Six at Ffos Las!

Keppage Makes his Chasing Debut at Ffos Las

It is a busy afternoon for the stable with six runners at Ffos Las.  Our line-up includes Chauffeur Driven, Itseemslikeit, Duc De Beauchene, Kepagge, Royal Mer and Phanttomofthepoints.  Chauffeur Driven runs in the 12.35pm maiden hurdle over two miles and Jack Tudor rides.  Our four year old won an Irish point to point and ran okay on stable debut in a bumper at Ascot last time.  There are only seven runners in this but it looks fairly competitive with us third in the betting at 9/2.  While he may appreciate further in time, he will handle the track and ground and jumps well at home.

Itseemslikeit makes his hurdling debut in the maiden hurdle over 2m4f at 1.40pm with Jack Tudor on board.  He ran very well in a bumper at Chepstow on his first run for us which looked a good race with the form sure to work out.  He stuck his head down and galloped powerfully through the line and Jack had trouble pulling him up afterwards!  He is gorgeous big horse who is bound to improve with time but he is a horse we like a lot at home and I think he will go well this afternoon at about 100/30 third best in the betting.

Duc De Beauchene and Kepagge both run in the handicap chase over 2m3f at 2.15pm.  David Noonan is on board Duc De Beauchene who had a fantastic spring but struggled in his reappearance at Aintree last time.  He carries top weight in this and this trip may be short of ideal these days but hopefully he can take a step up on his last run at about 13/2 in the betting.  Kepagge is probably our main hope in the race and he is best priced 4/1 second best in the betting.  He makes his chasing debut today but he is built for the job and loves Ffos Las! He was twice a winner at the track last season over hurdles and has also run well here on other occasions as well so fingers crossed for more of the same this afternoon. 

Royal Mer makes his chasing debut in the 3.25pm handicap chase over 2m3f with Jack Tudor riding.  I think he has being crying out for Ffos Las and fences ever since her arrived so I hope I am right!!  Things haven’t gone exactly to plan with him since he arrived from France but he did finish second at Hereford over hurdles last season and he goes nicely at home.  While he might need a bit further in trip it looks like a good starting point and hopefully he can put up a bold show and give us something to build on for next time.  He is 6/1 third best in the betting.

Phantomofthepoints makes his stable debut in the concluding bumper on the card at 4.00pm with Gearoid Harney riding.  After two non-completions in Irish point to points he ran very well in a bumper in Ireland to be third.  He is out of the mare Swing Bowler who we used to train and she was a very genuine and tough mare.  He is much bigger than she was but he has a lovely way of going like she did.  The winner of the Irish bumper has not run again since but the second horse has won two bumpers since then and the form looks solid.  If he can reproduce that form I hope he can win this.  The Paul Nicholls trained Largy Poet looks the chief danger but hopefully we can end the day on a winning note.

Yesterday at Lingfield both horses ran well to be fourth and third respectively.  Ya Know Yaseff was a bit tapped for toe turning for home but stayed on to finish fourth and she will appreciate a return to further but it now qualified for the final of the race at Hereford next month if we choose to go there.  Royal Defender travelled and jumped well upsides in front until two from home before two of his rivals quickened away from him.  This was a step up on his Ascot run and there is more to come from him, maybe over further in the future.

As well as jumps racing at Ffos Las this afternoon they also race over the sticks at Hexham and Warwick.  There is all-weather action at Wolverhampton and also across the Irish sea at Dundalk.

My dad just came in to my room and poured a whole gallon of milk on me.

How dairy!  Have a good day!