Kings Palace Majestic!

What a great performance from Kings Palace to win the 3m1 1/2f novices' hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday by a very impressive eighteen lengths.  Prominent throughout he moved effortlessly into the lead and gradually drew further and further away.  The runner-up (although not proven at the trip) was rated 131 and the third won a Welsh National last season, so the form looks distinctly useful.  He has only had five starts to date (only three of those over hurdles), so let's hope that he can continue to progress.  He is versatile too, possessing the pace for 2m4f while clearly staying further.  I thought that Vazaro Delafayette also ran a sound first race under rules when finishing third in the bumper on the same card - this looked like a hot race and he appears to be a winner waiting to happen.  Already a winner of a point-to-point, we know he can jump and is another to look forward to for the future.

I thought that The New One was very impressive in winning the Listed hurdle at Kempton yesterday.  He beat Rock On Ruby by a very easy ten lengths and looks like he will remain very hard to beat for the remainder of the season.  He is already a favourite for the Champion Hurdle in March.  I would be surprised if Rock On Ruby was fully wound-up first time out and I would expect to see him get a bit closer if they meet again, however you cannot dispute the manner of The New One's victory.

I see that the jockey's at Bath kicked up a stink yesterday and racing had to be abandoned.  Actually, it was the changing rooms that kicked up a stink as they had sewage water flood in - I'm afraid it is about time that some money was spent on the racecourse - while I haven't been there myself, I am told that it looks like the walls haven't been painted since Sir Gordon Richards rode around there!  Don't blame General Manager Katie Stephens however, she even bought a washing machine for the place out of her own pocket!  Arena Racing Company are pumping a cool £1million into a Good Friday all-weather flat card...you would think they would sort out the problems with some of their other tracks first.

It is David's stable tour in the sixteen page supplement of the Racing Post tomorrow, so don't forget to pick up a copy...it should certainly make for interesting reading!  I always keep the old stable tours and see what the trainers have to say about their horses - it is often quite interesting reading them with hindsight!

While we are on the subject of stable tours - don't forget to check out the latest of our video interviews with the Pond House staff.  This week we have jockey Conor O'Farrell who was talking with James Smith about his aspirations for the coming season as well as nominating a horse to follow from the yard.

Conor O'Farrell Horse To Follow 2013/14

*****

There is a real bottom of the table clash tonight as Crystal Palace take on Fulham.  It is on Sky at 8pm...that is my evening taken care of.

I thought that Spurs looked very impressive in beating Aston Villa 2-0 - even so, they are only 16/1 to win the Premiership and I woud be looking for bigger odds than that.