Bumper Turnout At Southwell!

There are two all-weather meetings on this afternoon at Southwell and Lingfield (Lingfield passed a 6am inspection).  Interestingly, Southwell plays host to three National Hunt Flat races on it's card and they have attracted fields of 14,10 and 9.  The three year old bumper has the most runners so it looks like these races are obviously needed.  I would think that if one of the all-weather tracks were to put on three or four races like this once a week they would be well supported.  Even champion jockey A P McCoy has a couple of rides, so this initiative should be something that the planning committee should consider doing on a regular basis.

Talking of bumpers, did you see Andrew Balding's bumper horse Allez les Rouges at Exeter yesterday?  The three year old looked the likely winner from a long way out but then veered right across the track.  Jockey Felix de Giles could not steer it at all and he should be treated with caution next time - it could just be greeness, although he was sent off the 5/2 favourite and I wouldn't want to be taking short odds about him next time.

There was a shock in the four runner handicap hurdle at the Haldon track yesterday afternoon when hot favourite Sanctuaire was beaten at odds-on.  How on earth did 22/1 outsider of four Salontyre win from 21lbs out of the handicap?  It will be fascinating to see what the handicapper does to the winner as the form obviously has to be treated with a degree of caution owing to the muddling pace and Sanctuaire running a stinker.

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We have a couple more photographs from the weekend on the gallops, and I am pleased to say that the snow has now melted, although this morning we were greeted by fairly dense fog.  Below you will see both Lough Derg and Dynaste in action.

 
Above left: Lough Derg and right: Dynaste on the gallops at the weekend