Winner at Wincanton!

    Pachacuti after winning at Wincanton!
It was another great winner for the team yesterday with Pachacuti winning for the first time over fences at Wincanton.  Handy to the lead thoughout, he jumped and travelled very well but just as they were about to make the turn out of the back straight Jack had to nudge him along a little, so I got a little worried but he came straight back on the bridle and a super jump at the cross fence put him just back in front again.  He responded well to Jack’s urging all the way up the straight and jumped well and was able to pull a few lengths clear of the favourite approaching the last fence.

Our seven year old has improved in every run this season and it was a deserved first victory over the larger obstacles.  He loves testing conditions and says well and I believe something like the West Wales National at Ffos Las at the end of March might be possible target.  He is a lovely big, strong and powerful horse and it has taken him a little while to strengthen and grow into his frame and get his act together, but he is in good heart at present and I think there is more to come from him as a staying chaser.

Today we have four runners at Taunton and Placenet travels a little further to run at Wetherby!  Placenet runs in the 4.00pm handicap chase over 2m3f and Gearoid Harney rides.  Our seven year old is a multiple winner in France and has just had the two runs for us so far.  He ran better than the bare result suggests last time at Sandown where Jack said he didn’t quite stay three miles.  I thought on his French form he would like the trip but it is funny how often it doesn’t work out!  He has some good form over today’s trip in France, the track and the ground will suit.  The handicapper has given him some help and with Gearoid taking off seven pounds, I would hope he will put up a good show at 4/1 in the betting.

Our four runners a bit closer to home are Activist, Johannes, Kingofthewest and Tough Approach and Jack Tudor is on board all of them.  Activist won at Plumpton on Monday and has come out of that race very well so we decided to decided to declare him again.  The race divided and even though he carries a seven pound penalty he is favourite in the betting and looks to have a good chance of following up in the 2.05pm novices handicap hurdle.

Johannes runs in the second division of the novices handicap hurdle over 2m3f at 2.40pm.  He is 7/2 second best in the market behind the Anthony Honeyball trained favourite.  After a promising stable debut over hurdles he has been a little disappointing in two runs since, this is his first run in a handicap off a mark of 89 and he gets a 14lb allowance for being a four year old against his elders.  While he does have to improve on what he has shown to date, our French bumper winner goes nicely enough at home so I will be disappointed if he doesn’t at least give the favourite something to think about.

Kingofthewest runs in the 3.50pm handicap chase over 2m7f, he has been consistent all season and after winning at Chepstow on his penultimate start and probably ran as well as that last time at Lingfield.  Jack thought stepping him up in trip would suit and we know he runs well at the track having won here and been places on other occasions as well.  He can race a little lazily but Jack knows him well and I think he has a good chance at 3/1.

Tough Approach makes his handicap debut in the 4.25pm handicap hurdle over three miles, he ran his best race to date over hurdles last time at Kempton to finish second to a useful sort over 2m5f and will appreciate the slightly longer trip today.  He does have his little quirks but he does have ability and an opening mark of 102 looks fair and while this looks quite a competitive little race for the grade and we will be probably seen to better effect in time over fences I don’t see why he won’t run well at about 9/1.

As well jumping at Taunton and Wetherby today they race over jumps at Ludlow this afternoon as well.  In Ireland they have their first jumps action of the week at Clonmel and on the flat there is all-weather action at Chelmsford.

Last night in the football in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Chelsea 3-2 Leeds, Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man United, Wolves 1-0 Brighton and Liverpool 3-0 Southampton. 

Tonight there is no significant football action in Britain. 

I was pulled over by a police officer.  He looked at my licence and said, “you’re supposed to be wearing glasses”.

I said “I have contacts”.

He said he didn’t care who I know!

Have a good day!