The stable was among the winners again yesterday courtesy of the comfortable success of Navanman at Towcester in the 2m5f handicap hurdle.  The longer trip certainly seemed to help him as he travelled powerfully under a confident ride from Kieron Edgar to take it up between the last two and draw clear after the last.  He certainly appears capable of following-up and he will probably get further still having finished runner-up in an Irish point-to-point.  He will jump fences in time too so there are plenty of options open to him.

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There was an excellent training performance yesterday from David to produce Prideofthecastle ready to win at Leicester after an absence of 690 days.  Formerly a useful bumper and hurdles winner, he jumped well and can go on to better things over fences.  He has always looked the type to make up into a decent chaser and rewarded the patience of everyone concerned with a smooth success.  Hopefully Harry Drew won't mind me robbing his picture from the races (above)!  Meanwhile, Pilgrims Bay ran another sound race to finish runner-up in the 2m4 1/2f handicap hurdle.  He was conceding a stone to the easy winner following his monster 11lbs rise for his Wincanton head success.  I expect the handicapper might even consider dropping him by 8 ounces!

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There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with three jumps fixtures from Leicester, Newcastle and Ludlow as well as an all-weather flat card from Kempton.  David has a couple of runners at Leicester; Prideofthecastle and Pilgrims Bay.  Prideofthecastle is having his first start for 690 days - he had some good form before his absence, winning four times including a success on heavy ground.  He has schooled well at home as you can see from the picture above and he will be partnered by Tom Scudamore.  Pilgrims Bay won last time out at Wincanton on soft ground and was put up a whopping 11lbs for winning by a head...I think the handicapper must have got out of bed on the wrong side that morning!  He has the latent talent to go close once again but Tom Scudamore will be holding on to him for as long as possible.

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There are two meetings taking place this afternoon with a jumps card from our local track at Taunton as well as an all-weather flat card from Southwell.  The stable has three runners at Taunton; Heath Hunter, Master Red and Cork Citizen.  Heath Hunter carries top weight of 11-12 in the handicap hurdle and conditional jockey David Noonan claims a handy 5lbs off his back.  He has won five times during his career, with each success coming with cut in the ground - something he will certainly get today.  Even so, he is still 5lbs higher than his best winning mark.  Master Red makes his debut for the stable in the same race and is the mount of Tom Scudamore.  Winning Irish pointer/hunter chaser Cork Citizen also makes his first start for the stable this afternoon and he goes nicely at home.

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There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with a jumps card from Plumpton as well as a couple of all-weather flat fixtures from Kempton and Wolverhampton.  The stable runs a newcomer at Plumpton where Carqalin makes his racecourse debut in the bumper at 4.25pm and he goes nicely at home.  Tom Scudamore is in the saddle and seven runners go to post - it is a difficult race to unravel as only two of the field have any sort of experience so it is hard to know what you are up against, although Clondaw Bisto did win an Irish point-to-point.

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  Rare Winter Sun on the Gallops Recently
Today we just have the one jumps card at Sedgefield after Fontwell's meeting was lost on Friday due to water logging.  David has one runner, Top Wood in the 3.45 handicap chase.  He always runs consistently and although he was slightly disappointing last time we hope he can bounce back to form in this £10,000 contest.  Tom Scu goes up to ride him and he has one another ride on the card for Alan Swinbank.

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  Winner at Huntingdon - Taj Badalandabad
Everyone please beware there is a 10am inspection at Cheltenham today following 15mm of rain overnight which has left the track heavy, waterlogged in places.  Fingers crossed racing will go ahead as there is some fantastic action to look forward to and I am sure they will be doing everything they can so it goes ahead but we are in lap of the gods.  There are two other jumps cards today at Doncaster and Uttoxeter plus a flat card at Lingfield.  David has two runners at Cheltenham, Un Temps Pour Tout in the 1.15pm 15 runner handicap chase and Champers on Ice in the 3pm novice hurdle.  Un Temps Pour Tout carries top weight and has Tom Scu on board.  The French Champion hurdle winner has run well in both of his chase starts so far and hopefully he should put up another good show.  Champers On Ice has won three of his last four races but this looks like a Cheltenham Festival race itself with plenty of good winners in the line up  Tom Scu rides our grey and he also rides Thistlecrack in the Cleeve hurdle for Colin Tizzard.  Fingers crossed Tom can have a good day.

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