grands_crus_2013_press_day

There was a good performance from Pleasant Company at Ascot on Saturday as he lifted the bumper by an impressive eight lengths under Tom Scudamore.  This was a most pleasing first effort for the stable and he looks to be yet another promising individual to go to war with.  Today we have one runner at Kempton and it is quite a notable one too.  Grands Crus (pictured above) makes his seasonal reappearance in the Pertemps handicap hurdle qualifier at 2.40pm - it is a 2m5f race and he has to concede upwards of a stone to all of his five rivals.  He was disappointing last season and David has stated that he will probably come on for the run but this is certainly the least competitive contest he has run in for some time and we will be hoping that he can show some of his old zest.

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There are only a couple of meetings taking place this afternoon at Carlisle and Huntingdon.  The stable has one runner, Seattle Drive, ridden by Tom Scudamore in the two mile claiming hurdle at 1.45pm.  I always take a keen interest in the claimers on the flat and it may be just me looking back through rose tinted spectacles, but the claiming races these days do not look up to the standard they were in the past.  Do you remember when we claimed Make A Stand from a Leicester claimer?  I'm sure you wouldn't be able to pick up a Champion Hurdle winner from a claimer these days!  Anyway, I digress!  Carlisle have two £25,000 races on their card today, so well done to them on an excellent effort.  A P McCoy has five rides booked in his quest to reach 4,000 winners!

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The stable enjoyed a nice winner at Uttoxeter yesterday when Centasia won the mares' maiden hurdle in pleasing fashion.  There are plenty of opportunities in the racing calendar these days for decent mares and she looks primed for a good season.  I thought that Tanerko Emery produced a good performance in the novices' chase to only be beaten 1/2 length by Raya Star (who was rated 10lbs superior over hurdles) and but for stumbling at the last fence, the result may well have been different - he looks a smashing prospect for novices' chases this season.  Our other runners performed okay and in some cases will be a little more streetwise next time.

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It looks like being a busy day with four meetings taking place this afternoon - there are flat cards at Newmarket and Wolverhampton as well as National Hunt fixtures at Uttoxeter and Wetherby.  The stable has runners at both jumps meetings and Tom Scudamore has a good book of rides.  Indeed, he will face something of a 'Treasure Hunt' type challenge (you may recall the 80's Channel 4 programmed with Anneka Rice) as he rides Centasia (pictured above) in the 1.20pm at Uttoxeter before flying across to Wetherby in the helicopter to ride Ainsi Fideles in the 2.45pm race.  I hope it is worth it!  It is good to see Timmy Murphy back in the late David Johnson's colours aboard Famousandfearless on the same card - the horse is owned by the Bravo Partnership of which DJ was a member.

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The_Liquidator_Carlisle_301013_web

It was a good day for the stable with two winners from two runners at Carlisle yesterday.  Grade One bumper winner The Liquidator won his novices' hurdle without Tom Scudamore having to move a muscle, while French Listed hurdle winner Azza was also impressive under her penalty.  While they will most definitely face stronger opposition in time, they could do little more than win convincingly and both look to be super prospects.  I don't suppose Tom will earn too many easier riding fees this season...and I use the word 'earn' very loosely!  I thought that Mamlook also ran an encouraging race on the level at Nottingham on his first start since August 2011.  He wasn't beaten far on this soft ground and I would have thought he can only improve.

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mamlook_chester_cup_2010

Today we have three meetings taking place - two on the flat at Nottingham and Kempton as well as a National Hunt fixture at Carlisle.  The stable has two exciting runners at Carlisle, soft ground Listed French hurdle winner Azza, who makes her first start for the yard today and Grade One bumper winner The Liquidator.  Both of them look to be extremely promising types but you won't get rich backing them as the forecast suggests they will both be odds-on.  Our runner on the level at Nottingham is former Chester Cup winner Mamlook (pictured above), who makes his first start in over 900 days - it will certainly be good to see this high class stayer back in action once again.  Conor O'Farrell is in the saddle.

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Chester_Barnes_pic

After yesterday's washout it is good to have some racing action back on these shores.  There are four meetings taking place this afternoon - three on the flat at Catterick (who have passed a 7.30am inspection), Yarmouth and Wolverhampton as well as a National Hunt fixture at Ffos Las.  The ground is being given as heavy at the tracks and it will certainly be testing, especially for the flat jockeys!  With heavy going often exagerating winning margins, I don't suppose there will be too many photo finishes today.  The two year old maiden over a mile at Yarmouth will certainly be a gruelling experience...with only one of the twelve strong field having run before, they will certainly know that they have been in a race.

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