home_run_cheltenham

What an enjoyable weekend's racing and while the stable did not have any winners, there were still a number of noteworthy performances.  Swing Bill finished fifth in the Becher Chase at Aintree on Saturday - he really does seem to love it over those Grand National fences...he has run over them six times now with barely a semblance of a mistake.  He was staying on again in the closing stages and wasn't beaten at all far, picking up almost £4,000 for his efforts.  He is now owned by Halewood International who are the sponsors of next year's Crabbies Grand National and they look to have a lively competitor for the big race.

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Tullyesker_Hill_Plumpton_web

This afternoon there are two National Hunt meetings taking place at Kelso and Warwick - there is also the small matter of racing from Sha Tin (although there is quite a time difference!) and the prize money there is absolutely out of this world.  The stable has just one runner this afternoon, the progressive four year old Tullyesker Hill (pictured above) who participates in the 2m5f maiden hurdle at Warwick.  Tullyesker Hill has won his last couple of starts and was impressive in a Plumpton bumper on his first outing for the yard last time. It looks like quite a competitive little race and Tom Scudamore is in the saddle once again.

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Prideofthecastle_Exeter_web

Prideofthecastle was a good winner for the yard at Exeter yesterday afternoon under a nice front-running ride from Tom Scudamore (hopefully that will put me in Lottie's good books!).  Despite the fact that the race was run at a slow pace I think that it was probably a fair race and he should go on to better things.  Meanwhile Alderluck ran creditably to finish fourth in the Devon Marathon over four miles on ground that was probably a little too lively for him.

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Alderluck

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon - two over the jumps at Exeter and Sandown as well as all-weather flat action from Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  The stable has two runners at Exeter this afternoon; Alderluck and Prideofthecastle...I hope they get some sunshine up on Haldon Hill otherwise it is going to feel like a very cold day at the Devon track.  Alderluck (pictured above) participates in the four mile Devon Marathon handicap chase - he stays well and is partnered by Mikey Ennis, who has won aboard our ten year old and he claims a handy 7lbs off his back reducing his burder to 11-4.  The trip will take some getting on this stiff track and he looks to have sound claims.

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Red_Seventy_gallops_nov13_web

There are four meetings this afternoon, three over the jumps at Wincanton, Market Rasen and Leicester as well as an all-weather flat card at Wolverhampton.  The stable has six runners at Wincanton today - Prasina Russata, Red Seventy (pictured above), Party Girls, Vilja, Decoy and Kilrye and it looks like a tricky day's racing.  Two of the runners are owned by Brian Kilpatrick who has been a great supporter of the stable for many years.  Brian was fortunate enough to own the wonderful Sabin du Loir...now he was a special racehorse.  I will always remember travelling to a packed Huntingdon racecourse to see him beat Desert Orchid - wouldn't it be lovely to find a few more like him?

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Swing_Bill_gallops_nov13

There are four meetings today, two over the sticks at Ludlow and Catterick as well as all-weather flat cards at Kempton and Lingfield...I wonder how many people will try to attend both all-weather meetings?  I would imagine you could probably count the answer on your own hands!  It was a good day financially yesterday and I hope that you readers may have benefitted too.  I did say that I thought A P McCoy had a good book of rides at Sedgefield and that his first and last rides of the day could win.  I had a small double at odds of 5/2 and 9/4...I do get it right sometimes!

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Ace_High__Sir_Frank_gallops_nov13_web

Today there are three meetings taking place - two over the jumps at Sedgefield and Southwell as well as an all-weather flat card at Wolverhampton.  One of the first things I do after I have had a look through the paper for stable runners is to see where champion jockey A P McCoy is riding.  This afternoon he travels to Sedgefield and he has four good looking chances - he looks like he could have a first and last race double.

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