and there will be plenty more races to be won with him, especially on a faster surface.

Over at Kempton yesterday The New One made a winning reappearance at the prohibitive odds of 2/11- I see that someone had a bet of £1000 to win £200, that isn't my sort of bet at all, although I suppose it is better than being in the bank!

There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with two on the level at Pontefract and Windsor as well as a jumps card at Plumpton.  I see that it is Moorcroft today at Plumpton - they do plenty of good work giving homes to retired racehorses so let's hope this initiative brings them plenty of much needed support.  The stable has one runner at the meeting; Virtuel d'Oudon who is making his first start since May.  He has enjoyed a little break and starts off in handicaps from a mark of 127 which I though looked workable - Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.

Don't forget that David's stable tour appears in today's Racing Post.  I always like to keep the old tours to see just how the trainers assess their horses - anyway, as well as going through the baulk of the string at Pond House, he also picks out several as star quality and a trainer's pick...well worth a read!

Talking of horses to follow, below is the latest installment of our video interview series.  On Saturday we brought you Jules Shergold's interview and she flagged up Moon Racer as a horse of considerable potential and how right she proved. Today Mike Vince talks with recent recruit Gemma Humphrey about her move to Somerset and she gives us her horse to follow for the season ahead - let's hope that it is another winner!

Gemma Humphrey Horse To Follow 2014/15 Season

*****

How on earth did QPR fail to get anything out of their match with Liverpool at the weekend?  There were four goals within the last eight minutes and to be honest, I thought that QPR looked the better side on balance.  It is going to be a long season for Harry, especially if his team cannot take advantage of opportunities like this - they are 8/13 to get the drop and that looks about right!  Meanwhile, Arsenal drew with Hull due to a last minute equaliser from Welbeck and they are going to struggle to win anything with their defensive woes.  They certainly need a couple of class players at the back - I am not sure their current defenders would get in another Premiership side.

Chelsea continue to look solid and are my idea of the winners of the Premier League and John Terry is still the best centre half in the country.

There is a game between West Brom and Manchester United at 8pm tonight on Sky and against my better judgement, I am sorely tempted by the 3/4 on offer!

I see that Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone has vowed to pay back the fans who witnessed his teams 8-0 hiding at Southampton.  With 2,559 visitors at a cost of £176.50 per person, that is over £450,000 for the beleaguered goalie to reimburse.  I wonder if any of the other players are going to chip in?  I'm sure it is not just on the shoulders of the keeper!