Shoegazer_Chepstow_web
At last it is here, the start of the Grand National meeting at Aintree and the stable has four runners this afternoon.  Our Father, Buena Vista, Star Of Angels and Shoegazer (pictured above) all go in the 5.25pm race.  Personally, I think the most interesting of them could be Shoegazer, who put up a good performance under topweight when winning at Chepstow four days ago.  He has a 4lbs penalty today but is due to go up more in future handicaps.  I will be flying up with David later this morning and we will be staying near the course with our old friend Gino.

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There are just four meetings this afternoon on the flat (five if you include the meeting at Dundalk) and three of those take place on the all-weather!  Nevermind, the proper stuff kicks off again tomorrow with the start of Liverpool's three day Grand National meeting.  It looks as though the ground is going to be perfect for the jumpers.  The big race tomorrow will be the Liverpool Hurdle with Big Buck's the likely short-priced favourite to make it eighteen wins on the bounce - there is also the small matter of £100,000 in prize money - not bad work if you can get it!

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Shoegazer_Chepstow_web

We had another good day with our only runner, Shoegazer scoring nicely under topweight in the competitive handicap hurdle under Tom Scudamore at Chepstow yesterday.  He jumped well and handled the testing conditions admirably.  Tom completed a double aboard Take Of Shoc'S for Rebecca Curtis - I would imagine that one will be turned out again quickly under a penalty before the handicapper has his say.

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At last Ladyvie managed to get her head in front.  She won the handicap chase at Newton Abbot on Saturday under a good ride from conditional jockey Conor O'Farrell, who had obviously had enough time to dry out after the Lesters on Thursday night!  We knew that she had ability, but up until now she had not consented to use all of it - the switch back to fences and faster ground seemed to help her and now that she has got her head in front, hopefully she may be able to build on that and could follow-up.  Earlier on the card Terfels Toscar had been beaten on the nod by Fashion Week and his turn cannot be far away.

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Big_Bucks_Cheltenham

Big Bucks after Winning this years World Hurdle

Happy Easter everyone!  David does not have any runners today but there are two jumps meetings at Towcester and Plumpton and there is a flat card at Musselburgh.  There could be runners from Pond House at Chepstow tomorrow so check back here for more news in the morning.  Excitement is now building as we count down to the start of Aintree on Thursday.  There is no jumping action on Tuesday or Wednesday but then we have the big race action from Aintree and also a fixture at Newton Abbot on Thursday as well.  Remember, the Newton Abbot meeting is replacing the Taunton fixture that was abandoned due to the firm going so don't go heading there on Thursday as there will be nothing to watch!  Kazlian is entered in the four year old hurdle on the first day while we have several entries in the three mile handicap hurdle so we could well have a few runners at Liverpool.  We also have the likes of Big Bucks to look out for and he will be going for his 17th victory in a row at the highest level, a truly remarkaable horse and I can't wait for the action to start.  An added spice to the fixture this year is that this meeting could have a big impact on the trainers championship with lots of prize money on offer, so I shall be sitting back and enjoying the racing.

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qulinton_market_rasen

  Qulinton after Winning at Market Rasen

David has runners at local track Newton Abbot this afternoon as well as two at Haydock.  Terfels Toscar, Ladyvie and Qalinas all run at the Devon track and have good chances while Presenting Ace and Qulinton are on their way to Haydock, where there is some very competitive racing for some good prize money on offer.

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James_May__DEP_web

It's Good Friday and that means a blank day on the racing front in this country.  It was the Lester's last night and unsurprisingly A P McCoy collected his seventeenth(!) award.  Our conditional jockey Conor O'Farrell went along - it's just as well the jockey's have a day off as I'm sure there would have been a few failed breath tests today!  Of course, the greedy bookies will be open as usual and will try to convince you that there is a whole host of wonderful betting opportunities available to you, although personally I would rather not be betting on a virtual horse or a virtual ball rolling around a virtual roulette wheel - these things get right on my pixels!

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