There are three meetings taking place this afternoon - two jumps cards from Bangor and Sedgefield as well as an all-weather flat meeting from Southwell.  The stable has two runners at Bangor; Navanman and Saint John Henry (pictured above jumping, orange jacket, blue cap).  Our five year old Saint John Henry steps up in trip to three miles having won over 2m5f on his seasonal debut at Plumpton before capsizing last time at Wincanton.  Tom Scudamore is back aboard this afternoon and he looks to have a chance.  Navanman is a 25/1 shot and looks as though he has it to do to figure this afternoon.

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Although winnerless, the runners from the weekend provided plenty of good runs and promise of better to come.  I thought that Rathealy posted a decent effort in the juvenile hurdle when runner-up to Arabian Revolution at Sandown - he looks like a winner waiting to happen and could be the type for handicaps later on.  Meanwhile Classical Art did not seem to handle the ground and would appear to what conditions less testing than these.  Meanwhile Balgarry returned to form with a very good second in the handicap hurdle, giving lumps of weight away to the bulk of his rivals while Sail By The Sea finished third yesterday in a hot looking novices' chase on his first start over fences - he can only improve for the experience and is another who should be winning before long.

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  Sail by the Sea (nearside) on the Gallops

There are just the two meetings today at Plumpton and Southwell and David has just the one runner at Plumpton, Sail By the Sea.  He runs in the 1.20pm novice chase and is making his chasing debut.  There are only four runners but it looks very competitive and all three of our rivals have already won this season.  Tom Scu rides our former point to point and hurdle winner and it will be interesting to see how he gets on.  it is also the Sussex National at the track.  It is run over 3m5f with £15,000 to the winner and I think it could be a bit of a slog this afternoon.  Peter Bowen has he top weight, Ballybough Gorta and he also has Viking Blond lower down in the weights on 10st 8lb.  With his in-form son Sean on board claiming a handy five pounds off this one looks to have a great chance.

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           Volt Face on the Gallops

There are four meetings on today, three jumps cards at Sandown, Wincanton and Newcastle plus a flat card at Lingfield.  David runs Volt Face in the 2.40pm at Wincantonn with Kieron Edgar on board taking off a handy five pounds.  He ran well on his seasonal reappearance at Towcester to finish third and had he not stumbled at the last hurdle he might have won.  This is a more competitive race but it will be interesting to see how he gets on.  At Sandown David runs Classical Art and Rathealy in the juvenile hurdle and Balgarry in the 3.00pm handicap hurdle.  Tom Scu rides Classical Art and Balgarry while young Michael Heard is on Rathealy.  Balgarry is having only his of his life and it is just great to have him back on the track again.  He ran okay last time in the competitive Ladbroke hurdle at Ascot and hopefully he can build on that and run a nice race this afternoon.  Classical Art ran well on this course on his hurdling debut and finished fifth up at Wetherby last week.  Rathealy was a good second on his hurdling debut at Plumpton before a costly mistake at Warwick last time ended any chance he had.

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        Our Father - 2nd at Cheltenham

Today we have four meetings, two jumps cards at Ayr and Ffos Las, which means no jumps meetings in England!  There is also two flat cards at Southwell and Wolverhampton.  David does not have any runners but Tom Scu has four rides at Ffos Las.  Typical Oscar looks the best of his four rides.  The stable horses continue in good form at the moment which is nice.  Our Father was second in the 3m2f handicap chase which was his best run for a long time.  Knight of Noir was also second in the 3 mile handicap hurdle behind Rolling Maul.  From the last flight the in running betting changed three times apparently as it was neck and neck all the way up the Cheltenham hill.  I am particularly looking forward to this one running over fences as he is a lovely big type of could rate even better over the larger obstacles.  The star of Cheltenham's meeting however has got to be Rock on Ruby.  The horse who turned 11 yesterday has been fantastic over the years and he once again showed us all his brilliance.

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     Knight of Noir runs at Cheltenham

I would like to start by wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2015, I hope you all enjoyed New Year's Eve!  Today we have six meetings, five jumps cards at Cheltenham, Musselburgh, Catterick, Exeter and Fakenham plus a flat card at Southwell.  I am pleased to report all meetings go ahead after no problems.  The temperatures were in fact 12 degrees down here at 6am this morning - quite tropical!  David has three runner at Cheltenham, Our Father, Knight of Noir and Barneby and six at Exeter Our Cheif, Sivron, Skylander, Kalifourchon, Rinnca Fada and Bella.  Knight of Noir was second at Cheltenham on his last start and has gone up five pounds for that run.  He should be a bit sharper for that run and goes on any ground.  He steps up in trip today which looks like it should suit and we are hopeful of a big run.  Three of our runners today are having their first ever run.  They run in the bumpers at Cheltenham and Exeter and it will be interesting to see how they get on.

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Sadly both the jumps cards from Warwick and Uttoxeter have been lost to the elements which is a great shame as the stable was due to have runners at both meetings.  It is not often that I say this, but thank goodness for the all-weather where they hold a flat card at Lingfield this afternoon!  Even so, I can't forgive them a paltry £27,000 in prize money across their seven race fixture.

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