Another Second!

There are four flat meetings today and one jumps meeting but the stable does not have any runners today.  There is flat racing at Haydock, Yarmouth, Kempton and Hamilton plus a jumps card at Fontwell.  In Ireland there is flat action from Cork.  It is a seven race card at Fontwell and despite small fields in some races it looks fairly competitive throughout.  Neither Tom Scu or David Noonan are in action but Fergus Gillard has one ride, Mystic Court in the 2.45pm handicap hurdle.  He is 5/2 second favourite in the betting so looks to have a good chance.

Awesomedude ran very well at Southwell yesterday to finish second.  He wandered about going into the first couple of hurdles in the lead and Tom Scu had to make him concentrate but he got better as the race went on and it was an improved performance from his debut run at Market Rasen.  He got headed just before the final flight but jumped the last well and came back at the eventual winner but his rival was always just doing enough.  He has a really likeable attitude and I am sure he can improve again from this run to hopefully get his first win over hurdles next time out.

To Fly Free unfortunately did not run up to expectations.  We thought she was overpriced in the betting and had a good each way chance but it was not to be and Fergus eventually pulled her.  She did not really seem to take to the brush hurdles and seemed to be struggling from an early stage.  She did lose a shoe which cannot of helped but this is not usually enough to put them off games completely.  This run was too bad to be true so fingers crossed she seems okay and we will see if anything comes to light in the coming days.

It was the funeral of Barney Curley in Newmarket yesterday and I see that Frankie Dettori, Jamie Spencer, Tom Queally and Shane Kelly were jockeys who carried the coffin.  Attendance was strictly limited but the congregation included John Gosden and J P McManus.  Fitting tributes were paid to a man who gave so much to helping others and he was laid to rest in the cemetery at Newmarket which lies close to the Rowley Mile racecourse. 

We are just 6 days away from the start of Royal Ascot next week and while it still will not be 'normal' it is great there will be a good size crowd in attendance.  One jockey who was hoping to be back to ride at Royal Ascot but unfortunately won't be is Rossa Ryan.  He was in a race against time to return from a broken collar bone but was expected to be passed fit to ride, only to have recently had to undergo surgery for appendicitis.  Lady luck has unfortunately not been on his side.  I think he is a very good young jockey who has ridden a few times for us and he was having a very good 2021 having already ridden 64 winners and bettering his total from last season.  We would like to wish him a speedy recovery.

A man walked into the supermarket and announced "I want all the rotten eggs you have".  "What do you want with rotten eggs?" asked the sop assistant, "unless you're going to see that terrible new comedian who's on at the theatre this week?"  The man replied icily "I am the new comedian!!"