There are just two meetings taking place this afternoon with flat action from Epsom and Musselburgh.  I know I keep going on about it, but why on earth are there no jump meetings on when the racing is at it's most accessible?  Most people do not work on a Sunday so it is the best chance they will have to get some jumps action.  There must be a reason for it, I just can't see it for the life of me!  Perhaps somebody from race planning might be able to explain?

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Today we have six meetings to look forward to with five flat cards from Newmarket, Haydock, Chester, Ripon and Hamilton while there is a jumps fixture from Market Rasen.  David has one runner, Father Edward in the 3.10pm race - a 2m5 1/2f Listed handicap chase.  Our seven year old was an impressive winner last time out at Cartmel on Bank Holiday Monday on his debut for the stable and while he is 13lbs higher in the weights he looks like a progressive individual.  The drop back in trip should not be an inconvenience and he seems to handle most types of ground.  The Post have him as their second favourite and another big run is expected.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.

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What a fantastic race at Perth yesterday!  The champion bumper winners of the last couple of years, Moon Racer and Ballyandy served up a real treat in the novices' hurdle at the Scottish track, with Moon Racer prevailing by 3/4 length in a thrilling finish.  As I said yesterday, this was probably the best novices' hurdle ever to take place at Perth and the pair will certainly go on to better things as the season progresses.  I see that Moon Racer was trimmed to 10/1 favourite for the Supreme at Cheltenham but there is still plenty to be done before then.  Meanwhile What A Moment ran creditably in the 3m novices' hurdle to finish runner-up and it looks only a matter of time before he is winning something similar.

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There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Newmarket, Pontefract and Chelmsford City while over the jumps there is a tasty looking card from Perth.  David has three runners; Moon Racer, Impulsive American and What A Moment.  Moon Racer (pictured above) makes his much anticipated hurdles debut in the novices' contest at 3.20pm where he takes on Ballyandy, who like Moon Racer, won the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.  These are probably the two best novices' ever to run at Perth and I reckon it is going to put a few people on the door.  It should be an exciting race, but hopefully Moon Racer will be able to come out on top on his way to better things.

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There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with fixtures on the flat from Goodwood, Redcar and Kempton while there is a jumps card from Perth.  David has one runner this afternoon at Perth with Mango Cap in the 4.40pm race, a three mile handicap hurdle.  The Post forecast him the 5/1 second favourite which is surprising given he has not recaptured his smart French form as yet.  He is up in trip and down in grade so hopefully that will help to bring about some improvement - stable jockey Tom Scudamore is in the saddle.  Meanwhile champion jockey Richard Johnson looks to hold a good chance in the 4.05pm race aboard Western Home for Gordon Elliott.

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There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with three flat fixtures from Beverley, Lingfield and Ffos Las while there is a jumps card from Warwick.  Typically the best card in terms of prize money is in Ireland where the Ballinrobe card has over £100,000 up for grabs.  David has two runners at Warwick; Tobacco Road and For 'N' Against.  Tobacco Road goes in the novices' hurdle for which he is around the 12/1 mark - he hasn't really translated his flat form to hurdles yet and would need to improve to figure on what he has shown thus far.  Meanwhile, For 'N' Against has been in good form this term, winning twice and he reverts to hurdles for this 3m2f handicap from a slightly lower rating than his chase mark.  He has sound place claims if he reverts his ability back to the smaller obstacles.

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It was another good weekend for the stable with the success of Gabrial The Great at Uttoxeter yesterday.  I thought that conditional jockey David Noonan gave our gelding an excellent ride - he can be a bit keen (the horse that is, rather than David!) and he did a great job of keeping him settled at the back of the field before coming with a well-timed run to score a shade cosily.  Racing manager Jason Maguire was also on hand and he too thought the young pilot had done a good job.

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