Doctor Does It At Fakenham!

Doctor Harper was a good winner at Fakenham yesterday afternoon, winning with any amount in hand under Tom Scudamore.  Despite carrying a penalty for his two previous hurdles successes Tom gave him a good, positive front-running ride on ground that looked nearly unraceable.  He was the only one that came back to the padddock with his colours still nice and clean which is always good for the post-race pictures!  Funny enough, A P McCoy was presented with a garden bench to commemorate his 4000th winner...I can't imagine AP sitting around in his garden!

I can barely believe that Wincanton has been given the go-ahead to race this afternoon after passing an early morning inspection.  That means there are four meetings taking place - three quality jumps cards at Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton as well as an all-weather flat card at Lingfield.

Talk about being thrown in at the deep end!  Gevrey Chambertin makes his chase debut this afternoon at Ascot in the Grade Two Reynoldstown Chase - he won the valuable Fixed Brush handicap hurdle at Haydock last time out and has subsequently schooled well at home over the larger obstacles.  Tom Scudamore will be aboard our exciting grey gelding.

We also have another interesting runner at the Berkshire track.  Un Temps Pour Tout takes part in the first and the ex-French gelding has won three of his seven starts this season and finished in the frame in the others.  It could be a good day for Tom Scu, let's hope so at least.

We have a couple of runners over at Wincanton and I see that our stable sponsors, Bathwick Tyres are supporting six of the seven races on the card.  Any supporters of racing deserve our support so if you are in need of some new rubber for your car, you know where to go!  They also have last time out winner Knight Of Noir running in the novices' hurdle at 4.15pm - I am sure they would love to win a bit of their own cash back!

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Andy Murray is still struggling to recapture the best of his form from last year.  He lost 6-3, 6-4 in Rotterdam last night and looks like he is still having trouble with his match fitness.

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I will be having a little football wager on Berwick, Stranraer, Chesterfield and Rotherham this afternoon - this football lark is easy isn't it?!

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Finally, I should apologise to my long suffering wife...I had trouble with 'Er Indoors again yesterday.  It was Valentine's Day so I booked a table for 7.30pm...when we got there, she didn't want to play snooker!