Winner at Donny

 
       Harley's Pride Winner at Doncaster 

It was brilliant to get a winner up at Doncaster yesterday with Harley's Pride winning the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle under Rian Corcoran who gave her a lovely ride.  This was her first try over three miles and in handicap company and so it was her best chance of winning that she has had but I have to say we weren't very confident.  She has always shown more ability at home than on the racecourse thus far but she is is a character and has her own ideas about things!  She seemed to relish the track, ground and distance and travelled well throughout the race and jumped well bar a little mistake at the last but that did not stop her momentum and she won quite nicely in the end.  I am sure this will have done her confidence good and I am sure she can win more races going forwards.

October Hill finished fourth in her race up at Doncaster and unfortunately the ground was too soft for her by the time we reached the final race of the day.  Had she been in the first race I think we would have got away with conditions but it rained all afternoon and she just got a bit bogged down in it at a crucial stage of the race, her rivals got away but she galloped all the way to the line.  She has a good attitude and will be winning races when returned to a sounder surface.  

Unfortunately there is no jumps racing today as Sandown was called off earlier in the week and Bangor has been abandoned this morning following overnight rain.  That leaves us with two all-weather fixtures at Wolverhampton and Newcastle and in Ireland a flat meeting at Dundalk.

This morning we make declarations for racing on Sunday which is at Newcastle and Exeter.  Sadly, prospects do not look good for Exeter with the course currently heavy, waterlogged in places and an inspection at 4pm this afternoon.  It is currently raining here at Pond House and we have had 50mm here this week so the weather continues to be pretty miserable.  There are no anticipated problems ahead of a great day of racing action tomorrow at the moment so fingers crossed it continues that way. 

Last night in the rugby, Ireland were outplayed by France in Paris and lost their opening Six Nations contest.  England play Wales on Saturday evening.

There is one Premiership match this evening with Leeds at home to Nottingham Forrest at 8pm.  The Winter Olympics continues today with figure skating, curling and ice hockey on offer and the Opening Ceremony taking place this evening.

I sing when I'm in my car, but only in reverse.

I'm a backup singer.

Have a good Friday!