Frank Fab At Exeter!

The stable enjoyed a winner at Exeter yesterday afternoon when Sir Frank Morgan broke his duck in the novices' hurdle under Tom Scudamore.  Although there were only two runners it was an exciting little race with the result only assured halfway up the run-in as he floored the odds-on favourite.  With tactical affairs such as this it can be unwise to read too much into the form and hopefully the handicapper will take this into consideration.  The ground at Exeter was good/firm and considering it was the third consecutive day of racing in the area, unsurprisingly there were a few non-runners.  In fact there were only 28 runners across their entire seven race card and race planning will have to think carefully before putting four local meetings on consecutively in the summer in future.

It would appear that Racing Post West country correspondent Andrew King reads our website and it would also appear that he agrees with what we have been saying about race planning.  He has written an interesting piece in the Post about poor scheduling - hopefully the powers that be will take more notice of him than they have done of me!

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with three jumps fixtures from Perth, Ffos Las and Taunton as well as flat cards from Epsom and Catterick.  The stable has two runners at Taunton; Northern Bay and Classical Art who both compete in the handicap hurdle at 6.45pm  Classical Art won at Exeter on his penultimate start and was only beaten a short head there last time on good/firm ground.  Michael Heard, who was aboard him when victorious is in the saddle again tonight and claims a handy 7lbs off his back.  Amateur jockey David Noonan is aboard Northern Bay.

We also have a couple of runners at Ffos Las this evening - Sinndar's Man looks as though he will be suited by this longer trip and sound surface and he looks to have claims under conditional jockey Kieron Edgar, while Conor O'Farrell partners former Irish point-to-pointer Pilgrims Bay in the concluding bumper.

Tom Scu Watch...Tom moved onto 147 for the season courtesy of Sir Frank Morgan's success at Exeter yesterday and needs only 3 more winners to reach 150 with only four racing days remaining.  Meanwhile Richard Johnson recorded a double at the track to draw level for second in the championship.

Apparently former Arsenal legend Ian Wright is going to present AP McCoy with his 20th and final champion jockeys' trophy at Sandown on Saturday.  How can such a great sportsman as AP be an Arsenal supporter?  All those falls must have effected him more than we thought!  The champ says that he will have more time to watch the Gunners now...I know, it is hard to believe!

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I was watching the quiz show "Pointless" the other day and was amused when they put up a picture of Clare Balding.  The only trouble was that it was actually a picture of former trainer Jenny Pitman!  Mind you it wasn't as bad as poor old Hazel Irvine who is the face of BBC's World Snooker coverage...her picture was Lisa Riley, who used to play larger than life character Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale - I am not sure who would be most upset out of those four ladies?!

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England have made a decent start to the second Test match against the West Indies and they have the home team on 185-5.  They need to get Samuels (94 not out) in a hurry and then we would have an excellent chance.  Surely England must be able to beat this West Indian side?  Having said that, rain delayed the start of play and that is one of the last things you expect over there!

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Did you know that toilet paper was first invented in New York in 1857?  Sorry to leave you on a bum note, have a nice day...

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