Sussex National Day

       Tom Scu Broken Buckle at Ludlow

I hope everyone enjoyed their New Year weekend and you managed to watch some of the great racing videos over the two days. I thought it looked like things would be tough to try and get a Pond House winner over the weekend and so it proved but it was a brilliant performance from Shot Boii to win at Uttoxeter on Saturday.

This was our geldings third win from as many starts this season and he followed up his two Lingfield wins with his easiest victory so far. He seems to love only just doing enough to win in his races and after winning distances of a neck and nose in his last two races, it was a whole half a length this time around!! His is a thoroughly likeable stayer and the handicapper shouldn’t be able to put him up for this win too much either. He loves a test of stamina and I am sure there is more to come when we see him in action next. Jockey Fergus Gillard is now three from three on him, with Tom Scu on board for the fourth of his career wins.  He is four wins from 9 lifetime starts and although it is at a low level for now all you can ask of them is to keep improving. He is likely to be even better over fences in the future and it is great for his owner William Frewen.

At Warwick on Saturday Gwencioy Berbas ran okay to be fourth while Last Quarter did not try very hard. Heure De Gloire ran well to be third at Newbury while Thomas Mor did not like the ground at all after all the rain and we can put a line through this run.

At Cheltenham yesterday Eden Du Houx and Brinkley couldn’t get involved in their respective races while King Turgeon seemed to need his first British experience. A lot of horses coming from France seem to need a run or two to acclimatise, i'm not sure really why but he is much better than he showed yesterday. Anglers Crag was improving and right in the mix when falling at the third last fence at Exeter. He was held up and creeping into the race nicely when coming down. It is still a long way from home and who’s to say what might have happened but I don’t think he would be been far away. The good news is that he is fine this morning and we can go again.

Today is another bank holiday but it is a little quieter in the racing front with just two jumps meetings at Ayr and Plumpton. The stable has five runners at Plumpton, four of these in the feature Sussex National.  Dindin runs in the 2.30pm handicap chase over 2m3f with Tom Scu on board. He has been very consistent throughout his races in the last few months with one win and several placed efforts. He has had a little break since his last run and been freshened up. The track and and ground will suit and I am sure he will run his usual honest race.

Sidi Ismael heads the weights in the Sussex National at 3.00pm with Fergus Gillard in the saddle. This is his first run back over fences this season after winning over hurdles at Worcester and being placed at Cheltenham. He did too much in first time blinkers at Sandown last time and reverts to his usual cheekpieces this time. He is a throughly likeable stayer and I think he will go well at an each way price of 8/1.  Red Happy is the ride of Tom Scu and he has an each way chance at 14/1. It was not his fault he pulled up last time, the jockeys stirrup Buckle broke mid race and there was no other option. He stays well and continues in good form at home.  He might not want the ground as soft as it is going to be today but it is an easier grade of race than of late and hopefully he can run okay.  D’jango (James Best) and Abaya Du Mathan (James Davies) make up our quartet in the race but they are the outsiders of the field. D’jango ran the Welsh National but things did not go to plan after nearly falling at the first fence he was pulled up early on. He is a good stayer who if getting into a better jumping rhythm early could outrun his odds. Abaya Du Mathan ran well at Leicester when last in action to be fourth. He may find things a bit tough today but he is a horse that can surprise you so you never know!!

The Festive football action continues today with Brentford at home to Liverpool at 5.30pm. I am always impressed by Brentford whenever I watch them so I think it could be a tough match for Liveroool and I predict a scoring draw. I watched a bit of the Spurs v Villa game yesterday. Villa are much improved under their new manager while Tottenham are looking a bit poor and lost 2-0, they were booed off the pitch by their fans and it was not a great start to the New Year for them.  Nottingham Forest held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw but I did not watch any of this game.

I never remember what people tell me at New Year’s parties. It goes in one year and out the other!!  Have a good day.