Alternatif Fab At Fontwell

The stable was among the winners yesterday as former French recruit Alternatif jumped well to win at Fontwell under a very good ride from Tom Scudamore.  I particularly like the wording in today's Post that says he won "cosily" - he can make up into a decent staying chaser.  I see they also had him labelled as the star performer of the meeting and he will most likely be going back up in grade now.

This afternoon there are three meetings taking place with flat cards from Lingfield and Kempton as well as a jumps card from Leicester.  David has just one runner; Chic Theatre at Leicester and he competes in the 1.05pm race which is a conditional jockeys' novices' hurdle.  He makes his hurdles debut this afternoon having contested three bumpers which included an impressive Plumpton success on good/soft ground.  He has schooled well at home and looks to have Abbreviate (who was a 19 length winner at Southwell) to beat.

There was good news as Timico have stepped in to sponsor the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March.  Mind you, if you can't get a sponsor for the Blue Ribband of the Cheltenham Festival and the publicity surrounded with it you would be in serious trouble.  The problem isn't so much with finding backers for the biggest races, more like the smaller races that take part at the local tracks through the week.  Firms like stable sponsors Bathwick Tyres do such a good job with supporting races, the trouble is we need more forward thinking companies like them.

As a trainer I though that it was a fundamental schoolboy error to say"my horse went up 12lbs but I didn't think that was too bad and I think he's still on the right side of the handicapper".  Cue trainer Ben Pauling who was talking about his recent Cheltenham winner A Hare Breath who landing a mighty touch last month.  When one of Martin's horses went up by 3lbs he would say that it had been crucified!  I suppose it might have been tongue in cheek (on occasion)!

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The Manchester United manager merry-go-round might be starting again shortly.  How long will Louis Van Gaal stay after United lost 3-2 away to Wolfsburg.  He has spent a fortune and has one of the worst sides that I can remember.  In fact, he has spent £250million...don't believe what the board say when they tell you that they have no interest in Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola.

Daniel Sturridge is injured again.  I wonder if the players are put on half wages when they are not on the pitch?  I reckon that measure would make a huge difference to player attendance.  Some of the jockeys I have known down the years such as A P McCoy or Peter Scu make today's crop of sportsmen look like complete sissys!

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Finally a message from the police in Finchley.  There has been bad news about the two rabbits stolen from Peter's Petshop...only fourteen have been recovered so far!  Have a nice day...

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