Horses for Sale

   Tuxedo Junction (GB) 


Exciting dual purpose prospect,
click here for details!

 

    Fighter Allen (FR)  


Exciting new horse with proven form, 
click here for details!

 

 

There was a good day for the stable yesterday with David recording an across the card double at Fakenham and Doncaster courtesy of Via Dolorosa and Olympe de Gouges.  Via Dolorosa (pictured above) was following-up his recent success at Southwell and was always in control of the three mile handicap chase, coming home well clear of his rivals under Philip Armson.  After finishing fourth in the Grand Sefton over the National fences earlier in the season, he looks like an obvious type for the Topham at Aintree next month - I didn't think he would get in, although he will surely take a hike in the weights for this.  Olympe de Gouges belied her odds in the juvenile fillies' maiden hurdle, appreciating the better ground at Doncaster under David Noonan.  It was a good bit of placing and with the favourite underperforming, hopefully the handicapper will not overreact.

Koi Dodville was far from disgraced in the Triumph Hurdle on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival and he was not that far off them approaching the last - he can add to his tally over hurdles back at the right level.

I have spent the last four days at the Festival, hosting the hospitality marquee and it was fantastic catching up with our owners, racing club members and guests.  We had a great time, although the weather could have been kinder on Wednesday (that's putting it mildly), but at least we had an ideal base to shelter from the elements.

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Fontwell, Newcastle, Kempton and Uttoxeter and an all-weather flat fixture from Wolverhampton.  David has five runners today at Uttoxeter; Sidi Ismael, Panic Attack, Gwencily Berbas, Romain de Senam and El Paso Wood.

Sidi Ismael reverts to the smaller obstacles in the 2m7½f handicap hurdle at 1.50pm from a mark 8lbs lower than over fences.  He is a strong stayer and could go well at a decent price, but it is a competitive race.

Panic Attack contests the 2m4f handicap hurdle at 3.00pm.  This is her first start since October, but she goes well fresh and was a good runner-up from a 1lb lower mark at Aintree on her penultimate start.  She has a nice racing weight and looks to have decent each-way claims.

We have three runners in the Midlands National at 3.35pm.  Gwencily Berbas ran a good race when fifth in the Eider Chase last time out and a repeat of that performance would give him claims at a big price.  It is a tall order for Romain de Senam after almost a year off, whilst El Paso Wood is turned out again quickly having disappointed on bottomless ground at Exeter last week.

*****

The Formula One season gets underway this weekend in Bahrain and yesterday's first practice session suggests that Red Bull and Ferrari seem to be the teams to beat in the early exchanges, with Merecedes possibly a little bit off them in third.  Of course, it will all become clearer today with qualifying taking place ahead of tomorrow's race.  I'm sure my wife will be thrilled!

*****

I was a refuse collector in my previous career.  I never received any formal training, I just picked it up as I went along.

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