Racing at Taunton

The stable has runners at our local track Taunton this afternoon and I am pleased to report that they had no problems with frost here and racing goes ahead.  Racing also takes place at Folkestone after a planned inspection was cancelled because temperatures did not drop as low as forecest and the track was raceable first thing.  David runs Bathwick Brave in the handicap hurdle and Woodlark Island runs in the 2m3f handicap hurdle at Taunton.  This is his first run for 195 days and he does look quite well treated on old form.  Bumper winner Beattie Green runs in the novice's hurdle but does have to improve on her hurdling debut which was at the track last time out and it will be tough to beat the Paul Nicholls trained Dildar who has some very useful flat form in France.  David has three interesting runners today so we shall see how we get on.  When you look through the trainers with runners the name of Mick Channon immediately jumps out at you.  Don't forget we also have Mark Johston running horses over the jumps at the moment and they are trainers to watch out for when they send their horses over the sticks.  What about Sir Michael Stoute maybe having a runner at Plumpton?!

In yesterdays action, Bamboleo finished third in the Bumper at Plumpton on bottomless ground.  The first two horses home in that race look useful, Flementine and Tidal Dance and they should be kept on the right side of.  David was happy with our gelding and I am sure he will appreciate a step up in trip when he goes over hurdles.  I am pleased to report he has come out of the race well and is fine this morning.  Once again I have a couple more snaps from the gallops.  Great Endeavour is back in full work and working well followng a mini holiday after running at Cheltenham in December. The other photo is of the string coming back down the gallops on a lovely crisp winters morning.

   
                Great Endeavour                                   Coming Down the Gallops

Also in yesterdays action I saw an unlucky loser at Ayr.  Lady Bluesky was cantering and well clear of the rest when she unseated her jockey at the last.  The benifactor of this incident was an old inmate of ours, Nelson Du Ronceray who won the race and picked up a very lucky £5,000!

In the football it is the last day for transfers today so all the managers and chairman's phones will be busy, or maybe they will be hoping it does not ring so they can keep their best players!  There is a good game to look out for this evening live on Sky, it is Everton versus Man City at 8pm.  There are in fact lots of matches this evening from the Premiership and Championship so we shall see how it alters the tables in the morning.