One Newton Runner

This afternoon there are three meetings to look forward to - two on the flat at Bath and Hamilton as well as a local jumps card at Newton Abbot.  As usual, Newton Abbot have done a very good job securing funds for their meeting and they have more prize money on offer than either flat meeting.  We have had plenty of rain down this way over the past few days so the ground could be on the soft side, so make sure that your selections will handle a bit of cut.  The stable has one runner at Newton today, Purple 'N Gold (pictured above) in the novices' handicap hurdle - he has been most consistent on the flat and over hurdles since joining us and looks sure to go well once again - the one unknown is the softer ground so it will be interesting to see how he gets on under Tom Scudamore.

This afternoon there are three meetings to look forward to - two on the flat at Bath and Hamilton as well as a local jumps card at Newton Abbot.  As usual, Newton Abbot have done a very good job securing funds for their meeting and they have more prize money on offer than either flat meeting.  We have had plenty of rain down this way over the past few days so the ground could be on the soft side, so make sure that your selections will handle a bit of cut.  The stable has one runner at Newton today, Purple 'N Gold (pictured above) in the novices' handicap hurdle - he has been most consistent on the flat and over hurdles since joining us and looks sure to go well once again - the one unknown is the softer ground so it will be interesting to see how he gets on under Tom Scudamore.

This morning we are pleased to bring you the latest in our series of interviews with staff around the yard.  Mike Vince caught up with senior secretary Gail Harrison who has been at Pond House for approaching thirty years...poor girl, she would have got less for murder!  Known as 'The Headmistress' or 'Boycott' as she never let anything through, Gail was only too pleased to give us her horse to follow for the season ahead.  Meanwhile, over on David's blog (which will be appearing a little later this afternoon) I understand that he will be featuring former champion point-to-point rider turned Pond House school master, Ashley Farrant.

Gail Harrison Horse To Follow 2013/14

I see that Chester are still hopeful of holding a jumps meetings in 2015.  They held a trial at the track last year when one horse fell at the last and things had gone rather quiet since then.  Personally I am not sure that holding a National Hunt meeting on the tightest course in England is a good idea - you certainly wouldn't want to be aboard a horse that jumps to it's right!

Dougie Costello rode his second winner on the flat yesterday at Musselburgh.  Could he be the latest jumps jockey that is considering a switch of codes following the likes of Jim Crowley and Graham Lee?  It is certainly much easier and less dangerous.

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I see that Liverpool Ladies managed to win the football championships.  I have seen the Scouse girls fighting at the Grand National meeting and I for one certainly wouldn't want to argue with them.

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It was good to see David Howell win the Dunhill Masters Golf.  David has visited our Cheltenham Festival marquee in the past and it was good to see him record his first victory in seven years.  He is a thoroughly nice guy who has had to deal with plenty of injuries...hopefully this will spark a revival in his fortunes.

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So the Commonwealth Games tickets go on sale today and 2.5 million people have applied for passes to the event.  The trouble is that only one million tickets are for sale...the touts will have a field day!