Winner at Ffos Las!

     Heure De Gloire winner at Ffos Las!
Heure De Gloire returned to form with a bang to win impressively at Ffos Las yesterday under a good front running ride from Ellis Collier.  It was a quick turnaround from her run at Uttoxeter last Saturday when she was fourth, but we knew she had come out of that race well and it was good that she ran!  She has won over course and distance before and she loved the testing conditions at the track.  She is extremely slick and fast over her hurdles and from the front she had them all in trouble from some way out.  She is a strong stayer at this trip and does stay further, but it was so nice to see her and her jockey enjoying the win – Ellis gave her a nice big pat as they crossed the line!

Hopefully the handicapper doesn’t take the winning distance too literally – horses tend to finish a little spread out at the track and this will have done her confidence the world of good.  Heure De Gloire is owned by the Hour Of Glory syndicate and there are still shares left available if you would like to get involved.  She is paired with Paricolor in the partnership and he is a winner waiting to happen having finished third at Cheltenham and second at Fontwell last time out.  There is a buy in cost of £4,000 per share and then training fees of £200 a month but for this you get the chance of winners, plenty of days out racing and a winning share of the prize money and a visit to the stables to see the horses.  I think it represents a great fun way to be involved with two horses at a very sensible cost.  For more information please get in touch This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pachacuti ran another solid race to be second at Ffos Las under Nick Scholfield.  He jumped and travelled well and I thought we had won for most of the home straight but we were just nabbed on the run in by the favourite.  I think it was his best run over fences and his winning turn is surely not far away.  Manuelito made a very encouraging stable and hurdling debut at Wincanton.  He jumping was a little novicey early on but he warmed up throughout the race and although the principals were a little way clear he stayed on well enough to be third.  He is a gorgeous four year old son of Cracksman and there is plenty more to come from him.  Johannes was the only slightly disappointing runner of the day – he went much better than at Taunton early on but then weakened as they turned for home.  He is definitely better than this, I just don’t think we have found the key to him as yet.

Today there are two jumps meetings at Catterick and Southwell and we have two runners at the latter, Ya Know Yaseff and Hammer Dan.  Ya Know Yaseff returns to hurdles in the 2.55pm mares handicap hurdle over three miles and Jack Tudor rides.  She is a dual chase winner this season and can retuning to the smaller obstacles off a five pound lower mark.  She is yet to win over hurdles but it is the fixed brush ones today so they are basically mini fences!  She has been pretty consistent all season but did run badly at Hereford last time. The only thing about that run is that it was too bad to be true and we did find her to be in season after the race so that was hopefully the reason!  She is about 8/1 in the betting today and she ought not to be far away at the business end of the race.

Hammer Dan makes his handicap debut in the concluding race on the Southwell card at 4.00pm, a conditional jockeys novices handicap hurdle over three miles and Ellis Collier rides.  He has yet to shine under rules but he has finished second in an Irish point to point so hopefully the step up in trip can bring about improvement.  He certainly goes better at home than he has shown on the course so far and at 28/1 he has a small each way chance. 

As well as the two jumps fixtures today there are two all-weather flat meetings at Lingfield and Newcastle.  In Ireland they also race on the all-weather at Dundalk.

Last night in the football there were two Premier League matches, Wolves were against Manchester United and although Wolves showed the majority of possession through the game, Man U managed to just about turn it round after the break and ended with a winning result of 4-3. West Ham were at home to Bournemouth a drawing result of 1-1, Bournemouth enjoyed success in the FA Cup in January, but are still waiting for their first Premier League win since 26th December, after two defeats and this draw since then. 

There is no Premiership action this evening but there is a good game in the Championship with Bristol City at home to Leeds United at 8.00pm. 

Tonight also see’s the start of the 2024 Six Nations rugby.  France play Ireland at 8pm and it promises to be a great curtain raiser match.

I replaced my rooster with a duck.

Now I wake up at the quack of dawn!

Happy Friday!