Scu's Birthday Double!

It was a good evening for the yard yesterday with our first double of the new season and a double also for stable jockey and birthday boy Tom Scudamore.  Barton Stacey won the maiden hurdle in good style and seemed to have a bit in hand.  He was sporting first time blinkers and they certainly seemed to have the desired effect - he certainly appreciated the better ground and he looks to be the type to do well over the coming months.  Bathwick Man was another who seemed to appreciate this quicker surface as he completed the double.  Our seven year old was scoring his sixth success for yard sponsors Wayne and Sarah Clifford.  Meanwhile Ladyvie seemed to be caught out by the drop back in trip, but nonetheless performed creditably to finish a staying-on third.

Above: Barton Stacey wins the maiden hurdle in good style under Tom Scudamore

It was a good evening for the yard yesterday with our first double of the new season and a double also for stable jockey and birthday boy Tom Scudamore.  Barton Stacey won the maiden hurdle in good style and seemed to have a bit in hand.  He was sporting first time blinkers and they certainly seemed to have the desired effect - he certainly appreciated the better ground and he looks to be the type to do well over the coming months.  Bathwick Man was another who seemed to appreciate this quicker surface as he completed the double.  Our seven year old was scoring his sixth success for yard sponsors Wayne and Sarah Clifford.  Meanwhile Ladyvie seemed to be caught out by the drop back in trip, but nonetheless performed creditably to finish a staying-on third.

Above: Bathwick Man completes a double for the yard and jockey Tom Scudamore in the handicap hurdle

There are five meetings today with Southwell, Chepstow and Lingfield hosting flat meetings and two jumps cards at Sedgefield and Worcester.  It looks like being a busy evening for David with no fewer than six runners at Worcester with Enfant de Lune, Soulard, Laustra Bad, Catch Tammy, Broadway Buffalo and Presenting Ace.  Decent hurdler Enfant de Lune makes his first start over fences since joining us in the beginners chase - he was the best of these over timber, so hopefully he can translate his full ability to the larger obstacles.  Broadway Buffalo makes his racecourse debut this evening and takes on plenty of other newcomers, while Presenting Ace is dropped back into novices' company for the first time in a while and has the form in the book to run a big race.

*****

While David was firing in the winners at Towcester, I was enjoying a pleasant evening with Martin and Carol down in Dartmouth.  We went to a good restaurant called Kendricks - if you are ever down that way, you really must drop in for a bite to eat.  You do need to book but the food is excellent and not expensive...I should know, it was my turn to pay!  Thinking about it, why is it always my turn to pay?!

*****

I see that Didier Drogba is set to leave Chelsea and move to China.  His departure will be a big loss for the Blues as he has been consistently their best striker now for a number of years.  Don't feel too sorry for him however, he has secured a £250,000 per week deal (tax free) - nice work if you can get it!

*****

What is the world coming to?  Reading about these European judges allowing prisoners the right to vote is absolutely ridiculous...I may be old fashioned, but if you are doing a bit of porridge it is generally because you have been a naughty boy.  Why should you be entitled to vote?  I would tell those Europeans to get stuffed and revoke the privilege...or am I missing something once again?!