Hereford & Southwell Today

I thought that Kazlian ran a sound enough race on his hurdling debut at Market Rasen yesterday afternoon when finishing runner-up to Unkown Rebel.  The winner already had experience over hurdles and was no mean performer on the flat having scored on five occasions.  They came a mile clear of the third horse home so it was probably quite a decent contest by Market Rasen's standards.  With that experience under his belt I am sure that Kazlian will be winning races over hurdles before too long.  HMS Intrepid made a satisfactory racecourse debut when third in the concluding Ffos Las bumper, while Raslan was beaten less than four lengths in the competitive handicap hurdle

We have three runners this afternoon - Bathwick Man and Teshali compete at Hereford and are the mounts of Tom Scudamore, while American Art bids for a five-timer at Southwell under Conor O'Farrell.

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It was a disappointing day for champion jockey A P McCoy as he was banned under the new whip guidelines for going one over the limit when beaten a head aboard Caddie Master in the three mile handicap hurdle.  A P is going to have to be very careful as if he breaches the rules again in the next twelve months he will get ten days and after that another offence will see him take a month long enforced holiday.  It is high time that the jockeys get together and work out a day of action where they all strike.  It seems absurd that these new regulations should be altering results...as A P said himself "Caddie Master would have won this six weeks ago".

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It was a great weekend for Aidan O'Brien however as he notced a double at the Breeder's Cup on Sunday night, the highlight of which was undoubtedly his son Joseph winning the Breeder's Cup Turf aboard St Nicholas Abbey.  Aidan was interviewed directly after that success, while at the same time trying to text his mum...I don't think I can recall Aidan ever having looked so proud or emotional.  Well done indeed!