Army Our 99th Winner!

*Latest - Oddjob N/R Chepstow 5.30pm*

Following a number of near misses throughout the day yesterday it was good to get a winner on the board when Seven Nation Army made a winning debut for the yard in the closing bumper at Fontwell, in the process moving us onto the 99 winner mark for the season.  Earlier in the day El Lobo had an unlucky fall when looking dangerous in the handicap chase, while the same fate also befell Bygones Sovereign when still holding a chance in the 2m6f handicap hurdle, and Waterunder produced another creditable effort in finishing runner-up in the two miler.  With runners this afternoon at Chepstow and Wetherby, let's hope that the 100th winner of the season is not the hardest to get!

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon, with two jumps meetings at Chepstow and Wetherby and two flat meetings at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  Western Warhorse, Garryleigh, Oddjob and Standing Ovation do duty for us at Chepstow - Tom Scudamore will ride them all with the exception of Oddjob who will be partnered by Kieron Edgar.  Meanwhile Franklin Roosevelt is our only runner at Wetherby and will be ridden by Conor O'Farrell.

Garryleigh deserves to win a race under rules - our former point-to-point winner has run a couple of sound races in defeat and will be looking to go one better.  Oddjob is turned out again under a penalty in a bid to supplement his success at the course on Grand National day (pictured above), while Franklin Roosevelt bids for a hat-trick.

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I see that the awesome Sprinter Sacre is a 1/8 chance to win at Punchestown.  Istabraq managed to perform the amazing treble of winning at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown and it looks as though Sprinter Sacre has more than just a favourites chance of doing the same.

Talking of Sprinter Sacre, there is a debate going on about who should be crowned jumps horse of the year.  Some people think that it should be Grand National winner Auroras Encore while others are in the Hennessy/Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth camp.  However, to my mind there can be only one in it and that is the aforementioned Sprinter Sacre when you consider his complete and utter dominance over the remainder of his rivals in his division.

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Shirley Vickery is 46 today.  Shirley used to work in the yard many years ago and certainly knew how to order people about - she would even make David's secretary Gail look timid!  Only joking - Happy birthday Shirley!