Bidourey Makes It Four!

The good form of the yard continued yesterday when our only runner of the day, Bidourey absolutely bolted up in Leicester's novices' hurdle.  He scored by eleven lengths easing down in the hands of Tom Scudamore and while the race probably didn't have an awful lot of strength in depth, it was a good bit of placement by David and Bidourey looks like a most exciting prospect.  He was bought as an embryonic chaser and he will be smashing over fences one day, but in the meantime he looks likely to take high rank among the novices' over timber.  I watched the race with David and I don't think I have ever known anyone so nervous!  Approaching the second last I shouted 'I will take over from here!' but David responded 'He hasn't won yet.'  He needn't have worried though as Scu always had things in hand and I hear some of the bookies quoting him in their Triumph Hurdle market - it will be interesting to see where David goes with him.  Anyway, it was nice for owners Brocade Racing who were equalling their best ever season with eleven winners and the promise of more to come.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with two jumps fixtures at Doncaster and Huntingdon as well as all-weather action from Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  The stable runs Qalinas and Vayland at Huntingdon, while Our Chief goes to Doncaster.  Vayland was still travelling well enough when capsizing three out on his debut for the stable in a hot looking race at Newbury and while it is difficult to know what might have been, he certainly hinted at plenty of abililty.  Hopefully a clear round today will put him right in the thick of things.

I went to one of the local hunt meets yesterday and it was quite an eye-opener!  I don't think I have ever seen Ashley Farrant (pictured right) look so smart and tidy.  We took Home Run and Shotavodka along and I have to say they looked quite magnificent.  You should have seen the horses when the dogs were let loose - Gemma tells me they are called hounds, although they still looked like dogs to me.  Didn't Elvis call them hound dogs?  Anyway, if you like a drink the hunt meet is the place to go!

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Did anybody see the swans ambling across the track at Kempton on Wednesday?  It was very lucky that a nasty accident was avoided as the leader hurdled the oblivious bird.  Kempton will have to be careful as the twenty-two swans are owned by the Queen.  If any of those go missing someone could end up in the Tower!

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I see that trainer David Bridgwater is in trouble after questioning the sobriety of stewards at Ludlow on Wednesday.  After handing out a twenty-one day ban to his amateur jockey for almost taking the wrong course he said the stewards 'must have been p*@!#d from lunch.'  He can think these things, but you mustn't say them.

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Apparently star stirker Lionel Messi can be obtained for the bargain price of just £500,000,000.  Talk about bargain of the century...what a joke!

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I see that a man in Vancouver, Canada set a new world record for the most body piercings in one sitting when he had over 4500 done in an eight hour marathon.  In fairness he was raising money for a Canadian youth charity, although he looks holier than a pin cushion now.  The piercings take up most of his arms, shoulders and back...I wonder how on earth he is supposed to lie down?!