A Big Winner!

The stable had a nice winner at Chepstow on Sunday when Big Occasion made a winning hurdling debut in the three mile novices' hurdle under Tom Scudamore.  He was a decent flat performer in Ireland when rated in the 90's for Aidan O'Brien and it looks like he could become a useful staying hurdler in the novice division this season.  We also had a number of placed efforts that raked in some good prize money including Sona Sasta and Roi de Rose at Chepstow, Tamarinbleu at Aintree, while I'msingingtheblues performed creditably to finish fourth in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.

The stable had a nice winner at Chepstow on Sunday when Big Occasion made a winning hurdling debut in the three mile novices' hurdle under Tom Scudamore.  He was a decent flat performer in Ireland when rated in the 90's for Aidan O'Brien and it looks like he could become a useful staying hurdler in the novice division this season.  We also had a number of placed efforts that raked in some good prize money including Sona Sasta and Roi de Rose at Chepstow, Tamarinbleu at Aintree, while I'msingingtheblues performed creditably to finish fourth in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.

It is the confirmation stage for Saturday's December Gold Cup at Cheltenham at midday today and we have four horses entered: Paddy Power hero Great Endeavour, Tingle Creek fourth I'msingingtheblues, Matuhi and Salut Flo (pictured below on the gallops last week).  To find out which ones we leave in at the five day stage, check back here tomorrow.

Above: Salut Flo in action on the Pond House gallops

*****

I see that assistant trainer Carl Llewellyn caught young Sam Twiston-Davies climbing up the chimney looking for Santa Claus!  What a thing for Nigel Twiston-Davies to do...fancy hiding your teenage son's presents up the chimney - you would think that at that age Sam would know that Father Christmas does not exist!  I bet he believes in fairy's too, but that's another story!  It's a good job that Sam is a decent jockey.

*****

There is an interesting article in the Racing Post today about Ed Dunlop that illustrates the ups and downs of life as a trainer.  Only last month his amazing filly Snow Fairy had just landed a big prize in Japan, and shortly afterwards one of his biggest owners announced that they would be removing 25 horses in the yard, resulting in a number of redundancies.  It is a great shame for the staff that find themselves out of work around Christmas time and just goes to show how tough times continue to be at present.

*****

I will be tuning in to Sky Sports One tonight at 8pm to see Fulham take on Liverpool.  Liverpool are my idea of a good bet at odds of around 6/5 - they have been playing well of late and should send out a proper team as they need to finish near the top of the table to qualify for Europe.