Three Stratford Runners

Today we have four meetings - two cards on the flat at Lingfield and Kempton as well as National Hunt action from Stratford and Sedgefield.  The stable has three runners at Stratford this afternoon; Mount Haven, Street Entertainer and Moncarno - stable jockey Tom Scudamore is aboard all three of them.  I thought that the first race with Mount Haven looked like a particularly good one for the track.  Our runner was a ready winner on his stable debut before running creditably last time and he should once again give a good account, although I have heard that the Bailey team fancy their runner Gold Man.  Meanwhile Street Entertainer looks to be the one to beat in the 1.40pm race.

 Of yesterday's runners I thought that Houston Dynimo ran his usual sound race to finish 2nd to Pure Style back over hurdles at Taunton yesterday.  He jumped with aplomb over the smaller obstacles and provided the ground doesn't soften too much in the coming weeks, he could yet add to his tally. He still looks like a fantastic buy for the yard from a seller.  A Hairy Koala finished a close fourth in the bumper - while showing enough to suggest he can win plenty of races, he already looks as though he could do with a longer trip.  If you were at Taunton races yesterday you couldn't see much as the fog was so bad - it was nearly dark by the time the bumper was run!  Over at Worcester Bengali was disappointing although it is never easy to concede a penalty in these types of races.

We were joined by the West Berkshire Racing Club at Pond House yesterday.  I would think there might be some stiff members this morning!  MCP had them all on the equicisor, including organiser Rob Watson (pictured above) - it was an enjoyable morning and they saw some horses on the gallops, although with only 50 yards or so visibility they didn't see too much!

While at Newmarket Sales earlier this week, we bumped into a former lady jockey who rode a Royal Ascot winner.  She had blonde hair back in those days, although she clearly still takes good care of herself.  Just for a bit of fun, can you tell who it was from the photograph below?  I will tell you the answer tomorrow.  If you need a clue or two between now and then - she used to ride plenty of winners for Sir Michael Stoute and married a Kent cricketer.

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I did say that lots of teams didn't want to be in Capital One Cup, well last night Manchester City lost at home to Newcastle last night...I rest my case!  The tournament certainly doesn't appeal as a betting medium.

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Can you believe that the Ali versus Foreman fight was forty years ago today?  I was lucky enough to see Ali fight Joe Bugner in the States, although I have to say the training by Ali was better the fight itself!  As far as I am concerned, he remains the greatest showman of all time.