Across The Card Double!

It was a good day for the stable yesterday with two winners from our three runners.  Stars Over The Sea was most impressive in landing a facile success over hurdles at Ludlow under Tom Scudamore.  This former classy flat recruit jumped better than on his hurdling debut and is clearly learning - I am sure he will continue to improve in that department with experience and he looks like a horse of considerable potential.  Dalgig (pictured right) was also quite impressive in victory on the level at Kempton last evening under Mikey Ennis - I wonder if a career hurdling might beckon anytime soon?  Meanwhile Navanman was fourth at Taunton and looks as though he could do with more of a test of stamina.

There are four meetings taking place this afternoon and the highlight is obviously day one of the Paddy Power meeting from Cheltenham.  The supporting cards are on the all-weather at Lingfield and Wolverhampton as well as over the sticks at Newcastle.  The stable has four runners at Cheltenham; Broadway Buffalo, Monetaire, Dell' Arca and Knight Of Noir.  Monetaire and Dell' Arca are both making their seasonal debuts with the former also making his first start for the stable having shown some fair form in France.  Dell' Arca was a high class hurdler last term with a rating of 145 and a clear round of jumping will put him right in the picture.

I bet Tom Scudamore would dearly love to win on Knight Of Noir in the 4.05pm race.  It is named the Michael Scudamore Memorial in memory of his grandfather - I would imagine it will be a bit like David trying to win his father's race at the Festival every year.

We also have a couple of runners up at Newcastle and Conor O'Farrell makes the long trip north to partner Molo and Border Breaker.  Molo was successful in a mares' bumper on good/soft ground at the end of May, while Border Breaker was an Irish point-to-point winner on good/yielding.  They both look promising sorts and are a nice couple of mounts for Conor.

I would love to know how in this day and age a racecourse can get the race distances wrong for five years?  The Charlie Hall trip at Wetherby has been wrong for all of that time and I wouldn't be at all surprised if some results had panned out differently if held over the correct distance.  Add to that the fact that many of the courses do not give accurate going reports and the trainers job suddenly becomes very difficult.  The accuracy of going reports is absolutely paramount.

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We are really spoiling you this week!  Following on from yesterday's staff interview with Gail Harrison (included again below in case you missed it yesterday), today it is the turn of Ashley Farrant to face a grilling from broadcaster Mike Vince.  Ashley was champion point-to-point jockey when David was training between the flags so he should know a nice horse when he sees one...

Ashley Farrant Horse To Follow 2014/15

Gail Harrison Horse To Follow 2014/15

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How on earth can FIFA get away with yesterday's corruption report relating to the next World Cup?  Why isn't the report of Michael Garcia published in full?  Do they have something to hide?  FIFA is a complete joke and can hold no credibility whatsoever.  As far as I am concerned, all of the major countries should boycott FIFA and form their own association...yet another problem sorted by Chester Barnes!  Perhaps I should be a sports consultant?

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Much as predicted Andy Murray was completely outclassed by Roger Federer yesterday as he lost 6-0, 6-1 - I hope a few of you followed me a had a little investment on the Swiss star to win in straight sets.  Murray continues to struggle against the very best and has now lost nine out of nine against the top three players in 2014.

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Finally, another true story for you.  Apparently a man stole a £400 chainsaw in Port St Lucie, Florida and hid it down his pants.  I wonder if he took a short cut home?!  Keep smiling...