Thursday Double

 
      American Sniper Winner at Taunton

With 10 runners across two meetings yesterday you are always hopeful of a couple of winners but like most things in life it is easier said than done!  If someone had told us we would have two winners before racing yesterday we would have taken it and it was brilliant to get one at each meeting.  Shot Boii got the day off to a good start but victory was by the narrowest of margins, a nose!  That is now two wins from Shot Boii from two visits to Lingfield this season and it was a very similar performance to last time.  Our five year old under Fergus Gillard led the way but was challenged all the way up the straight.  Half way up the run in it looked like we were destined to finished second but he stuck his head down gamely in the final strides to get up on the line.  It was a real courageous performance yet again for which the handicapper should not be able to put him up too much again.  There is definitely more to come again and the stiffer the test of stamina for him the better.

Back a little closer to home it was brilliant that American Sniper was able to follow up his Chepstow victory and win again with his owners present for their first ever winner while being at the races.  It looked a tough task on paper to give seven pounds to the Evan Williams trained Can You Call who is rated 122, especially when that horse was sat in behind us cruising approaching the second last hurdle.  Our four year old however had other ideas and once again showed true grit and determination to fend off the challenge.  The course wouldn't have been ideal for him yesterday and again he will be seen in even better light on a stiffer track or over slightly further.  He certainly is an exciting young horse to look forward to.  Shot Boii was our 47th winner of the 2022/23 National Hunt Season, equalling our total winners for last year and American Sniper was our 48th winner so it is fantastic to have beaten our winners from last season already.  Long may the good form continue!

          Shot Boii Winner at Lingfield 

In the rest of the days action they ran probably as expected although I was hoping for a little more perhaps Bumpy Johnson and Red Lion Lad.  Both show much more at home than on the track so we are left scratching out heads a little.  I am sure David will find they key to them however and hopefully we can see them in the winners enclosure soon.  Colony Queen was running well before Tom Scu pulled her up quickly two from home as he thought something was amiss.  Thankfully she seems fine this morning so not sure what went wrong there but the main this is she seems okay today.

Today we have four runners at Ffos Las and the lorry was on its was racing pretty early again this morning.  Doyen La Lutte, Eden Du Houx, New Age Dawning and Anglers Crag make up our quartet of runners at the Welsh venue.  Doyen La Lutte makes her chasing debut in the 12.55pm novices handicap chase with David Noonan on board.  She was placed a few times over hurdles last season but I am not sure we have seen the best of her yet.  I think fences will be the making of her but a watching briefly is probably best advised for today.  Eden Du Houx (Tom Scu) and New Age Dawning (David Noonan) run in the same handicap chase at 2.05pm.  It is a shame to have to run them both in the same race but both horses will love the track (both course winners already) and the ground.  Eden Du Houx has been most recently competing in France but it did not quite go to plan over their last time for whatever reason.  He is in good form at home and I think he can run well.  New Age Dawning is a little fragile and does not run that often but was a winner at the track last season.  The trip maybe a little on the short side for him today but you will have to stay and he will love a good gallop in testing conditions.  He is fit and well and looks to have a good each way chance in a competitive looking race.

I think perhaps the best chance of a winner for us today is Anglers Crag in the 2.40pm handicap hurdle, although again this looks a tricky little race on paper despite there only being five runners.  He won on stable debut at Leicester last year but didn't quite step up to graded level after that.  The trip, track and ground will suit and this looks a good starting point off a mark of 116 before he goes chasing.  Tom Scu rides.

Portugal and Brazil got their World Cup campaigns off to a winning start yesterday and today is the first day of second round matches.  Hopefully Wales can beat Iran in the 10am kick off game while I am looking forward to watching England play the USA this evening.  Come on England!

Police have arrested the World tongue-twisting champion.  They say he'll be given a tough sentence!  Have a good day!