Al Does It Again!

           Al Roc Winner at Uttoxeter

It was fantastic to record our eleventh winner of the season at Uttoxeter last night thanks to Al Roc winning for the third time this season.  He came off the bridle from quite a long way out but Philip Armson galvanised him to win going away.  The horse tries his heart out for you and jumps fantastically which which is all you can ask.  This takes his career record to eleven wins and his prize money earnt to over £400,000.  Hopefully the handicapper won't over react and then I am sure while in this form he can win again.  Morgenstern ran another fine race to finish second last night as well.  If really seemed to enjoy the step up to three miles and galloped all the way to the line but just found one too good.  It was a good performance and we will probably be trying this trip again.  Jockey Philip has had three wins and a second from his last four rides so he is in terrific form at the moment and lets hope he can continue it again at Newton Abbot this evening!

Unfortunately the last two races at Uttoxeter were abandoned last night after a long delay to racing.  In Morgenstern's race, a rival, Butler's Brief was a faller and while he and jockey Nick Scholfield both got up from that unscathed, the horse, while running loose managed to get stuck in/on the open ditch.  It was then a mammoth effort from everyone involved to get him out of his predicament which eventually involved sedating the horse and cutting the fence away from him.  Obviously, the welfare of the horse comes first and their was a lengthy delay before racing resumed and with daylight running out the decision was made to abandon the final two races.  This meant that Tango Arumba did not get to make her stable debut in the Bumper last night and while frustrating, the welfare of the horses always comes first.  I am pleased to hear the horse in question was none the worse for is misadventure and is completely fine.

With a bit of luck, we also declared Tango Arumba to run at Newton Abbot in the bumper this evening and she will head to our local track to run there with David Noonan in the saddle.  As I mentioned yesterday, our Irish point to point winner goes nicely at home and she should run well.  We have two runners on the Newton Abbot card this evening and Dindin runs in the 2 mile handicap chase at 7.26pm.  He is a multiple winner in France but it is fair to say that things have not gone to plan so far over here.  The handicapper has given him a chance and hopefully he can find his feet in the not too distant future.  Philip Armson rides.

There is also jumps racing this evening up at Aintree and we have four runners.  Sadly for racing and the racecourse they have very small field sizes and I think something needs to be done about this but that is a matter for another day!  Free Chakarte is our first runner on the card and she runs in the 6.03pm juvenile hurdle.  She is making a quick reappearance after winning at Hexham but she has come out of that race well and is following the same route as we followed with Koi Dodville 12 months ago.  If she puts in another display like at the weekend, she should be difficult to beat despite her penalty.

Abaya Du Mathan runs in the handicap chase over three miles at 7.13pm.  The likely favourite Gats and Co after declarations is now a non runner and Abaya is about a 4/1 chance.  He did not quite stay the trip in the Norfolk National last time but has had a little break since then.  The track this evening will suit him better and he seems fresh and well at home.  Koi Dodville runs in the 7.48pm handicap hurdle over two miles.  He won at Cheltenham in April but needs to bounce back from a couple of below par efforts.  He is a course winner and although he is the outsider of the field I wouldn't been surprised to see him run better in a change of headgear, with cheekpieces replacing is usual blinkers.  Our final runner on the card is Texard who runs in the two mile handicap chase at 8.23pm.  He is making his stable debut after we claimed him from France.  He finished second at Compiegne last month and since he has come over he has settled in well.  He goes nicely at home so it will be interesting to see how he gets on on the race track tonight.  Tom Scu rides all of our runners this evening and fingers crossed they can all run well.

Have a good day everyone.