Vazaro Victorious!

The stable enjoyed another nice winner yesterday when Vazaro Delafayette (pictured above) began to confirm some of his early promise by making all for a ready success in the novices' handicap hurdle on the first day of Newbury's Hennessy meeting.  He had some decent form in bumpers and with the hood and blinkers appearing to help with his concentration yesterday, he could be the type to continue progressing now that he has managed to get his head in front.

Today there are four meetings to look forward to with three jumps cards from Newbury, Doncaster and Musselburgh as well as an all-weather flat fixture from Wolverhampton.  The stable has four runners at Newbury; Tullyesker Hill, Dell' Arca, Unique de Cotte and Captainofindustry.  As you would expect all of those races look competitive, although Unique de Cotte looks to hold solid claims from the same mark that he won from at Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting.  A P McCoy is in the saddle today in place of Kieron Edgar and if the handicapper had the opportunity to frame the weights again he would have carried another 10lbs.

I love the picture in today's Racing Post of Tom Scudamore and A P McCoy in their Christmas jumpers.  I must say that they look like good value at £14.99 including post and packaging and what is more, it is to raise funds for the Injured Jockeys' Fund and Irish Injured Jockeys.  They can be purchased via www.racingpost.com and they deserve to do well.

Looking back at the action yesterday, I see that Ascendant who was the fourteen length winner of the Taunton seller was bought for just £5,500.  He looks like a cheap buy and I wouldn't be surprised to see the eight year old pop up in a little handicap somewhere before too long.

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Manchester United look like they are going to drop Robin Van Persie for the first time.  Let's face it, the Dutchman is not the player that he was and I think that Liverpool are going to have the same problem with their captain Steven Gerard - age catches up with everyone in the end.

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I see that snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan has broken his ankle and could pull out of the UK Championships.  There aren't many sports where you can carry on with that sort of injury, although I remember the late Alex Higgins playing with his foot in a cast a number of years ago.  I wouldn't be surprised if the Rocket didn't take part, after all he has pulled up for a lot less in the past.

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A police station in Saffron Walden in Essex has been closed for nine days due to rats.  Surely that is all you would keep in a police station...I mean the cells!  Have a nice day.