Scu Back Saturday!

I was delighted to hear that Tom Scudamore has been cleared to ride tomorrow at Ascot following a two week spell on the sidelines after injuring a kidney in a fall at Sandown earlier in the month.  He will return to action with three rides, including old favourite Lough Derg - I am sure that will bring a tear to his eye!  "Douglas" is one of Tom's great favourites and I am sure that many of you will recall Tom bursting into tears after he had won the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell having looked well beaten.

We returned from our local track Taunton yesterday with a couple of second places courtesy of Sultan Fontenaille and Bathwick Brave.  Sultan Fontenaille was beaten only half a length in the handicap chase and he was not disgraced in trying to concede 8lbs to the winner - perhaps a step back up in trip will see him in the winners enclosure again.  I thought that Bathwick Brave put up a useful performance when filling the same position in the bumper.  This was his racecourse debut and he was keen early and green in the home straight - I am sure that he will have learned plenty from the experience.  The winner had produced two decent efforts previously so our fellow looks more than capable of winning a bumper of his own.

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Flat trainer David Arbuthnott has his team of jumpers in good order at the moment and his is certainly a stable to follow at the present time.

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I see that Richard Pitman is 68 today.  Do you remember when Richard used to wear the worst wig you have ever seen?  It looked like he had a hat on!  In fact, it was so bad that he even started to work it into his speech when he was doing after dinner speaking.  As part of his talk he would take his wig off and put it on the table next to him.  I have to be honest, he looks much better with the big parting that he sports today.  Many happy returns Richard!