There are three meetings taking place this afternoon, all over the sticks with action from Kelso, Warwick and Market Rasen. David runs Pilgrims Bay at Market Rasen in the 4.30pm race - a five runner handicap hurdle. Tom Scudamore is in the saddle and he carries 11-3. Our six year old has been in consistent form this season and while he is not the easiest to predict, there is no doubting his ability. Tom also has a nice mount for his brother; Twentyeight Guns who has finished in the frame on four of his last five starts.  Meanwhile I see that stable conditional David Noonan is riding at Warwick before heading to Market Rasen for a rare ride for Tim Vaughan aboard a last time out winner.

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There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action coming from Sandown, Ayr and Chepstow while there is also an all-weather fixture from Wolverhampton.  The stable runs Chic Theatre at Sandown in the valuable EBF Handicap Hurdle Final, while Obistar competes at Chepstow.  Tom Scudamore is aboard them both as he performs a 'Challenge Anneka' style dash from Sandown to Chepstow in the helicopter.  Chic Theatre was a gutsy winner last time out and he looks to be on a fair mark and has sound claims - it is an 18 runner handicap with £60,000 up for grabs so there are quite a few that those comments also apply to!

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The saying goes that form is temporary but class is permanent - I don't know who said it, but they were proven correct by Gevrey Chambertin yesterday at Carlisle.  He made all to win by 13 lengths without ever looking to be in any danger despite top weight of 11-12.  I wonder what our old mate will think of that performance from a handicap mark of 140?!  As far as I am concerned it was another excellent bit of placement by the trainer.  Meanwhile, Baraka de Thaix finished second in the 2m3 1/2f handicap hurdle and on this evidence he will be winning before too long.

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This afternoon there are three meetings taking place with action from Carlisle over the sticks and a couple of all-weather flat fixtures from Southwell and Chelmsford City.  Unfortunately Wincanton were forced to abandon their meeting yesterday afternoon due to waterlogging.  The stable makes the long journey up to Carlisle with Baraka de Thaix and Gevrey Chambertin.  Baraka de Thaix runs in the 2.00pm race which is a handicap hurdle over 2m31/2f and that drop back in trip could help him after he seemingly failed to get home at Exeter last time.  Conditional jockey David Noonan takes the ride and reduces his weight to 11-4.  Meanwhile Tom Scu has re-routed and now takes the mount aboard Gevrey Chambertin - on his best form he would win, but you just don't know which side of his stable he got out of this morning!

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***Update***
 Fontwell abandoned due to waterlogging

There was a nice winner for the stable yesterday as Bladoun (pictured above) ran out a game winner of the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Exeter.  Having made most of the running, he looked to be in trouble approaching the last but he prevailed narrowly under a strong ride from Michael Heard.  Bladoun jumped quite markedly out to his left on a number of occasions so did well to still win, especially as he was conceding a stone to the runner-up on bad ground.

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There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Newcastle and Exeter as well as a flat card from Southwell.  David has three runners at Exeter; Bladoun, Still Together and Epic Warrior.  Bladoun and Still Together contest the 2.00pm race which is a 2m1f conditional jockeys handicap hurdle and Still Together takes a big drop in trip having seemingly failed to get home last time.  David Noonan is on board today and with the soft ground likely to make this a thorough test at the trip you will need to stay well and our six year old should certainly do that.  Meanwhile Bladoun (pictured above) is still 7lbs higher than his last winning mark and he is partnered by Michael Heard.  Epic Warrior runs in the 2.35pm race and Tom Scudamore takes the ride - on the best of his form he would have a squeak from a mark of 117.

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Today we have three meetings taking place with jumps cards from Lingfield and Southwell supported by an all-weather flat fixture from Wolverhampton.  Normally you would think of Lingfield and Southwell as all-weather fixtures so it is nice to see a bit of jumping action from those tracks for a change!  David has one runner this afternoon as Mount Haven competes in the three mile handicap hurdle at Southwell at 3.00pm.  He did win on heavy ground over 2m6f at Ludlow and while he has to shoulder top weight of 11-12 and bounce back from a slightly disappointing effort last time, he still looks to hold sound claims under Tom Scudamore.

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