I thought that Kazlian ran a sound enough race on his hurdling debut at Market Rasen yesterday afternoon when finishing runner-up to Unkown Rebel.  The winner already had experience over hurdles and was no mean performer on the flat having scored on five occasions.  They came a mile clear of the third horse home so it was probably quite a decent contest by Market Rasen's standards.  With that experience under his belt I am sure that Kazlian will be winning races over hurdles before too long.  HMS Intrepid made a satisfactory racecourse debut when third in the concluding Ffos Las bumper, while Raslan was beaten less than four lengths in the competitive handicap hurdle

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Well, it's Bonfire Night tonight and we will be hoping for a few sparklers this afternoon!  There is plenty of good jumping action today and we have runners at Wincanton and Sandown.  Le Chasse Spleen makes his racecourse debut at Wincanton, where we will also be represented by Frosted Grape, Qulinton and Madison du Berlais.  Qulinton and Madison both compete in the wide open Badger Ales Chase and it is certainly good to see our former Hennessy winner back on the track.  Tom Scudamore takes the mount on all of our Wincanton runners apart from Qulinton who will be partnered by Hadden Frost.  Enfant de Lune and Clever Dick are our two runners at Sandown this afternoon and they will be ridden by Conor O'Farrell.

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We have three runners at Fontwell this afternoon and stamina looks sure to be at a premium following 20mm of rain overnight at the Sussex track changing the going to heavy (soft in places).  Trop Fort goes in the conditional jockeys novices' hurdle and will be partnered by Conor O'Farrell, while Tom Scudamore will be aboard the Malcolm Denmark owned pair Mr Chow (2m4f handicap hurdle) and Buddy Bolero (2m2 1/2f national hunt flat) who make their debuts for the yard this afternoon.

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                 Master Overseer

What a front running performance by Master Overseer and Tom Scu at Chepstow yesterday in the handicap hurdle.  Even when challenged over the last he battled on gamely to see off favourite Gossmoor Yank to record his first success over the smaller obstacles.  He is a real out and out staying chaser and Tom made sure the race was a real test of stamina.  When the mud is flying Master Overseer will always be seen at his best!  He has been a fantastic horse over the years and is the winner of a bumper, three chases and 2 point to points already.  He has had more than his fair of problems and yesterday was in fact his first run since 2nd January when he had finished runner up in the Sussex National.  His last run before that was in the Sussex National in January 2010!  I am pleased to report he seems fine this morning and has come out of the race well which is great news and fingers crossed we can look forward to seeing him in action again, over hurdles or fences in the very near future.

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I thought that Take Over Sivola ran a decent race at Exeter on ground that was probably quick enough for our four year old.  He won on very soft ground in France and once the ground eases over here he should be placed to win.  The race was won by Fortification under one of our jockey's,  Johnny Farrelly and was a first winner for former jockey Kieran Burke - there was certainly plenty of celebrating going on in the winners' enclosure after the race.  It was a meeting to forget for Richard Johnson...he looked to be coming to win his race aboard Captain Chris but the seven year old dived at the last and unseated his rider.  Then, in the very next race he had matters well in hand when unseating from Menorah at the penultimate fence (The Paul Nicholls' trained Sam Winner went at the last after jumping left throughout on this right-handed track).  To top his day off, Johnson also took a tumble in the next...I bet it was a long drive home in his car!

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The stable had a few placed runners yesterday at Plumpton and Kempton.  I thought that Beyond ran a good race when third in the fiercely competitive Pertemps handicap hurdle qualifier.  He made a brave attempt to make all at a good pace and he has probably produced an improved performance on his hurdles debut for the yard - the way he kept going suggests that he may be suited by an even stiffer test of stamina at some point.  Young amateur Tom Bellamy gave Bathwick Scanno a good ride to finish runner-up to A Little Bit Dusty at Plumpton and on this evidence he should be capable of picking up a little race somewhere.

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Notus_De_La_Tour_Carlisle

How good was Notus de la Tour at Carlisle yesterday?!  Our five year old jumped like a seasoned veteran on his chasing debut and scored with plenty in hand under Tom Scudamore.  Tom soon had him in front and he made all to put in one of the most impressive rounds of jumping I have ever seen from a horse having his first start over fences.  Tom was clearly pleased with him as he couldn't stop patting the horse down the neck - it's just as well the race wasn't over further or Tom might have been banned for patting the horse too many times.  He gave Notus a big hug afterwards - I must ask Tom why he was so emotional...it was like Lough Derg all over again - get your tissues out!

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