The Scudamore Dynasty

There is a very interesting double page article in today's Racing Post about the Scudamore dynasty.  It tells you all about Michael, Peter, Tom and Michael Jnr.  Peter was champion jockey eight times when he was riding for Martin and I still remember when he posted 223 winners in the 1988/89 season, making the old champions look like novices.  Scu would be among the first to admit that he was never the most stylish of jockeys but he was very determined and knew where the winning post was.  Peter's father Michael rode in 16 consecutive Grand Nationals (that is still a record) and he won the great race in 1959 aboard Oxo.  The article makes great reading.

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I was saddened to see that one of the great flat trainers, Michael Jarvis is to retire on health grounds.  The Newmarket trainer has been going for forty three years now and in 2008 he broke through the one hundred winner barrier for the first time.  Even last year he won over £1 million and enjoyed 86 successes.  I loved backing his runners when the money was down and they were partnered by Phillip Robinson - they rarely got it wrong and the Post will pay tribute to this great trainer tomorrow.

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I was on the gallops yesterday morning to see a bit of schooling and I have a photograph of Matuhi jumping fences ahead of a possible tilt at the Racing Post Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

  
Above left: The string make their way to the gallops, and right: Matuhi puts in a spring-heeled leap over fences