Sona_Sasta_Chepstow_web

It's a big day for stable (and I use the word advisedly!) amateur Mikey Ennis as he makes his debut on the front cover of the Racing Post this morning.  Mikey will ride leading fancy Sona Sasta in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on Saturday and with the horse at the foot of the weights, it is conceivable that he will have to ride at 9-7 (after his claim).  The article looks in depth at Mikey's Christmas diet of fruit and nuts, a bit of salad and sushi...I hope that it will prove worth the effort.  I remember Peter Scudamore having to ride at a very light weight at Haydock many years ago and the previous evening I kept getting the waiter at our table to bring the sweet trolley past...I don't think Scu even twigged on!

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Swing_Bowler_Musselburgh_web

The stable continues in electric form with another hat-trick yesterday courtesy of Buddy Bolero at Exeter, while up at Musselburgh both Swing Bowler and Home Run obliged.  Swing Bowler (pictured above), a daughter of that great racemare Lady Cricket was certainly the star of the show, winning the feature handicap hurdle in Scotland in good style and in the process extended her unbeaten run to five.  This was only her third start over hurdles and she is certainly open to plenty of further improvement, while she also shaped as though she would stay further...she is clearly a very exciting prospect.

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Swing_Bowler_Newton

Well, Happy New Year everyone!  Although sadly Cheltenham was abandoned yesterday owing to the inclement weather, at least there are five meetings taking place this afternoon including at one of our local tracks, Exeter which has passed an early morning inspection.  The other meetings take place at Musselburgh, Catterick, Fakenham and on the all-weather at Wolverhampton and the stable has runners at Exeter and Musselburgh...yes I did say Musselburgh - it's a good job our travelling head lads both speak Scottish!

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home_run_taunton_web

Cheltenham abandon tomorrow's
New Years' Day meeting

It was another good day for the yard yesterday with two winners at our local track, Taunton coming courtesy of Home Run and No Secrets.  The ground was as heavy as I think I have ever seen it down there and this view was supported by the times of the races, with some of them nearly 1 1/2 minutes outside of the standard time!  It was a memorable day for young Michael Heard who was riding his first winner under rules aboard Martin's own horse, Home Run despite doing his usual party piece of hanging over to the stands' side rail.  It was an excellent training performance from David who was turning out Home Run to land his fourth success in just over three weeks...life will certainly get more difficult from here on in when the handicapper has his say.  The owner was seen guzzling champagne before getting on the Buds!

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Home_Run_Taunton_web
Home Run - runs at Taunton tomorrow -
looking for his 4th win in a row

After a hectic few days at Pond House we can draw breath for a minute with David having no runners today.  This is momentary respite as we have six runners tomorrow at Taunton and Haydock (check back here tomorrow for more news of them) and then lots of entries on New Years eve at Uttoxeter and Warwick and New Years day at Cheltenham, Exeter and Musselburgh.  These meetings are all under the threat from weather unfortunately so please keep everything crossed we do not get all the rain that is forecast!  However, It is a very dark, wet and windy morning at the yard so I hope it improves a little and I am just glad I don't have to work outside in it!  Today there are four meetings on around the country with three over the sticks at Newbury, Doncaster and Kelso (which passed its 7am inspection) and a flat card at Wolverhampton.  

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His_Excellency_head2

I thought that His Excellency (pictured above) ran another sound race yesterday as he finished third in the Grade Two Desert Orchid Chase behind Sanctuaire at Kempton.  He had a bit to find on official figures but it should be remembered that he is still only a four year old taking on seasoned chasers and he is clearly still progressing.  He put a higher rated rival in Wishfull Thinking in his place (although that one stopped very quickly) and was yet another shrewd purchase having cost £30,000 in August, he has already recouped over £28,000 of that in prize money...not bad going I am sure you will agree!

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Dynaste_Cheltenham_web

What a great day for the stable yesterday with no fewer than five winners coming from our eighteen runners across four meetings and under five different jockeys at a strike rate of 28%!  Not to mention a further six of our runners reaching the frame.  The higlight of the day was obviously Dynaste (pictured above) who produced yet another performance out of the top drawer to win the Grade One Feltham Novices' Chase in effortless fashion and in the process extend his unbeaten record over fences to three.  I thought that Grands Crus also produced a good performance to finish third in the feature King George VI Chase on the card after a less than ideal preparation.

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