Double Across Codes!

***Breaking News***

Good news!  Tom Scudamore has just had the five day ban awarded to him at Aintree racecourse for his ride aboard Soll in the Becher Chase overturned upon appeal.  The incident occurred just before the famous elbow on the run-in as Tom held his line and stopped one of his rivals from going for an optimistic run up his inner.  Tom is there to do his best for his owner and trainer and not to say 'after you old boy' to his rivals - his actions were no different to a racing driver holding his line and had he let one through he would have incurred the wrath of pundits and punters alike.  I am pleased to see a rare victory for common sense.  I wonder if there will be any action against the instigator?

Katkeau won the 3 mile chase at Ludlow yesterday in good style by 5 lengths winning some nice prize money as well.  I think his rating of 139 might take a hit!  This makes it two from two for Katkeau over fences and he looks like being even better over the larger obstacles than over hurdles.  He was given a nice ride by Tom Scu.  David also had a winner on the flat at Lingfield courtesy of Honeymoon Cocktail who won the apprentice race by 3 lengths under Rob Hornby.  On his old french form he was well handicapped off a mark of 70 but it was good to see him show his first bit of form in this country.  

 
  Honeymoon Cocktail - Winner at Lingfield

Today we have four meetings, jumps cards at Exeter and Towcester plus two flat cards at Southwell and Chelmsford.  David runs Sweettoothtommy in the 3.20pm maiden hurdle at Exeter and Solomn Grundy in the 2.40pm at Towcester.  Sweettoothtommy would have won an Irish point to point but for falling at the last and he does have form on soft ground.  He should be thereabouts with Kieron Edgar in the saddle.  Solomn Grundy ran a nice race on his Pond House debut last time to finish fourth and hopefully he can run well again with Conor O'Farrell on board him.

If you have no plans for today you could do worse than going to Towcester for a 19 race card!  There are seven jumps races followed by 12 dog races and even some fireworks so you will certainly get your monies worth!  I bet there are some people who will do the 19 races and why not!

I see AP is going to win another award, this time the Lifetime Achievement award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in Belfast on Sunday.  I bet Chanelle gets fed up with cleaning all his trophies, my wife has put all my cups in the loft!  Seriously though AP deserves this award and it is good for racing to be back in the spotlight again.

I wonder why none of the football Premier League teams to not sign QPR's Charlie Austin.  He scored another 2 goals on Tuesday and seems to be able score but no one wants him.  I would have him at West Ham! 

I see that Michael Van Gerwen is 5/4 to win the World Darts title.  He has dominated darts this season and I think there have been worse 5/4 shots.  I just like seeing all the fancy dress costumes!  I wonder if the smurfs will turn up again?!

Ron Knuckles was buried today at a service attended by the criminal underworld.  As a mark of respect the ceremony ended with two minutes of violence!  Have a nice day.

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