Wat-er Winner!

The yard enjoyed a good day on Saturday with a number of the horses posting creditable performances.  Waterunder was successful at Wincanton under Johnny Farrelly and I have to say that I thought he rode Richie McLernon (aboard odds-on favourite and runner-up It's A Gimme) to sleep.  Our five year old managed to get first run and had enough in reserve to hold on by 1/2 length.  It was a cracking good ride from Johnny and a great result for owner Sarah Clifford, who (along with husband Wayne) sponsor the yard and the race - the Bathwick Tyres Hurdle.  I'm sure they were very pleased to win their own money back!

Delighted connections greet Wincanton winner Waterunder on Saturday

The yard enjoyed a good day on Saturday with a number of the horses posting creditable performances.  Waterunder was successful at Wincanton under Johnny Farrelly and I have to say that I thought he rode Richie McLernon (aboard odds-on favourite and runner-up It's A Gimme) to sleep.  Our five year old managed to get first run and had enough in reserve to hold on by 1/2 length.  It was a cracking good ride from Johnny and a great result for owner Sarah Clifford, who (along with husband Wayne) sponsor the yard and the race - the Bathwick Tyres Hurdle.  I'm sure they were very pleased to win their own money back!

There were a number of other good performances on Saturday as I'm So Lucky ran a very creditable fifth against higher-rated rivals in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot, in the process picking up £5,500 in prize money - at level weights it was certainly a good performance.  I'msingingtheblues ran a teriffic race under topweight in the handicap chase - he looked to be all over the winner jumping the last but just seemed to idle in front a bit to get caught close home by Tatenen, to whom he was conceding 6lbs.  He picked up nearly £13,000 for finishing second, but that head made over £30,000 difference!

Over at Haydock Consigliere ran a marvellous race to finish third in the Peter Marsh Chase.  The conditions were very testing and he was conceding weight to the first two home - this was his first try at three miles and he might have found it that little bit too far.

It wasn't such a good day on Sunday with three well fancied runners failing to score, but Bygones Sovereign put up a good performance when finishing second behind a useful looking type of Nicky Henderson's while to me it looked like Top Wood didn't quite get home and Chartreux may have been remembering his unlucky fall at Hereford last time out.  He would certainly be capable of better.

*****

I was sad to see that Corporal Clinger (pictured right, during his retirement) has been put down at the age of 33.  He was a very good horse that Martin trained back in the eighties and he won all manner of good races including a Bula Hurdle.  I could tell you a few stories about the fun we used to have with him, including at Cheltenham where myself, Martin and his owner Stef were locked in a toilet with over £30,000 in a carrier bag...it must have looked strange with three pairs of legs under the cubicle door!  "Clinger" was a great horse and will always be fondly remembered.