National Weights Day!

This afternoon there are three meetings taking place at Ayr, Lingfield and Southwell.  The best news of the day (especially for our box driver!) is that Ayr gets the go-ahead and the stable has two runners up at the Scottish track.  The Tracey Shuffle (pictured above, right), a 133 rated hurdler has his first start since capsizing on his chase debut in September - he has done plenty of schooling at home and retains all of his enthusiasm...it would be fantastic if he could win at his owners local track (epecially as I would love to see Sean do the 'Tracey Shuffle' again!).  Hidden Discounts makes his racecourse debut in the bumper and hopefully he will be able to continue the stables' red-hot run of form in this sphere.

Above: Sail By The Sea and The Tracey Shuffle in action on the Pond House gallops

This afternoon there are three meetings taking place at Ayr, Lingfield and Southwell.  The best news of the day (especially for our box driver!) is that Ayr gets the go-ahead and the stable has two runners up at the Scottish track.  The Tracey Shuffle (pictured above, right), a 133 rated hurdler has his first start since capsizing on his chase debut in September - he has done plenty of schooling at home and retains all of his enthusiasm...it would be fantastic if he could win at his owners local track (epecially as I would love to see Sean do the 'Tracey Shuffle' again!).  Hidden Discounts (pictured below) makes his racecourse debut in the bumper and hopefully he will be able to continue the stables' red-hot run of form in this sphere.

Above: Hidden Discounts and Swing Bill

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David and Martin are both in London today for the announcement of the Grand National weights and there are very few surprises to speak of.  Once again senior handicapper Phil Smith has compressed the weights by effectively dropping the ratings of several of those at the head of the weights meaning that 59 of the 83 entries are in the handicap proper.  Tidal Bay heads the weights on 11-10 and is 9lbs lower than if this were a normal handicap, others that are well-treated at the weights include Albertas Run, Weird Al and former Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander.

Of the four entries from Pond House, The Package (10-8) is guaranteed to get in, while Problema Tic and Swing Bill (10-4) are just outside of the top forty in the weights at 45 and 47 respectively, so should get a run come 6^th April.  Our other entry Matuhi will need a few more above him to come out and has been allotted a weight of 9-11.

Speaking of his entries, David said “The Package definitely gets in and has a nice weight.  You have to forget about his last run over hurdles, but prior to that the form of his Hennessy fourth looks to be strong.  Of course, we have it to do with Tidal Bay at these weights but the Grand National is a unique test.”

He went on to add that “Swing Bill gave Conor O’Farrell the thrill of a lifetime when 10^th in the race last year and has had a better preparation this time around.  Problema Tic was still going well when an unlucky faller at the 17^th in the Becher Chase and deserves his place in the line-up, while we are going to have to see how things go between now and then for Matuhi as he needs plenty above him to come out.”

I always enjoy my annual pilgrimage to Liverpool for the Grand National - I hope that Gino has our accommodation ready!  Gino is a great host, but his maths isn't always the greatest - he put so many of us up one year that a member of the party ended up kipping on the snooker table...it certainly made it tricky to pot some of the balls!  I guess he must have needed the rest!

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Talking of Liverpool how can they lose 2-0 at home to West Brom?  The Midland club have now done the double over the scousers and to make things worse captain fantastic Steven Gerrard missed a penalty.  Liverpool don't look to be anything like a top four team to me.  While we are on the subject of football, Manchester City are struggling yet they leave Carlos Tevez on the bench...does Mancini really know what he is doing?  Give most of us his cheque book and I am sure we could get a team together and manage them!

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I see that everyone is clubbing together to pay for Gazza to stay in America.  He has not been in rehab before...or do I have that wrong?  I hope it all turns out well for him and he can leave the drink alone and ditch his so-called mates!