It's a quiet day for the stable with no runners this afternoon, although there is jumping action taking place at Wincanton and Hexham.  They are two very different types of track - Hexham is very stiff, while Wincanton is a speed track.  I still remember David getting beaten on a very short priced favourite at Hexham during his riding career - the horse was called Liadett and that's about all you need to know!  He didn't half get some stick from the crowd afterwards - fortunately he has proven to be a far better trainer than jockey (although he was still a lot more successful as a jockey than his father ever was!).

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Midnight_Tuesday_Newbury

It was another great day for the yard yesterday with a treble at Newbury courtesy of Goulanes, Dream Esteem and Midnight Tuesday.  The first two completed a double for jockey Tom Scudamore, while young Tom Bellamy completed the hat-trick for the yard aboard Midnight Tuesday in the (eventful) hands and heels race.  We return to the Berkshire venue with two further runners this afternoon, Faasel and War Singer.  Tom Scu is reunited with the enigmatic but talented Faasel, who is still capable of a decent level of form at the age of eleven as he demonstrated when winning at Doncaster on his penultimate start.  Let's hope the stable's fine run of form continues.

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Dream_Esteem_Chepstow

Today the stable has four runners at Newbury.  Arrayan, Dream Esteem (pictured winning at Chepstow last time) and Midnight Tuesday are joined by stable debutant Goulanes.  Goulanes was a winner of an Irish point-to-point and could be interesting, while young Tom Bellamy comes in for the ride aboard Midnight Tuesday in the hands and heels novices' handicap hurdle for conditional and amateur jockeys.

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1On_the_gallops2

There are a few good jump meetings on today with Carlisle, Chepstow and Fontwell taking place.  The ground is certainly quickening up with the recent dry spell that we have been enjoying.  There is still a little bit of cut in the ground although we do need a bit of rain, especially with the Grand National just around the corner.

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katchmore_exeter

The stable enjoyed another winner yesterday when our only runner, Katchmore was successful at Exeter.  He defied a 7lbs penalty and the welter burden of 12-5, although his young jockey Tom Bellamy was able to claim 10lbs off his back as he works in the yard.  That is quite a chunk of weight to be able to take off and is a good incentive for trainers to use these young jockeys, especially when they are good value for it, such as Tom who is clearly very promising.  Katchmore was maintaining his unbeaten run since joining the yard, although things will get harder as the handicapper hit him hard for the first of his successes.  When you take Tom Bellamy's claim into account, he was actually 3lbs lower than when scoring at Taunton so hopefully the handicapper will not see fit to put him up anymore.

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Katchmore_Taunton

The stable has one runner at Exeter this afternoon, Katchmore, who was successful on his Pond House debut at Taunton last week.  Young Tom Bellamy more than offsets the penalty earned for that success with his 10lbs claim and he is due a sharp rise in future handicaps so he looks to be a leading contender today.

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Master_Overseer_Uttoxeter

It was a great weekend for the yard with David landing the Midlands National for a second consecutive year, this time courtesy of the gallant Master Overseer.  He battled on really bravely in the closing stages to see of Major Malarkey, the pair of them pulling 16 lengths clear of the third.  Master Overseer won well at the start of the season over hurdles at Chepstow but had just disappointed a couple of times more recently and this was an excellent training performance from David to bring him back to land this £37,000 prize.  I thought that Tamarinbleu also ran a cracker - yes, I know that is a strange thing to say about a horse that was pulled up, but he was bang there until four out and didn't seem to get the trip.  A drop back to trips around three miles should see the veteran winning again.

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