Super Soll!

What a fantastic performance from Soll at the weekend to land the valuable veterans' handicap chase final at Sandown on Saturday in determined fashion.  He was extremely brave up that tough climb to the finish and nabbed Aachen in the shadow of the post.  This was no mean effort under 11-9 and I'm sure David will be hoping to run the admirable eleven year old in the Grand National again this year.  Obviously he has an abundance of stamina and the softer the ground, the better his prospects will be there.

 Meanwhile, Doctor Harper finished runner-up at Plumpton yesterday on his chase debut behind high-class hurdler L'Ami Serge.  To be honest, I thought that it was a joke that the meeting was allowed to go ahead at all as they were galloping through standing water in the first race.  I told my mate they would wait until after the third race before stopping it so they wouldn't have to return admission fees - unsurprisingly the meeting was abandoned shortly after the third!  Personally I think the BHA should make Plumpton pay all the travelling expenses to the connections of the horses that turned up to the meeting.

Now, let's have a go at the whip rule!...I thought Tom Scudamore gave Soll an inspired ride at Sandown on Saturday yet the stewards saw fit to ban him for seven days, while also fining him £1,150.  Just imagine if the jockeys did not carry whips - there would be no finishers on ground like this!  You never hear of controversial bans like this over in Ireland and there is clearly something wrong with the BHA guidelines on use of the stick.

While we are on our soap-box, let's try and sort out the trouble with the television viewing figures as well!  According to Mrs Barnes the presenters being employed in the sport these days are boring while also pointing to the fact that the analysis has become too technical.  As far as I can tell there are just fewer people interested in racing now.  I went to Exeter on Saturday and saw plenty of familiar faces - the trouble is, it is all the same people...just older!  There were not many youngsters there and that doesn't bode especially well for the future of the sport.  You may have gathered that I am in a bit of a touchy mood this morning...maybe it has something to do with my golf club being closed for the next three days?!

Moving on to today and this afternoon there are three meetings with jumps action from Ludlow and Musselburgh supported by an all-weather flat fixture from Wolverhampton.  David has one runner; Mount Haven who contests the maiden hurdle at Ludlow.  He was the winner of a Fontwell bumper on good ground but he also has placed form on an heavy surface so the ground should not inconvenience.  With a handicap mark of 122 a race of this nature should be well within his compass and he should not be far away.

*****

Which French town has twin toilets?  Toulouse!  Oh dear, even the jokes have gone down the pan!  Keep smiling...