Battle_Group_Aintree

We have just one runner this afternoon.  High class staying handicap hurdler Battle Group travels all the way up to Wetherby to make his chasing debut.  He proved to be a revalation last season over timber, winning on no fewer than five occasions, culminating in triumph at Aintree's Grand National meeting.  He will be ridden by Tom Scudamore - let's hope that he can put in a clear round and make a successful start to his new career.

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  Le_Chasse_Spleen_hurdles

Laflammedeglorie fared best of our runners at Ffos Las yesterday afternoon, finishing runner-up in the closing bumper.  This former point-to-pointer looks like he will need a stiffer test of stamina and some fences in front of him in time but he performed creditably here and I am sure that David will be placing him to advantage before long.  This afternoon we have three runners at Lingfield - Le Chasse Spleen (pictured above), Bathwick Man and HMS Intrepid, while Effervesce runs on the all-weather at Southwell.  Our Lingfield runners will be partnered by Tom Scudamore, while Effervesce will be ridden by Dane O'Neill on the flat.

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Dynaste_Haydock

Another Saturday, another big races success!  What a performance from Dynaste to land the competitive Fixed Brush handicap hurdle at Haydock.  He led or disputed the lead the whole way and quickened impressively to leave his rivals toiling turning for home - he stayed on really well to score by an impressive eight lengths in the hands of Conor O'Farrell.  I thought the young Irishman gave him a fantastic ride and he is clearly one of the most improved jockey's in the weighing room.  Meanwhile, Dynaste is yet another example of David's ability to spot a bargain and he picked up a handy £42,000 for his efforts on Saturday alone.

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We have racing this afternoon from one of our local tracks, Exeter up on Haldon Hill so hopefully it will be a nice bright afternoon for racegoers. We will have five runners at the meeting: Painter Man, Another Display, Take Over Sivola, Bumblebee and Water Garden and will be keeping our fingers crossed for a winner or two.

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The stable runners performed creditably without quite getting their heads in front at Ascot and Haydock yesterday, in fact we had a second, two thirds and a fourth.  The drop back to two miles proved to be the undoing of Decoy, while Piraya and Swing Bill also performed well in the handicap chases under big weights.

It would be great to fare a little better with our runners this afternoon - Lough Derg, Dan Breen & I'msingingtheblues go at Ascot and Buena Vista, Dynaste and Tamarinbleu run at Haydock.  It is a cracking day's action with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run making his seasonal debut in the Betfair Chase and if ever he is going to get beaten, it could be on his seasonal reappearance - I can't imagine that he would be fully wound-up at this stage of the season and the big bookies Ladbrokes and Hills are offering odds-against him this afternoon.

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Swing_Bill_Cheltenham_Nov_11

We have four runners this afternoon, including two that are bidding to supplement their successes from last week's Cheltenham Open Meeting.  Dashing grey Swing Bill will now be partnered by Conor O'Farrell as he replaces Tom Bellamy, while he is also reunited with Decoy who escapes a penalty for winning the conditional jockeys' race last week. Conor is also aboard our other Ascot runner Piraya, while Tom Scudamore makes the journey up to Haydock for the mount on Sure Josie Sure.

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Lough_Derg__Shaking_Hands_gallops

We don't have any runners this afternoon but we have plenty of entries over the coming few days.  While I was on the gallops I was able to capture a couple of those on camera - Shaking Hands, who has entries at Exeter and Ffos Las, and Teshali who is in at Ludlow on Monday.  Shaking Hands worked in company with the evergreen Lough Derg, while eshali was upsides Consigliere.

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