New Age At Chepstow

What a good performance from New Age Dawning (pictured above) to score in tenacious fashion at Chepstow yesterday afternoon and he was considered the 'Star Performer' at Chepstow according to the Racing Post pundits.  He was stepping up half a mile in trip but saw it out well under a well-judged front-running ride from Tom Scudamore.  For a stride or two it did look like he had given the favourite a chance with an untidy jump at the last but he responded generously and found more on the run-in to score a shade cosily.  I thought that Buster Edwards put in a promising effort in the same race, travelling well for much of the way until weakening in the closing stages and he should be winning races.  David has some really nice young types coming through that you should be hearing plenty more about over the coming years.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Newbury and Musselburgh as well as flat cards from Lingfield and Newcastle.  David has three runners at Newbury today; Remastered, Three Star General and Nordic Combined.  Remastered contests the 2m4½f novices' hurdle - our six year old won his first two starts for the yard in really good style before disappointing last time at Exeter.  The step-up in trip looks sure to suit and if resuming his earlier progress he would have solid claims in a warm looking race.

Three Star General runs in the 3m handicap hurdle at 2.50pm.  He was runner-up on soft ground last time and a repeat of that effort would see him in the thick of it again.  Nordic Combined runs in the 2m handicap hurdle at 4.35pm.  He took an unfortunate fall last time out, jumping his hurdle fine but stumbling on landing.  He had previously put some very good runs together, notably when runner-up to Rathill over course and distance.  If the application of a visor helps, he could easily outrun his odds.  Tom Scudamore is aboard all three of our runners today.

I see that Bryony Frost will miss Aintree's Grand National meeting after breaking her collar bone in a fall at Southwell.  Let's hope that ITV sign her up for the meeting...although I am not sure the other pundits would get a chance to speak!  Bryony is brilliant for jump racing in this country and we wish her a speedy recovery.

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I had to look on a map to find out where Kazakhstan is...do you know?  They are currently ranked 117th in the FIFA world rankings, yet they easily beat Scotland 3-0.  Are the Scots really that bad?  I had better ask my mate Sean!  Meanwhile, England are 3/10 to beat the Czech Republic tonight - you are not going to get rich backing them at that price, although you could double them with Portugal who are also 3/10.  I bet England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford will be nervous tonight as he has made a few mistakes of late, especially when trying to catch the ball.  These mistakes seem magnified on television so let's hope he has a good night.

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What did one flea say to the other?  Shall we walk or take the dog?!  Keep smiling...

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