Taken Wins Again

    Twentytwo's Taken winning at Exeter

It was great to get Twentytwo's Taken to win for the second time over hurdles at Exeter yesterday.  She won by seven lengths and looked to win with plenty in hand.  She bounced back from a bit of a disappointing run at Plumpton last time but it looked like the penny had really dropped as she settled and jumped really well and it looks like there is more to come from this talented mare.  Top Wood was third in the novice handicap chase and does need to brush up his jumping a bit but ran okay.  Molo ran a good race to finish second in the mares handicap hurdle and she is sure to be winning again soon.

Today we have four meetings, three jumps cards at Kempton, Newcastle and Chepstow plus a flat card at Lingfield.  David has three runners at Chepstow - Virtuel D'oudon, Katkeau and Ballywilliam.  Virtuel D'oudon was a winner on his penultimate start at Taunton and ran in the Welsh Champion hurdle last time.  Katkeau was a good winner at Cheltenham in November but then had a couple of disappointing runs.  After a short break we hope he can bounce back to form this afternoon.  It looks a fairly competitive race but both horses should enjoy conditions and run okay.  Ballywilliam makes his Pond House debut in the concluding bumper.  He has finished second in an Irish point to point and was only beaten a head on yielding ground.  The ground at Chepstow is soft/heavy so this should suit our five year old and fingers crossed he should run well.  I do know that Michael Scudamore does fancy his runner in the race so it should interesting.

Chepstow racegoers will have plenty to look forward to as they will get to see reigning Champion chaser Sire De Grugy in action.  He has to answer a few questions after unseating last time but runs in the 3.35pm race.  He has to give plenty of weight away in very testing conditions and it should be interesting.  He should win but Far West is a 147 rated hurdler and gets 22 pounds from Sire De Grugy.

Tom Scu moved on to the 118 mark for the season yesterday, what a season he is having.  In my opinion Tom is one of the most improved riders.  He has ridden 74 winners for David which is the most that any stable jockey has got, even AP has only ridden 54 for Jonjo!  Keep it going Tom!

In the football news I see that Les Ferdinand wants to bring Stan Bowles spirit back to Loftus Road.  If Stan could have passed a betting shop like he could a ball he would have been a lot richer!

In the cricket I see that Scotland are only 8/1 to beat England.  Have Scotland improved that much or have England gone backwards that much?!  It is probably a bit of each but if Scotland beat England I won't be able to face Sean and his mates in our marquee at Cheltenham!

Today's football bets - Arsenal 17/20, Everton 5/6 and Hull 23/20.  Have a nice day.