3 Tracks 3 Winners!

What a great day for the yard again yesterday with a winner at three different tracks.  Grands Crus was successful in the Grade Two novices' chase at Newbury and I thought that he posted a good performance there being a certain element of surprise about the proximity of the runner-up Sonofvic.  Grands Crus was foot perfect at his fences and it just struck me that he was idling a bit when he went to the front - I also think time will tell that it was a top notch effort giving 7lbs and a beating to the second, who is clearly a very useful prospect in his own right.

Grands Crus produces a flawless round of jumping at Newbury to remain unbeaten over fences

What a great day for the yard again yesterday with a winner at three different tracks.  Grands Crus was successful in the Grade Two novices' chase at Newbury and I thought that he posted a good performance there being a certain element of surprise about the proximity of the runner-up Sonofvic.  Grands Crus was foot perfect at his fences and it just struck me that he was idling a bit when he went to the front - I also think time will tell that it was a top notch effort giving 7lbs and a beating to the second, who is clearly a very useful prospect in his own right.

Over at Taunton Mr Chow (pictured right) still looked very keen on his chasing debut.  He jumped very well barring a couple of bad mistakes at the last fence on both circuits, but even so, still had enough in hand to win under Conor O'Farrell.  Conor deserves plenty of credit for this success as he sat tight when many a more experienced jockey would have been propelled out of the saddle, and then he gave his mount time to get back into the race - a really good effort.  The winner is only rated 96 and he already looks a better chaser than hurdler, so he could progress again now that he has found his niche as a staying chaser.  This was David's first winner for new patron Malcolm Denmark - hopefully it is the first of many!

At Uttoxeter, Rose Of The Moon (pictured left) made a winning debut for the yard in the three mile novices' hurdle under a good ride from 5lbs claiming jockey Jake Greenall.  It looked like quite hard work, but it was interesting to see the horse prick his ears approaching the last so hopefully there is a little more to come from him.

On top of those three successes, we also had three others runners that finished close-up in third place...all in all a very good day!

*****

Watching the racing from Taunton yesterday, it occurred to me that I would be rather upset if I had backed Nick Scholfield's mount How's My Friend in the novices' handicap hurdle.  He was beaten the minimum distance of a nose, and while the horse did race awkwardly in the closing stages, the jockey did not appear to ride his horse out to the line - it certainly did not look good on the television.

*****

If you are looking for something to watch on the television tonight, there should be an interesting piece on The One Show (BBC One, 7pm).  It is a feature with Felix Francis, son of the late, great Dick Francis, former jockey and novelist about life with his incredible father that was conducted recently at Exeter racecourse.  It will also feature a couple of David's horses who were schooling over fences that morning.

*****

I see that J P McManus bid £80,000 for a once in a lifetime round of golf and lunch with Lee Westwood at the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Awards Luncheon in London yesterday.  Lee was there to present the prize - let's just hope that lunch is good!  J P has been a massive supporter of these charities and it was good to see him recognised with an award for his outstanding contribution to horseracing.