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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We have four runners this afternoon - Gaspara, Spirit Of Barbados and Bathwick Quest all run in the 2m3 1/2f handicap hurdle at Taunton, while Painter Man travels all the way to Huntingdon for a 2m5 1/2f handicap hurdle.

It is a sad day for racing...I have just heard that orange Attheraces broadcaster extraordinaire Matt Chapman has been added to the commentators roster for next season.  Can you imagine Matt commentating on a race?  I can just hear him calling the race and directly afterwards exclaiming, "I think the stewards should take a look at that race, there were certainly one or two that weren't too busy!"  It's not going to be the same as when you're sat in your cosy little booth watching the replay twenty times Matt...still, I don't suppose there are too many more people in racing that you haven't already upset!

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Johnny_Farrelly2

Johnny Farrelly had a horrendous fall at Fontwell yesterday...it was one of those that was so bad that I had to close my eyes.  As it turned out, Johnny, who was knocked out in the fall suffered a broken collarbone and lost a couple of teeth.  It could have been a lot worse, especially when you think of that poor French apprentice jockey Benjamin Boutin who was killed recently in a horror fall on the flat.  It just goes to show how tough and brave these jockeys are - they are literally risking their lives everytime they go out to ride.  With Johnny you know that you will always get 100% - he gives everything a ride and is perhaps too brave for his own good...anyway, let's hope that he's not out of the saddle for too long.  Get well soon Johnny.

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Ladyvie_gallops

We are off to Fontwell today with one runner, Ladyvie in the 3.40pm race, a 2m4f handicap hurdle.  Ladyvie ran her best race since arriving on these shores when a close third at Taunton from this mark less than a fotnight ago and will be partnered this afternoon by stable jockey Tom Scudamore.

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Salut_Flo_gallops

The stable had a nice winner at Chepstow on Sunday when Big Occasion made a winning hurdling debut in the three mile novices' hurdle under Tom Scudamore.  He was a decent flat performer in Ireland when rated in the 90's for Aidan O'Brien and it looks like he could become a useful staying hurdler in the novice division this season.  We also had a number of placed efforts that raked in some good prize money including Sona Sasta and Roi de Rose at Chepstow, Tamarinbleu at Aintree, while I'msingingtheblues performed creditably to finish fourth in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.

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If you are coming back to the Westcountry by train from London tonight, be on the lookout for a fairly well-oiled Irishman and a tall racehorse trainer.  I won't tell you who they are, but they will be travelling back from the Derby Awards in London.  Both of them are guests of legendary broadcaster Mike Vince...you might want to book an open ticket so you can change trains!

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It looks like being a bumper weekend for the yard with no fewer than seventeen runners across four meetings this afternoon.  It has been a fair while since we have had that many runners in a day and that includes the Cheltenham Festival!  The lorries will be leaving for all parts of the country with our runners - we are represented at Chepstow, Sandown, Aintree and Wetherby and will be keeping our fingers firmly crossed for a winner or two.  I am particularly looking forward to seeing Master Overseer slogging through the mud at Chepstow - he was a winner there last time out over hurdles and he stays longer than the mother-in-law!

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