A Win For Bumpy And Abaya!

Bumpy Johnson Wins at Ffos Las!

Bumpy Johnson and Abaya Du Mathan were our 72^nd and 73^rd winners of the season at Ffos Las yesterday.  Bumpy Johnson certainly seems to love his trips to Wales as this was his second win at the track this season.  I thought he jumped particularly well yesterday and a good jump at the last secured the victory as he closest rival didn’t get such a good leap.  He is a horse we have always liked a lot at home but wasn’t always delivering on the racecourse.  A wind operation earlier this season certainly seem to have been the making of him and his form figures since read 1421.  He was given a lovely simple ride by Jack Tudor and he galloped on well to the line to score fairly cosily.  I am not sure of immediate plans for him now, whether he will be kept on the go or whether he will go on holiday but he is certainly a horse gaining in confidence and going in the right direction and will be seen to even better effect over fences next autumn.

Abaya Du Mathan loved his return to Ffos Las and won this race for the second year in a row. He jumped, travelled and won very easily in the hands of Jack Tudor. 

Ffos Las seemed to be the only placed that missed the torrential rain on Monday and the ground had dried out to good which did not suit either King Turgeon or Last Quarter.  King Turgeon did run much better than he had done at Exeter but found the trip a bit on the sharp side on this ground.  He kept galloping to the line and ideally needs much softer ground.  Last Quarter ran much better than he did at Uttoxeter last time and moved into a challenging position after four out but could not quite sustain it up the straight.  He is definitely capable of winning something similar on softer ground.

Today there are no runners from Pond House but there is jump racing at both Ludlow and Perth.  There are two flat meetings at Catterick and Lingfield and in Ireland we have Day 2 of the Punchestown Festival.  The feature race in Ireland today is the Punchestown Gold Cup at 5.55pm.  Bravemansgame has been allowed to run which is great for owner Bryan Drew and it is the Cheltenham Gold Cup rematch between him and Galopin Des Champs.  Don’t rule out Ryanair Chase winner Envoi Allen either in what promises to be a fascinating watch but I think the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero will prove his superiority once again. The Champion Bumper is at 6.30pm and the Cheltenham winner A Dream to Share looks the one they all have to beat again.

There are four Premier League football matches this evening but all eyes will be on the Emirates at 8pm for the top of the table clash between Manchester City and Arsenal.  Arsenal are having a bit of a bad run at the moment and Man City are not a team you want to be playing when you are not in the best form.  I think City will win this game and then probably go onto win the league, sorry Arsenal fans!

Why do horses have low divorce rates?  They have stable relationships! Have a good day!