Jumping For Joy!

The jumping boys will be back in action this Sunday at Plumpton and Uttoxeter after their ten day break.  The yard has entries at both meetings and I am looking forward to a few runners - it has only been ten days but it seems a lot longer than that to me.  I used to enjoy it back in the day when they had the summer break before resuming racing at Newton Abbot in August.  All of the jockeys would stay at the Palace Hotel in Torquay...I bet Francome and Smith-Eccles could tell a few stories about that hotel!

The jumping boys will be back in action this Sunday at Plumpton and Uttoxeter after their ten day break.  The yard has entries at both meetings and I am looking forward to a few runners - it has only been ten days but it seems a lot longer than that to me.  I used to enjoy it back in the day when they had the summer break before resuming racing at Newton Abbot in August.  All of the jockeys would stay at the Palace Hotel in Torquay...I bet Francome and Smith-Eccles could tell a few stories about that hotel!

Among those entered from the yard, we have recent Market Rasen winner Tarata Sivola in the 2m5f (0-130) handicap chase at Uttoxeter and I caught him on the gallops working upsides last season's impressive Newbury bumper winner African Broadway.  African Broadway is in good form and will be contesting a maiden hurdle very shortly.  While I was there I also took a photograph of Quinte du Chatelet in action - he was a winner of three races when last seen on the racecourse a year ago and it is nice to have him back.

  
Above left: (l-r) Taratata Sivola and African Broadway and right: Quinte du Chatelet on the gallops

*****

What a season Richard Hannon is having with 169 winners on the board from a staggering 1143 runners.  The amount of work that goes into just getting those horses onto the track is mind blowing - he has had 121 individual winners of which 89 have been two year olds.  However, the trainer on the level that is still impressing me is Sir Mark Prescott - he has only had 46 winners but boasts an incredible 26% strike rate - it just goest to show what a shrewd judge he is and how good he is at placing his horses to advantage.

*****

Racing Post photogrpaher Ed Whittaker is having an exhibition of his work displayed at the Osborne Studio Gallery in London next week.  It should be an excellent exhibition - being a photographer myself I know how hard it can be to keep your focus!  Ed often phones me up for advice about his "brownie"!  You can find out more by checking out the Osborne Studio's website.