2 Out Of 3 Ain't Bad!

It was a worthwhile trip up to the north of the country when the stable had two winners from three runners at Wetherby yesterday.  I Shot The Sheriff made a very impressive debut for the yard when winning the novices' hurdle in good style under Tom Scudamore, beating 123 rated Liberty's Gift by nine lengths.  I am not sure that the runner-up ran to that sort of mark, but ours is clearly a useful prospect and should be more than capable of adding to his tally.  African Broadway was our other winner on the card as he made a successful chase debut in the 3m1f beginners' chase.  He jumped well in the main, stayed on well and will have learnt plenty from this experience.

  
Above left: I Shot The Sheriff and right: African Broadway complete a double for Pond House at Wetherby

It was a worthwhile trip up to the north of the country when the stable had two winners from three runners at Wetherby yesterday.  I Shot The Sheriff made a very impressive debut for the yard when winning the novices' hurdle in good style under Tom Scudamore, beating 123 rated Liberty's Gift by nine lengths.  I am not sure that the runner-up ran to that sort of mark, but ours is clearly a useful prospect and should be more than capable of adding to his tally.  African Broadway was our other winner on the card as he made a successful chase debut in the 3m1f beginners' chase.  He jumped well in the main, stayed on well and will have learned plenty from this experience.  Unfortunately our other runner, Kathchmore fell in the handicap hurdle while still looking to hold every chance.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with two on the flat at Wolverhampton and Kempton as well as two jumps cards at Wincanton and Uttoxeter.  Wincanton stage their first meeting of the season this afternoon and to help them welcome in the new jumps campaign we will be parading Grands Crus' full brother Gevrey Chambertin and high class hurdler/chaser Notus de la Tour.  We also have five runners at the track with Starlife, Vertige Dore, Shallow Bay, Dukes Art and Darcey Diva and a few of the lads in the yard get a chance to demonstrate their skills - stable jockey Tom Scudamore rides Starlife, while Conor O'Farrell, Mikey Ennis, Frank Hayes and Kieron Edgar all have mounts this afternoon.

*****

England managed to get a draw in the rescheduled football international against Poland last night but they played terribly.  England goalkeeper Joe Hart ran out to collect a ball from a corner and managed to get nowhere near it - it was a terrible mistake.  Poland looked much the better side for prolonged periods and personally I think we need to be playing our younger players from the start.  This England team are never going to win an international competition until some radical changes are made.  I am not sure that Roy Hodgson would inspire me...or maybe we are just not good enough, or maybe it is a bit of both?!  My quick fix would be to get rid of Carrick and Defoe and I would play Welbeck and Oxlade Chamberlain from the start.  The trouble is, we are just not as good as the players seem to think they are!