Surf's Good at Newton!

David's horses all ran well at Newton Abbot yesterday with Surfboard putting up a fine display to win the 4.45pm handicap hurdle.  He got a good confident ride from Conor O'Farrell and took the lead as they turned for home before staying on well up the straight.  It is great for the horse and for his owners Ashton racing Club as he has been plagued with injuries over the last few years but everyone has been very patient so it is great to be rewarded.  The horse loves his racing and even had his ears pricked coming towards the last flight!  He is rated 18 pounds highers over fences so it looks like he will have to follow up with a penalty over hurdles.  It sounds so easy when you say it like that!  Surfboard is pictured in the winners enclosure below.

In the same race there was a fine run from stablemate Tigger who finished third.  Our 10lb conditional jockey gave him a fine ride and on this evidence it looks like he should be capable of winning a little race somewhere.  Bathwick Quest finished fourth in the handicap chase and this was a good run on fast ground as she probably would prefer a bit more cut in the ground.  She also looks like she will be capable of winning again.  The winner of that race, Mibleu, absolutely bolted up under Aiden Coleman for trainer Colin Tizzard.  The 11 year old seemed to put up an improved performance and I think he is one to watch closely as he could follow up under a penalty before the handicapper has his say.

One of MCP's great staying chasers, Riverside boy has dies at the age of 28.  He was a real monkey but had lots of ability.  I remember one day he got loose at Uttoxeter and he managed to get off the course.  A young Martin Foster borrowed a bike off the staff and chased him down through the country lanes!  They did manage to catch him but they are still loking for the bike which Martin discarded in a ditch!  Riverside Boy was as hard as nails and a proper racehorse.  He won the 1993 Coral Welsh National and ran in three consecutive Grand Nationals at Aintree.  He was part of MCP's first four home in in the 1992 Welsh Grand National, finishing second to Run For Free before he won the race a year later under Richard Dunwoody.  Riverside Boy won six point to points, four hurdle races and three chases.  He was also runner up in six good races including finishing second to Grand National winner Party Politics in the Rehersal chase.  One day at Market rasen he showed some of his real character.  MCP was down at the start with him and Peter Scudamore was riding him that day.  As the tapes went up for the start of the race he swerved and unseated his jockey!  One of the the true greats of Pond House, he will be sadly missed by us all.

Riverside Boy