Choc's Grand!

Congratulations to Robert Thornton who rode his 1000th winner yesterday at Towcester.  He now has Richard Dunwoody and Peter Scudamore well within his sights on 1678 and 1699 winners respectively - he says that he hopes to be riding until he is forty...that is another eight years.  It would be some achievement if he could match those multiple champions in terms of races won, although at the head of the list, A P McCoy and Richard Johnson look to be well out of reach.  In order for Choc to reach AP, he would probably have to ride until he's 100!

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Benandonner won the claimer at Wolverhampton yesterday in what was no more than an exercise gallop for the eight year old.  He looked completely different class to his rivals and picked up £1,535 for his blow out.  Personally, if he was mine I think that I would keep running him in these type of races - he is clearly better than that grade, but owing to his age he probably won't be claimed by anyone.

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What a waste of time tonight's England versus Ghana match at Wembley is going to be!  It should be called the "England B v Ghana to help the FA pay for the Wembley Stadium Match!"  If the friendly was taking place before a serious European Qualifier then at least there would be some mileage in it, but the players that will be participating won't be involved in the England's next real International.  If I was a Premiership manager I wouldn't want any of my players picking up an injury and keeping them out of their next league match.  I certainly wouldn't want Scott Parker getting injured with West Ham playing Manchester United on Saturday...I see there is no Wayne Rooney - maybe Fabio is scared of Sir Alex's flying boot?!...Complete waste of time!

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Tom Scu was down this morning and we schooled a few over our Grand National style fences.  Below you can see Faasel and Consigliere under Conor O'Farrell and Tom Scudamore respectively, while over on David's blog you can see ex-French recruit Or Noir de Somoza schooling with Scu aboard.  All of them jumped nicely.

  
Above left: Faasel and right: Consigliere school over our "Aintree" fences