I thought that War Singer produced a good first effort over hurdles when finishing fourth in what looked to be a hot maiden at Newbury yesterday afternoon.  Remember he won five times on the level in France and will handle the ground over the coming months - he looks a ready made winner to me.
This afternoon we have five runners - three at Exeter and two at Towcester.  Conor O'Farrell is on duty at Exeter aboard The Tatkin, Arrayan and Midnight Tuesday, while Tom Scudamore rides Close House at Towcester and Hadden Frost takes the mount aboard Glassawine.

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Buddy_Bolero_Folkestone

We had a nice winner on the east coast yesterday afternoon when Buddy Bolero won the maiden hurdle by fifteen lengths at Folkestone.  The ground was extremely soft and an abundance of stamina was certainly the order of the day as the runners came home very tired and at wide intervals.  Fortunately this proved to be right up our five year old's street - he clearly stays very well and Tom Scudamore even said that he could turn out to be a National horse one day...I hope he means the Grand National!

We go to Newbury this afternoon with one runner, War Singer who takes part in a very warm looking maiden hurdle.  Our ex-French import won five times from nine starts on the level in France and looks to be a very nice prospect.

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Buddy_Bolero__Clever_Dick_gallops

We travel a long way east this afternoon as we have two runners at Folkestone.  I have fond memories of my time by the sea just down the road at Margate, and hopefully it will be another enjoyable afternoon on the east coast today.  Tom Scudamore is aboard the Malcolm Denmark owned pair of Clever Dick in the novices hurdle at 12.40pm and Buddy Bolero in the maiden hurdle at 1.40pm.

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I thought that our runners in the big chase at Cheltenham on Saturday performed creditably.  I'msingingtheblues fared best under Hadden Frost, staying on well up the hill to finish fourth and pick up over £5,000 in prize money.  Both Great Endeavour and Salut Flo looked to be running big races until mistakes marred their races - Great Endeavour was jumping and travelling nicely in front until a mistake at the final ditch cost him valuable momentum - he did well to stand up, nevermind get back into the race but he was still there when nearly taken out be the bad mistake of stable companion Salut Flo at the downhill fence.  Salut Flo was also running a big race until that point under Conor O'Farrell and he looks like he should be able to make amends.

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*Wings Of Icarus - Non Runner 1.15pm Hereford*

I see that Newbury racecourse are going to increase their minimum admission price from £7 to £15.  I find this absolutely incredible and struggle to see how they can justify a price increase of over 100%...surely all this will do is alienate racegoers.  On a busy day the silver ring can draw in around 800 people and I cannot imagine that all of them will be happy to pay an extra £8 admission each.  Of course OAP's will get concessions and under 18's will be admitted free of charge, but in a time when we should be encouraging more people to come racing these increases do not sit well with me.

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Great_Endeavour_Paddy_Power

The stable has four runners in the big chase at Cheltenham this afternoon at 2.30pm.  Paddy Power hero Great Endeavour bids to add to that success returned to what would appear to be his optimum trip - he will be partnered by Timmy Murphy.  He will be joined by stable companions I'msingingtheblues, Matuhi and Salut Flo.  We also have one runner at Doncaster, Rose Of The Moon who was successful on his debut for the yard last month at Uttoxeter - he will again be partnered by Jake Greenall.

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Imsingingtheblues_Ascot

Above: I'msingingtheblues is one of four Pond House
       runners in Saturday's feature at Cheltenham 

It looks like an interesting start to Cheltenham's December fixture today - the only problem that I can see is the going forecast.  It is currently good (good/firm in places) and while the ground staff are watering at present, it does looks as though the ground is going to be on the quick side.  Hopefully they will not get too much in the way of rain as rain on top of watered ground inevitably ends up making the going deadish.  While we have no runners today, we declared all four of our entries for the big race, the Spinal Research Atlantic 4 Gold Cup on Saturday.  Paddy Power hero Great Endeavour will again be ridden by Timmy Murphy, while Tom Scudamore rides Matuhi, Hadden Frost is aboard I'msingingtheblues and Conor O'Farrell will take 3lbs off Salut Flo's back.

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