The geniuses at race planning have done it again!  There are just two race meetings taking place over the sticks this afternoon at Fakenham and Kelso, so if you don't live in those parts of the country, I'm afraid that you are out of luck!  There is good flat action on in Ireland this afternoon from the Curragh with the Irish 1,000 Guineas the highlight - I wonder if Aidan O'Brien's Homecoming Queen will be able to complete a famous Guineas double?

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fences

All you flat connoisseurs will enjoy today's racing menu - there are no fewer than six meetings on this afternoon and not one of them contains any flat action.  Another week and another opportunity to point out a glaring mistake by the race planning committee - it seems odd to me that on a Saturday afternoon there are no jumps meetings taking place.  Yet tomorrow there are two jumps meetings at Kelso and Fakenham and no flat meetings.  Surely you would have thought that they could have sorted it out better than that?!

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our_vic_brs0001web

I am pleased to be able to bring you an update about former stable star Our Vic, who is currently enjoying his retirement from racing at the British Racing School.  “Vic”, now aged fourteen is looked after and idolised by all of the students at the school.

Our Grade One winner was successful on fourteen of his thirty-five career starts including a Cheltenham Festival success in the Ryanair Chase, a Paddy Power Gold Cup at their November meeting, as well as taking the notable scalp of double Gold Cup winner Kauto Star in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree.

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Broadway_Buffalo_Worcesterweb

The yard continues in good form with another winner last night at Worcester courtesy of Broadway Buffalo in the National Hunt Flat race.  The winner owned by first time owners, Rugby Internationals Andy Powell and Mark Cueto made short work of his rivals to win going away by ten lengths.  He is bred to be even better over a longer trip and looks a highly promising sort - once again it demonstrates David's good eye for a horse, having bought him at Cheltenham last season.  Apparently the lads had a few quid on their winner, but were disappointed by the price - I wish I could back a 5/1 winner everyday!

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Barton_Stacey_Towcesterweb

It was a good evening for the yard yesterday with our first double of the new season and a double also for stable jockey and birthday boy Tom Scudamore.  Barton Stacey won the maiden hurdle in good style and seemed to have a bit in hand.  He was sporting first time blinkers and they certainly seemed to have the desired effect - he certainly appreciated the better ground and he looks to be the type to do well over the coming months.  Bathwick Man was another who seemed to appreciate this quicker surface as he completed the double.  Our seven year old was scoring his sixth success for yard sponsors Wayne and Sarah Clifford.  Meanwhile Ladyvie seemed to be caught out by the drop back in trip, but nonetheless performed creditably to finish a staying-on third.

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Ladyvie_Newton_Abbot_web

There are three flat meetings taking place this afternoon at Nottingham, Brighton and Kempton, while there is jumping at Towcester this evening.  We will have three runners at the Northamptonshire track, Barton Stacey, Bathwick Man and Ladyvie.  Our mare Ladyvie reverts back to hurdles tonight having won a chase last time out at Newton Abbot - she runs from the same mark of 95 and winning jockey Conor O'Farrell is in the saddle again.

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Beattie_Green_Stratford2web

The yard enjoyed a winner with our only runner at Stratford yesterday afternoon when Beattie Green (pictured above) made virtually all the running to land the selling hurdle under a good ride from young Conor O'Farrell.  The drying good ground seemed to suit her well and I would imagine that she will be kept on the go while such conditions prevail.

We have one runner this afternoon, Katchmore, who bids to extend his unbeaten run for the stable to three at Newton Abbot.  Things will be tougher from a 21lbs higher mark, but he still has further scope for improvement and young Tom Bellamy is good value for his 7lbs claim.  Newton Abbot hosts the only jumps card of the day, although there are four other meetings taking place on the level with Redcar, Windsor, Leicester and Wolverhampton.

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