Horses for Sale

   Tuxedo Junction (GB) 


Exciting dual purpose prospect,
click here for details!

 

    Fighter Allen (FR)  


Exciting new horse with proven form, 
click here for details!

 

 

Today is a massive day for everyone at Pond House as Main Fact aims to make it a perfect ten in a row!  Our incredible seven year old gelding heads the card for the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot today on his first foray into Grade 1 company at 2.25pm.  He produced the best performance of his career when coming from a seemingly impossible position to win the valuable Grade 3 Stayers' handicap hurdle at Haydock last time but this will require another level again.  He faces former champion stayer Paisley Park and the ante-post favourite for Cheltenham Festival glory, Thyme Hill but who knows where the ceiling is for Main Fact?  The rain-softened ground will certainly aid his cause.  Fergus Gillard, who gets on so well with him, retains the ride despite not being able to claim his 5lbs allowance which is a great sporting gesture by his owners.  Let's hope they are rewarded this afternoon, we will all be cheering him home!

Night Edition is our other runner at Ascot as he takes in the red-hot Betfair Exchange handicap hurdle over 1m7½f at 3.35pm.  A big improver last season, he was last seen in action finishing an excellent second at the Cheltenham Festival in the Fred Winter handicap hurdle.  Only 2lbs higher today, he won't mind the heavy ground and has each-way claims on that basis, although this represents an extremely big ask on his seasonal reappearance.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.

We have one runner at Haydock this afternoon; Thinking who runs in the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at 11.50am.  A winner in France, he was absent for a long time before making his reappearance in the Greatwood Hurdle.  He took a step forward from that at Hereford last time and hopefully he will improve again.  The favourite refused to race last time out so this could be more open than it appears.  Jack Tudor is an excellent jockey booking and he is not without a chance.

First Lord de Cuet was far from disgraced in the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Ascot yesterday, finishing fourth under Fergus Gillard.  He looked to have every chance at the penultimate hurdle but he could keep on only at the one pace from there.  It looked a very competitive race and he should certainly be winning again sooner rather than later.  The ground was very soft and he may just benefit from a slightly less arduous test of stamina going forward.

*****

Judd Trump gave Ronnie O'Sullivan a thumping in the World Grand Prix semi-finals yesterday, beating 'the Rocket' 6-1.  It is a sign of the times nowadays, O'Sullivan is still good enough to beat anyone in the world when he can be bothered, but Trump is relentlessly good at every tournament.  He will face either Mark Selby or Jack Lisowski in the final - that pair clash this afternoon in the other semi.

There are four Premiership football matches taking place this afternoon with Southampton versus Manchester City looking perhaps the most competitive.  City continue to promise more than they deliver but could be good enough to leave with a win.  They kick-off at 3pm.

*****

How much did Santa pay for his sleigh? Nothing, it was on the house!

Knock, knock! Who's there? Donut. Donut who? Donut open until Christmas!

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