Shoegazer Bids To Follow-Up

We fly home today after our week in Italy - it has been an enjoyable break but I have been missing my racing.  I am looking forward to seeing some of the action from my local track Newton Abbot as they kick-off their big two day fixture this afternoon.  There is also jumping at Market Rasen and flat action from Sandown, Chester, Beverley and Bath.  Shoegazer is the stable's only runner at Newton Abbot while we have two runners on the level at Sandown with Purple 'N Gold and Togiak.

We fly home today after our week in Italy - it has been an enjoyable break but I have been missing my racing.  I am looking forward to seeing some of the action from my local track Newton Abbot as they kick-off their big two day fixture this afternoon.  There is also jumping at Market Rasen and flat action from Sandown, Chester, Beverley and Bath.  Shoegazer is the stable's only runner at Newton Abbot while we have two runners on the level at Sandown with Purple 'N Gold and Togiak.

Shoegazer bids to follow-up last season's Listed Mildmay Chase success (pictured above) at Newton Abbot this afternoon under Tom Scudamore.  He had a fantastic first season over fences last term, winning on five occasions but as you would expect for a race with prizemoney of over £30,000 it is very competitive.  He is 10lbs higher in the weights and that will make things difficult, although he is tough and genuine and should run his race.  It should be a busier day at the Devon track tomorrow when the stable will have five runners.

Over at Sandown our two runners take part in the 1m2f handicap at 5.30pm.  Purple 'N Gold has been in good form since we claimed him, winning on the flat and over hurdles and running consistently on his other starts.  He has the benefit of former champion jockey Ryan Moore in the saddle this afternoon and should go well once again.  Our other runner is Togiak who will be ridden by Martin Harley - he has been disappointing of late and would need to improve on recent form to figure here.

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Even if the Super Cup doesn't mean an awful lot in the scheme of things, it certainly produced a dramatic match between Bayern Munich and Chelsea in a repeat of last year's Champions League Final.  The result went the other way last night as Bayern Munich won on penalties in an eventful game.  Chelsea, who were reduced to 10 men looked likely to win until an equalizer from Martinez with the last kick of extra time took the game to penalties which the German team won 5-4.  The Germans seemed delighted to have turned the tables, although I am sure they would have prefered to win the Champions League!

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The Brit's success in the US Open tennis couldn't last at Laura Robson crashed out of the Grand Slam yesterday although Andy Murray kept his hopes of winning back-to-back trophies alive by scrambling past Leonardo Mayer in four sets.

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There are some good football matches that I will be settling down to watch on my return.  The pick of them has to be Liverpool versus Manchester United tomorrow at Anfield the Scousers will be desperate for a good result having won their first two games of the new season and will be hoping to consolidate here.  It should certainly be interesting - the kick-off is at 1.30pm and is on Sky Sports 1.  Later in the day (at 4pm) Arsenal take on Spurs - top class football action and a high class card from Newton Abbot...welcome home Chester!

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Finally, I would just like to wish Sophie Hetherton the very best of luck.  Sophie, daughter of former trainer James came to see us back in 2009 with her father and they had a look around the yard.  4 years on and we have just heard that she has completed her A-levels and will be studying Italian Renaissance Art at Warwick University AFTER she has competed in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.  Sophie sets sail tomorrow and is the youngest member of the crew on a voyage that will take eleven months to complete.  She will be raising funds for a Dementia charity and will be keeping everybody up-to-date on her progress via her website http://www.seapupsophie.co.uk/ As you can see from the picture right, Sophie definitely found her sea legs in the middle of our equine pool four years ago!  Good luck Sophie...