Lady Does It Again!

The stable enjoyed a good winner at Stratford yesterday afternoon with Lady Reset running out an impressive winner of the 2m½f mares' handicap hurdle, her second successive victory in the race.  The winning margin of seven lengths from a mark of 104 was clearly a career best effort over hurdles from this tough, genuine and versatile mare.  This was her ninth success (and fourth over timber) and hopefully she can continue to improve.  She is a really likeable mare who has given connections a tremendous amount of enjoyment.  It could so easily have been a double with Defi d'Oudairies first past the post in the concluding staying hurdle.  He scored by a head in a rousing finish, only to be placed second by the stewards for causing interference.  Of course, I am going to be partisan to our runners, but I thought he was a little unlucky to lose the race.  There was no contact made until after the line, whilst neither jockey stopped riding.  This was another good performance from Defi d'Oudairies, just three days after winning over fences.

There are six meetings taking place this afternoon with a jumps card from Bangor, flat fixtures from Goodwood, Newmarket and Musselburgh and all-weather action from Wolverhampton and Southwell.  David has four runners at Bangor today; Ben Lilly, Red Happy, El Paso Wood and Secret Boris.

Ben Lilly contests the 2m7f handicap hurdle at 1.25pm for the David Pipe Racing Club.  A multiple winner at staying trips on the flat, he is yet to get his head in front over timber, although he has finished in the frame in all but one of his hurdle starts.  Despite the burden of top weight, he should go well with conditions to suit.  Fergus Gillard is in the saddle and takes 3lbs off his back.

We are doubly represented in the 3m handicap chase at 3.45pm with Red Happy and El Paso Wood.  The former won three times during the spring, although he is higher in the weights now and was below that form back from a break last time.  A reproduction of his earlier performances would give him each-way prospects.  Tom Scudamore rides.  El Paso Wood remains 3lbs higher than when runner-up on a couple of starts in June and needs to bounce back from a disappointing run at Uttoxeter last weekend, although he is another with an each-way chance if returning to form.  Philip Armson claims 5lbs off his back.

Our final runner is Secret Boris, who runs in the 2m1½f handicap chase at 4.55pm.  A winner in France, he would need to improve on what he has shown so far to figure here.  David Noonan takes the ride.

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South Africa levelled the T20 cricket series against England yesterday with an easy 58 run victory at Cardiff over the hosts.  The result leaves the series finely balanced going into the final match in Southampton on Sunday.

I see that Sebastian Vettel has decided to call it a day from Formula One at the end of the season.  It's a shame that he has not had a more competitive car through the last few years of his career as he has been a tremendous driver, winning four consecutive world championships.  In recent years he has become far more vocal on social and environmental issues and he is likely to focus on that moving forward and it would be great if his influence can continue to make an impact.

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What did the stand-up comedian say when he arrived in hospital?  I'm here all weak.