The Weekend's Action

I thought that Swing Bill ran another good race in the Grade 3 chase at Newbury on Saturday.  Our grey gelding ran on stoutly close home to claim a creditable third, beaten only 2 1/4 lengths - had the ground been a little softer, I think that he would have gone very close to winning.  As long as the handicapper isn't too harsh on him (remember he went up 11lbs for his previous success in a veteran's race), he could be up to wining again.  Close House also ran a cracker on his Pond House debut in the valuable Doncaster bumper.  He finished second to favourite Montbazon and I reckon this was a really good piece of form - the winner was only narrowly beaten by a well-fancied contender for the Festival bumper last time, and we were trying to concede 4lbs to him here.  He looks the type to progress once sent hurdling and is clearly a smart prospect.

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One of my mates was moaning about jockeys giving their mounts too much to do in their races.  In this instance he was referring to Jake Greenall who looked to be going best of all aboard Lightening Rod, but he seemed to leave his challenge a little too late.  As I explained to my friend, if he backs a 7lbs conditional jockey then that is the chance he takes - the allowance is to offset his lack of experience and I think that lack of experience was the deciding factor here.  Paddy Aspell made all of the running aboard Sam Lord and pinched the race.  Jake Greenall is a promising young rider and I am sure he will have learned plenty from this - not that that was much consolation to my mate!

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Many happy returns to Charles Radclyffe who used to do plenty of schooling for MCP in his younger days.  He is not quite so young now...Charles is a spritely 92 years young.  I still remember when he once poured me a glass of vodka - I think it was probably the biggest measure that I had ever seen.  When I asked him for a mixer to put in it, he told me that it would ruin it.  I had to drink it neat, in fact I can still taste it now!  Happy birthday Charles!

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I have some more recent photographs from the gallops, including of new recruit Goodnight Alfie as well as Shootin The Breeze in action alongside Madison du Berlais.

  
Above left: Goodnight Alfie, and right: (l-r) Shootin The Breeze and Madison du Berlais

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Cheltenham Festival Selections On
The Update Line 09060 400 901

Commencing tomorrow, we will be speaking to some of the most respected people in the business and they will be giving us their Festival fancies...

We start with stable jockey Tom Scudamore and will continue with his father, eight times champion jockey Peter Scudamore, Bloodstock Agent Tom Malone, Attheraces presenter Luke Harvey, fifteen times champion jockey A P McCoy, fifteen times champion trainer Martin Pipe, and of course, David who has had five Festival winners in his first four full seasons with a training license.  To listen in to this exclusive information call 09060 400 901 from 10am daily.  (Calls charged at £1.50 per min at all times, helpline 01884 840715)