Monday at Taunton

It's the last Monday of 2024 and there is limited racing action today but still plenty of quality, with the jumps cards coming from Haydock and Taunton. The stable heads to Taunton today with two runners, while the all-weather action is coming from Wolverhampton. It's a quiet day in Ireland today with no racing. 

Infinity Blue is our first runner of the day and he runs in the 1:15pm Juvenile Hurdle over 2miles 1/2f with Jack Tudor in the saddle. He makes his debut for Pond House today and has form on the flat, he's settled in well to life here and it'll be interesting to see how he takes hurdling. Our last runner of the day is Kolisi in the 4:00pm Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle over 2miles 3f with Harry Atkins riding. He has looked to be a little out of sorts when returning after a lengthy break this time around, but has plenty of ability and conditions will suit today. 

Yesterday we were at Doncaster with the two runners, Belfrina was running another solid race and looked to be the likely winner and was very unlucky to fall at the last. She's all ok this morning which is the most important thing and is a lovely mare who will have plenty of other opportunities. Chemical Warfare was also running well, but after making a mistake at five from home, that looked to be the race over for him, but he still looks to have loads of room of improvement left in him. 

It wasn't a winning ride for Daryl Jacob who retired from the saddle yesterday at Leopardstown, but he did enjoy his last Grade 1 success at Limerick the day before aboard Impaire Et Passe for his retained owners Simon and Isaac Souede which made his decision to retire earlier than the end of the season planned easier. It has been a challenging career for him having spent significant spells on the side-lines due to injuries. He's achieved a great amount and it's certainly a career he should be very proud of and I'm sure it won't be last we see of him in racing.  

Brighterdaysahead looked pretty impressive yesterday as she landed 30 length victory, with State Man never sighted at any stage to which Paul Townend's reaction was that he was just completely flat. The Gordon Elliot trained mare is rapidly improving and the choice of the Mares race or to twist to the Champion hurdle is an exciting decision to have to make!

My husband and I laugh at how competitive we are. But I laugh more!

Have a great Monday!