Eden Triumphs

 
       Eden Du Houx Winner at Ffos Las
  
Eden Du Houx was an easy winner at Ffos Las yesterday, bringing up our 49th winner of the season.  This was his first run in Britain for a while after is last few runs have been in France.  He didn't look to be travelling the best early on in the race but the further he went the better he went and he forged clear from just before three out and then it was a case of just getting over the last few fences.  He has now had two visits to Ffos Las and has won twice so he certainly has a liking for the Welsh venue.  Hopefully the handicapper will not overreact but there is a race closing today for Exeter on Friday that we will probably put an entry in for in case the handicapper is too harsh and we have to run with a penalty.  It was a very nice performance and hopefully he can build on this going forwards.

In the same race as Eden Du Houx, New Age Dawning had a nice come back run to finish fourth.  He jumped as well he had ever done and galloped all the way to the line over a trip which was shorter than ideal.  Doyen La Lutte jumped well enough on her chasing debut before getting tired and she will improve for the run.  Anglers Crag travelled really well into his race but then weakened quite quickly.  I thought he was our best chance of a winner on the day but it was not to be and he is quite likely to go chasing now where there is definitely more to come.

Today is Hennessy day, or the Coral Gold Cup chase as it is now known and we have three runners in the feature chase which jumps off at 3.05pm.  I see that Gericault Roque now heads the betting while Remastered is one of the favourites as well.  The riding arrangements remain the same as when they both made their seasonal reappearances over hurdles at Aintree last month.  Tom Scu is on Gericault Roque, David Noonan rides Remastered and Philip Armson is on board Red Happy.  Gericault Roque had a fantastic first season chasing last year, despite not winning he ran some cracking races which included second in the Classic chase at Warwick and second in the Ultima handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival.  Although slightly disappointing at Aintree he is a much better chaser and he is a horse we hold in very high regard.  He has form at Newbury and although we would prefer the ground softer, he is such a lovely flowing mover he should handle the good going fine and we hope he has a very good chance.

Remastered won over hurdles at Aintree last time and it seems a wind op in the summer as really helped him.  He was running a cracker in this race last season when falling at the fourth last fence.  Who knows what might have been that day but he would have definitely finished first or second.  The fall affected him in his subsequent runs after that but after his summer break he has come back in feeling fresh and well.  He would also have preferred much softer ground but Ashley Farrant who rides him everyday tells me he is bouncing!

Red Happy makes up our trio of runners.  He in a wonderful horse who has won six races for us already but he may find todays race a bit hot.  It says he refused last time out but that is a little unfair on our five year old who is an extremely tough and genuine horse.  There was simply a mis-communication between himself and Philip Armson last time out in the Southern National.  Philip went to pull him up at the last because he was tired, Red Happy thought he could jump it and in the end they did neither.  Thankfully he has come out of the race fine and he is in good form at home.

At Bangor, we now just have the one runner, Only the Bold after making Dindin a non-runner.  He runs in the 1.28pm handicap chase over three miles with Fergus Gillard on board.  He is making both his chasing and stable debut in the colours of the Value Racing Club.  James Couldwell purchased him at the sales in the summer off of Evan Williams for whom he had some good form.  I know David is pleased with him at home and thinks he should run well this afternoon.

Alongside jumps cards at Newbury and Bangor today, there is also action up at Newcastle with the Fighting Fifth hurdle the feature.  Constitution Hill versus Epatante or can anyone else spoil the party?!  Constitution Hill for me.  Flat action returns after a little break at Wolverhampton this evening while they race at Gowran Park in Ireland.

I watched the England football match last night but found it a little boring to be honest!  I love my football and was getting excited after a good win against Iran (which I did not watch).  It was not the fact we drew, as we should still hopefully qualify anyway, but more the manner of the performance which I thought was pretty poor.  Anyway, hopefully they can improve, but they will have to! Four more group games today and Argentina will be looking to get their campaign back on track after losing their opening match to Saudi Arabia.  They play Mexico at 7pm this evening, while France play Denmark at 4pm.  

People said I'd never get over my obsession with Phil Collins.  But take a look at me now!  Have a good day!