A 71st Winner!

Duc De Beauchene our 71st Winner!

It was great to record our 71^st winner of the season yesterday thanks to Duc De Beauchene winning at Wincanton under Jack Tudor.  It was Jack’s first ride on our gelding and he gave him a lovely positive ride and won a shade cosily.  Duc is probably not quite the force of old but he has been very consistent of late and it was a deserved victory for the horse who has been a great servant to connections for many years.  While he doesn’t hold an entry presently, I am sure he will be receiving one in the coming days in case the handicapper over reacts!  Poseidon was very disappointing at Wincanton on Sunday finishing neared last than first.  I didn’t actually get to watch the race and haven’t as yet heard the breakdown of the race but it is back to the drawing board with him. 

There are no runners for the stable today with the only jumps card being up at Kelso.  There are three flat cards at Redcar, Windsor and Kempton and in Ireland they race over jumps at Tramore.  Over the weekend, Abaya Du Mathan ran another solid race to be second at Chepstow.  He is an admirably tough and consistent horse at this level and deserves another victory after lots of recent placings.  I would think perhaps Philip Armson would like another go at riding Royal Mer again after maybe going too fast aboard him at Chepstow on Saturday.  He went a long way clear of the field in the lead and it was unsurprising he got tired from just before two out.  I think Royal Mer is better than he was able to show here and is worth another chance under a more conservative ride.

Vieux Lion Rouge is back from Aintree and he really enjoyed his trip to Liverpool and being in the limelight at his favourite racecourse.  He spent the weekend here at Pond House and we are taking him back to Exmoor later today.  I am sure he may be requested back for further parading in the future which he will absolutely love! 

There was a fantastic deserved winner of the Grand National on Saturday in Corach Rambler for the Lucinda Russell, Peter Scudamore and Derek Fox team.  It is a great training performance to win at the Cheltenham Festival two years in a row and then come on to win a National.  Our very own Gericault Roque was second to him at the Festival in 2022 and hopefully we will be taking him on back in the National in twelve months’ time.  It was sad to see the protestors causing trouble before the National and therefore delaying the race.  I thought the police and officials did a great job in curtailing it quickly and efficiently but it has to have affected all the horses and there was plenty of drama over the opening fences and I can’t help but feel the delay did play it’s part in causing this.  We had a yard sweepstake for the National and our Head Lad's son Elliot was the winner of the pot!  It was lovely to see Tom Scu celebrating with his daughters and their grandad on the TV after the big win, it will be a day never to forget for the whole family.

In Saturday’s football Man City were easy winners over Leicester 3-1 who look in big trouble.  At Sunday lunch yesterday my nan told me that Wolves beat Brentford 2-0 (didn’t I know!) and she is happy as they are safe from relegation!  Chelsea, Spurs and Newcastle all lost while West Ham held league leaders Arsenal to a 2-2 draw which makes the title race now very interesting.  Arsenal are just four points ahead of Manchester City but have played one game more.  Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 2-0.

What do you call a starving hippo in Budapest?  A hungry Hungary hippo!  Happy Monday!