There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat action from Newmarket, York and Wolverhampton and a jumps card from Newton Abbot.  It is the last meeting of the season at Newton Abbot and they have done well to put up £94,000 in prize money.  David runs Gevrey Chambertin and Lady Of Longstone at our local track and if Gevrey can reproduce one of his better efforts he would go close in this handicap hurdle from the same mark that he won the Fixed Brush Hurdle at Haydock from in 2013.  He disappointed on his most recent start in France but that effort should have brought him on.  Lady Of Longstone drops back in trip a little and has Michael Heard taking a handy 7lbs off her back, although she is still 5lbs higher than her last winning mark.

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There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Ayr and Chelmsford and jumps fixtures from Exeter and Worcester.  David runs Perspicace, A Hairy Koala, For 'N' Against and Prince Of Poets at Exeter, while he saddles Western Diva at Worcester.  They all look to be tough races, so it seems to be a day of chances.  The drop back in trip should suit Perspicace and he is now 3lbs lower than last time and conditional jockey Michael Heard claims a useful 7lbs off his back.  Meanwhile A Hairy Koala would have a squeak if he were able to repeat the form of his second at the track last season.  For 'N' Against was a course winner here back in August and is another with claims if putting his best foot forward.  Prince Of Poets has been disappointing to date and would need to improve on what he has shown so far to figure.

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David conducted a good interview yesterday with Derek Thompson on Attheraces and after the 'Big Fella' was done asking his questions he then asked David if "the two old men" were still there?  I didn't know who he was talking about but it seems that he was referring to MCP and myself!  Careful Tommo, you are not that far behind us!  Funny enough, I was at the yard yesterday and I managed to take a few nice photographs on the gallops and I will be sharing a few of those with you over the coming days.  I saw Cesarewitch favourite Low Key in action, as well as star chaser Dynaste (pictured above) who could well make his seasonal reappearance at Auteuil on Sunday.  Tom Scudamore was down to school Dynaste and some others over hurdles and I probably shouldn't say it but they all jumped well.

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I see there are a few stories concerning David in today's Racing Post after he said, "He is very close to making his return and I am looking forward to getting a full season into him".  He was talking about Dynaste (pictured above) who could make his seasonal return at Auteuil this Sunday in a 2m3 1/2f Grade 3 hurdle - it will certainly be good to see him back after last season was curtailed by injury.  It is a big weekend for the stable as David has the ante-post favourite Low Key in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and he will be ridden by top apprentice Tom Marquand.

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There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Pontefract and Windsor as well as a jumps card from Market Rasen.  I had a good day yesterday courtesy of the successes of Hello George at Kelso and the Tom Scudamore ridden Ullswater at Uttoxeter - I did give them a positive mention here yesterday so I hope a few of you followed me in.  The big news of the day however was undoubtedly the Arc success of Golden Horn and Frankie Dettori at Longchamp - I thought the Derby winner scored with a bit in hand and he is a truly exceptional three year old.  Treve could only manage fourth in her bid to land an historic third win in the race.  There were eight races on the Longchamp card yesterday and British trainers won four of them.

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There are three meetings taking place this afternoon and incredibly they are all over the sticks at Kelso, Huntingdon and Uttoxeter.  All eyes however will be on Longchamp as they host the £2.4million Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.  It has the makings of a great race with Treve bidding for a historic third success, while English and French Derby winners Golden Horn and New Bay will be doing their best to spoil the party.  Treve's big race partner Thierry Jarnet has stated that he hopes the rags do not get in the way, so it sounds as though he is fairly confident.  Of the 18 runners, seven will be ridden by jockeys from over here including Golden Horn who will be partnered by Frankie Dettori (who you may recall was jocked off the French wondermare)...I'm sure he would love to get his own back!

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The stable continues in good form with our three runners yesterday yielding a win and two seconds.  Skylander (pictured above) won the novices' handicap chase at Hexham on his first outing over regulation fences (he was the winner of an Irish point-to-point) jumping very well in the main, with the exception of a small mistake at the last.  He won this from a mark of 120 and he clearly has a bright future as a chaser.  Meanwhile on the same card Willem ran another sound race to finish a close second in the 2m4f handicap hurdle - it looks to be only a matter of time before he gets his head in front - furthermore, he is for sale and details can be found here if you are interested.  Over at Fontwell Purple 'N Gold ran yet another solid race to finish second in the handicap chase behind last year's winner Workbench, picking up more good prize money in the process.  He is an amazing little horse - he hardly ever disappoints and is fresh as a daisy again this morning!

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