Dan Second On Chase Debut

Dan Breen ran creditably to finish runner-up on his chase debut at Warwick yesterday to the more experienced Darby's Turn.  Our five year old jumped well for Tom Scudamore and he looks sure to be winning over fences very soon.  Watching the action yesterday, I couldn't help but be impressed by young Sam Twiston-Davies who rode a double on the card.  He must be one of the most improved jockey's about at the moment, and he looked particularly good to score upon Cotswold Charmer in a driving finish.  To be honest, I think he would have won on either of the first two.

Of the rest of the action, I thought that Arthurian Legend put up an impressive performance to win the maiden hurdle at Chepstow.  The five year old jumped very well and scored by an easy eleven lengths from a good yardstick in Gurtacrue.  I know that the Evan Williams team thought Gurtacrue would win, so it makes the performance of the winner even more creditable.

On the flat, Richard Hughes managed to cut Paul Hanagan's lead in the jockey's championship to just two, even though he could not get to Kempton to ride due to his helicopter being grounded.  However, it does mean that he can now ride at Southwell or Wolverhampton tomorrow.  After much speculation, Hughes has finally given up the mount on Paco Boy in the Breeders Cup Mile - with twelve booked rides this afternoon and Hanagan with ten at the same meetings, this race looks like it is going down to the wire.

*****

Over on the gallops yesterday, I was able to take a couple of interesting photographs of some of the old brigade, as well as some promising youngsters.  Comply Or Die worked alongside Peut Etre Sivola, while The Prime Viper worked with Lady Cricket's offspring (by Galileo).

  
Above Left: (l-r) Comply Or Die and Peut Etre Sivola and RIght: The Prime Viper and by Galileo