Four runners Today

    Vision De Maine Runs at Ascot Today

Today we have four runners spread across three different meetings providing the weather does not get in the way!  There are no problems at either Ascot or Catterick where we will be represented by Turenne, Neon Moon and Vision De Maine.  Chepstow must pass an 9am inspection (put back from 8am) because of the threat of frost and fingers crossed it does and we have No Walkover running the lucky last, the bumper.

Turenne will be our first runner of the day up at Catterick and he goes in the 12.40pm juvenile hurdle and Jack Tudor rides.  He is making his stable and British debut but has some smart form in France and was a winner over hurdles at Compiegne before finishing fifth in a Listed contest last time.  He certainly sets the form standard in this race but he does have to carry a penalty and there are a couple of potential okay recruits off the flat in opposition.  He is the short priced favourite and Jack has gone up to ride so I hope he takes all the beating.  He may prefer the ground a little softer but there are not many opportunities for the juveniles at the moment so it will good to get him started.  

Neon Moon runs in the 2.00pm handicap chase at Ascot with Harry Cobden riding.  He ran well enough on his seasonal reappearance at the track last time over further in a better race.  He drops back in trip slightly which will not inconvenience him and this is a little less competitive and he will like the ground so I would like to think he has a very good chance.  There maybe only five runners and any of them could win but we are three pounds below our last winning mark and he likes the track.  Vision De Maine runs in the 3.10pm handicap chase at Ascot over three miles and Harry Cobden rides.  Our six year old started last season off very well by winning his first two chases and while he then ran well without winning again, I think with another summer on his back he can continue his upward progression.  He is a lovely big chaser who is lightly raced and he will enjoy todays good going.  He seems in good form at home and while the race is again competitive, he just shades favouritism at 3/1.

No Walkover was due to run at Hexham on Wednesday before that was abandoned because of snow, let's hope Jack Frost does not claim Chepstow's card.  We have had a frost here at Pond House but it is not really in the ground, just white on top so I hope it will be the same at Chepstow.  No Walkover runs in the bumper at 3.54pm and Conor O'Farrell rides.  He is a lovely big horse making his debut after finishing a close second in an Irish point to point after which we bought him privately.  His jockey lost his irons at the final fence that day and he was unlucky not to win.  The winner that day, Cristal D'Estruval was sold for big money afterwards and made an excellent start to his rules career by winning at Warwick yesterday, in a very hot little novices hurdle.  While we would prefer the ground a little softer for our four year old today, this looks a good starting point and I cannot wait to see him on the track.  He has lots of exciting potential whatever happens today but I would like to think he will take all the beating.

Yesterday at Wincanton, Mancero was disappointing but it was another great day for Rian Corcoran who rode another winner, number three for him for his career so well done to him.

The Ashes have started down in Australia in Perth but it was not a great start for England in the first test.  They won the toss and chose to bat but were all bowled out for 172 which was disappointing but in reply Australia are 31 for 4 in their first innings so it is not all over yet!

A man walks into a book store, do you have any books on turtles?

Worker: Hard back?

Me: Yeah, with little heads.

Happy Friday!