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!

 

 

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Cheltenham and Kelso, flat fixtures from Doncaster and Newbury and an all-weather card from Chelmsford City.  David has three runners today; one on the flat at Newbury and a couple at Cheltenham.  Nordic Combined is the first of them as he contests the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Cheltenham at 1.45pm.  A winner at Hexham in May, he remains 6lbs higher than that mark so more is required.  He has gone well here in the past though and it would be no surprise to see him thereabouts again under Fergus Gillard.

Panic Attack (pictured above) runs in the Pertemps qualifier at 4.05pm.  A dual winner last season, she is a lovely mare who produced a personal best when stepped up in trip at Aintree on good ground when last seen in May.  This is her first try at three miles and should she stay (and she shapes as though she will), she would have each-way claims in an open looking race.  Tom Scudamore takes the ride.

Our final runner comes on the flat at Newbury as Seventeen O Four makes his debut for the stable in the 1m4f amateur riders' handicap at 5.25pm.  He was purchased after winning his final two starts (his only two on turf), form which has been well advertised since.  He will enjoy the prevailing conditions and hopefully can maintain his progression.  Looks to have a good chance with very capable amateur Martin McIntyre on board.

It was a very sad day for the stable yesterday following the loss of Elan de Balme, who fell in the handicap chase.  He was a lovely horse who was just beginning to fulfil his potential.  The loss of any horse is always felt profoundly by everyone connected with them, from all the team at the stable, to the owner, Professor Caroline Tisdall and in this instance, the members of our racing club.  He was tended to very quickly by the excellent medical team at the track.

Siruh du Lac showed plenty of enthusiasm on his first start since November last year, showing up well for a long way in the 3m novices' hurdle.  He only reached the first last time, so he is certainly entitled to come on for what was effectively his first proper run in 18 months.  Flammarion was unplaced on the flat at Newbury and may have found this longer trip back on the level a bit too far.

*****

There are half a dozen Premiership football matches to look forward to today with the Brighton versus Manchester City match the most competitive on paper - who would have thought I would be writing that?!  Brighton are currently flying high in the league in fourth place, but despite home field advantage, I can see them getting a reality check by City today.

Tensions were running high between Formula One world championship protagonists Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton as the pair of them raced wheel to wheel down the straight during practice for the US Grand Prix at Austin, Texas, something which is extremely unusual.  Hamilton's best lap of the session was deleted, but the Mercedes still seems to have the underlying pace to be successful this weekend.  Qualifying takes place today ahead of tomorrow's race.

*****

A man was arrested for stealing helium balloons...Police held him for a while before letting him go.

follow me on facebook