Another Good Weekend!

     Consigliere en-route to victory at Wincanton
      Picture by kind permission of Steven Kemp 

*Glassawine, Non-runner 4.10pm Taunton*

It was another excellent weekend for the yard with a double at Wincanton on Saturday, followed by another success at Hereford on Sunday.  It was good to see Consigliere back in the winner's enclosure again after a couple of years in the wilderness.  He was finally back down to a feasible handicap mark and he clearly appreciates the prevailing ground conditions.  He might well get three miles which would certainly give David more options - let's just hope that the handicapper does not overreact and it is not another two years before we see him winning again.

Consigliere en-route to victory at Wincanton (Picture by kind permission of Steven Kemp)

*Glassawine, Non-runner 4.10pm Taunton*

It was another excellent weekend for the yard with a double at Wincanton on Saturday, followed by another success at Hereford on Sunday.  It was good to see Consigliere back in the winner's enclosure again after a couple of years in the wilderness.  He was finally back down to a feasible handicap mark and he clearly appreciates the prevailing ground conditions.  He might well get three miles which would certainly give David more options - let's just hope that the handicapper does not overreact and it is not another two years before we see him winning again.

Star Of Angels put up a good performance to beat stablemate The Pier in the competitive handicap hurdle at Wincanton and complete the double.  He has always been a talented individual as is apparent from this victory from a handicap mark of 128.  I thought that The Pier produced a good first effort for the yard in second and he looks like a winner waiting to happen to me.

The Tatkin produced a brave effort to prevail in a close finish at Hereford yesterday.  She was headed three out and looked beaten, but she rallied in game style to win by a neck.  She could win again when stamina is at a premium.

Chasing debutant Chartreux was unlucky in the beginners' chase when falling at the fourteenth fence.  He certainly looked by far the likeliest winner and I am sure that compensation awaits.

*****

We are off to our local track Taunton this afternoon where we have five runners - Dukes Art (Conor O'Farrell), Presenting Ace (Tom Scudamore) and Home Run (Hadden Frost) in the ultra competitive novices' hurdle, Quinte du Chatelet (pictured right) in the 3m handicap hurdle and Glassawine in the 2m1f handicap.  Tom rides both Quinte du Chatelet and Glassawine.

*****

I enjoyed wathcing the Manchester Derby yesterday in the third round of the FA Cup even though the referee completely ruined the game.  I don't think City deserved the red card and I have to say that I didn't much like Rooney's gamesmanship in playing up to the ref.  Having said that, United should have been awarded a penalty that the officials missed - surely it is about time that television cameras were introduced for these sort of decisions?

What about Paul Scholes coming out of retirement at the age of 37 to help United out of trouble?  Roy Keene still looks fit - if Fergie hadn't fallen out with him, he could have asked him to help out...or even David Beckham - I noticed that he was among the spectators!  Maybe they will consider turning out a Manchester United Old Boys' Eleven?

*****

I see that Mark Hughes is favourite for the QPR manager's job.  I thought that Neil Warnock had done a fair job at QPR - the problem is the directors think the club is better than it is.  I sound like Mr Angry again!