Argent Wins At WIncanton

The good form of the stable continued yesterday when Vif Argent was successful in the 2m5f handicap chase at Wincanton under Tom Scudamore.  It was good to see him recapture some of the form that he had shown in France.  The first time blinkers and drop in grade certainly seemed to do the trick as he came readily clear in the closing stages.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with two over jumps at Ludlow and Taunton and a couple of all-weather flat meetings at Kempton and Southwell.  The stable has three runners at Taunton - Great Choice, The Darling Boy and Smiles For Miles...I love the names of those three!  The Darling Boy was only beaten a short head on his debut for the stable at Bangor and should go close from a 2lbs higher mark, while Great Choice produced a decent effort when a close second in a Uttoxeter bumper on his first start for the stable.  If he can reproduce that first effort he could go close.  They look like three decent mounts for stable jockey Tom Scudamore.  The Darling Boy looks like a Great Choice and if they win, David would have Smiles For Miles - you know what I mean!

I see there is an article in the Racing Post today featuring Martin's Cheltenham Festival memories.  He says that his first Festival winner, 1981 Triumph Hurdle hero Baron Blakeney was a dream come true.  He won at 66/1 and everyone at the yard had a few quid on him, including myself although I was shrewd enough to take 50's!  When it comes to giving a tip for this year's Cheltenham Festival I thought he would have chosen one from Pond House.  Instead he has gone for Shaneshill in the bumper - I will let you know what he fancies from here nearer the time.

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Can you imagine going to work and seeing that you are favourite to lose your job?  That is what happened to under fire Manchester United manager David Moyes yesterday.  At one point Moyes was a 4/7 shot to be shown the door, although by the close of play he had drifted to 5/6 with Ladbrokes - crazy world!

Meanwhile Chelsea earned a good draw in Turkey last night against Galatasaray and they should win the return leg at The Bridge.  Gareth Bale looked amazing as he scored two for Real Madrid - one was an absolute cracker, although it is nothing more than you would expect for £86million!

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After the verdict in yesterday's murder case surely it is time to bring back the death penalty?  How much is it going to cost the tax payer to keep those two men in prison for the next forty-five plus years?

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