Heath_Hunter_Ffos_las_web

Three meetings take place this afternoon following the good news that Wetherby's jumps card has been given the go ahead following an early morning inspection.  The other meetings are on the all-weather flat at Southwell and Lingfield where there are no reported problems.  The stable has no runners today.  Hopefully the snow that has settled around the yard overnight is not a bad omen and tomorrow's meeting at Ffos Las gets the green light - David has some good looking entries at the Welsh track including unbeaten bumper winner Heath Hunter (pictured above) and hat-trick seeking Qalinas, while there is also scheduled to be a seven race bumper card at Southwell.

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  gail_old_pic0001

Despite the freezing conditions I am pleased to report that Fontwell has been given the go-ahead to race this afternoon.  There are also two all-weather meetings taking place on the flat this afternoon at Southwell and Lingfield.  Looking at my map of Sussex, it doesn't look as though Fontwell and Lingfield are that far apart to me, so it is obviously another victory for race planning!  I am not sure they consider the racing public when they are scheduling their meetings, especially when you consider the amount of fodder put on just for the betting shops.

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E_Street_Boy__Heath_Hunter

I thought that for the most part our runners at Wincanton yesterday ran very well.  Bois des Aigles finished third and looks as though he will improve further when he tackles a longer trip, while Bygones Sovereign filled the same position in the conditional jockey's handicap hurdle just ahead of Weekend Millionair.  Off The Wall was also third in the closing race.  After the abandonments of Taunton (waterlogging) and Towcester (snow) this afternoon we are left with only one meeting taking place on the all-weather at Lingfield - unsurprisingly the stable has no runners.

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Weekend_Millionair_Wincanton
              Weekend Millionair

Today there are two meetings at Wincanton and Lingfield and David has five runners at Wincanton.  Fingers crossed it goes ahead.  They passed and 8am inspection yesterday and there were no more inspections planned so it should be all okay providing they did not get too much more rain.  Bois Des Aigles is re-routed from the abandoned Newbury yesterday and showed a little promise on his debut hurdle run at Taunton last time although he will have to improve again to be involved in this.  Weekend Millionair and Bygones Sovereign run in the conditional jockeys race with Tom Bellamy and Kieron Edgar on board the stables two runners.  Weekend Milionar runs for Wayne Clifford of Bathwick Tyres and once again it is important to give them a special mention as they in fact sponsor all six races on the Wincanton card.  If you need new tyres on your car make sure you visit BATHWICK TYRES, advert over!  Seriously though they put so much in to our sport and we are very grateful for their support.  Quinte Du Chatelet and Off the Wall make up the rest of our team with Tom Scu in the saddle so fingers crossed they all run well.

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Shotavodka_Newbury
                   Shotavodka

The weather has caused both meetings at Doncaster and Newbury to be abandoned today due to snow!  Can you believe we are in March, where is all the spring sunshine!  The two abandonments adds to the meetings already lost at Kelso and Stratford which were called off yesterday.  Doncaster has been snowed off but they are going to re-arrange the meeting which is good news so they don't lose the Lincoln.  At Newbury yesterday Shotavodka won the handicap hurdle in good style off top weight and he looks a very promising novice.  That was his third win in a row and he could have an entry at Aintree next time.  

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Shotavodka_Sandown

What a mixed bag of weather we are having for the start of Spring!  There are flood warnings to the south of the country and blizzard warnings to the north, it is therefore unsurprising that there have been planned inspections at all four of todays meetings.  Fortunately Newbury, Sedgefield and Wolverhampton go ahead without any worries, although Doncaster, where they are supposed to be holding the first day of the flat turf season this afternoon have decided to inspect again at 9am...and to think that this time last year we were basking in temperatures of 21ºc!

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Alderluck

There are three meetings taking place today - a jumps card at Chepstow as well as two all-weather flat cards at Wolverhampton and Kempton.  With all the rain we have had I would imagine that the ground at Chepstow will be very testing and we will be seeing some tired horses.  The stable has no runners this afternoon.  Today is the first day of Spring and while the seasons may change, at least we can rest easy in the knowledge that some things always remain the same - it's going to rain!

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