50 Up WIth Ascot Double

*Swing Bowler - Non runner 3.35pm Ascot*

It was a good day for the stable at Ascot yesterday afternoon with a double on the card bringing up our 50 for the season.  Bygones Sovereign jumped fantastically well in the handicap hurdle and answered Tom Scudamore's every call to prevail in a driving finish.  He held on bravely by a neck to beat favourite Andy Kelly and it was near enough an action replay half an hour later as Seven Nation Army dug deep to repel all rivals by the same margin in the Listed bumper.  These two rides showcased Tom Scu at his very strongest - a great effort by horses and jockey.  Pleasant Company had earlier run a promising race when finishing third behind Royal Boy in the red hot novices' hurdle on the card on his first start over timber.  Meanwhile, over at Uttoxeter Great Choice was narrowly denied in the bumper, getting caught close home by Son Of Suzie.  He looked as though he had nicked the race off the home turn under Conor O'Farrell but he showed more than enough to suggest that he can be winning something similar very soon.

There is another great day of racing ahead of us with four meetings taking place.  Three of them are over the sticks at Ascot, Haydock and Newcastle, while there is also an all-weather flat card taking place at Lingfield.  The stable has seven runners at Ascot (with Swing Bowler now a defection) - they are Consigliere, Problema Tic, Shotavodka, Ronaldo des Mottes, Waterunder, Dell' Arca and Dan Breen.  David has no less than five runners in the Ladbroke Hurdle - it is a fiercely competitive race, although I am looking forward to seeing David's Greatwood Hurdle winner Dell' Arca take his chance.  Our four year old will act on this soft ground and looks to have a leading chance under Tom Scu.

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It is a pity to hear that Nicky Henderson's top class chaser Simonsig is going to miss the remainder of the season with a leg problem.  Why is it that these good horses seem to get problems?  Anyway, the good news is that he should be back next term.

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I can barely believe it...sixteen time world champion Phil Taylor was beaten in the second round of the PDC World Championships last night by Michael Smith.  It should be a wide-open contest now.

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My football treble for the weekend is Manchester United at 4/11, Leeds at 4/5 and Dundee United at 2/5.  Hopefully they will help to pay for a few of the Christmas expenses.