Douglas Leads Fontwell Parade

We have three runners this afternoon at Fontwell and they look to have a good competitive card with the feature being the National Spirit Hurdle, a race that David won twice in the past with the now retired hero Lough Derg.  Lough Derg will be parading before the big one and I'm sure that racegoers will be delighted to see him...none more so I suspect than former partner Tom Scudamore - keep an eye out for any tears!  Hopefully his eyes will have cleared in time to ride our three runners, African Broadway, Battle Group and Bamboleo.  African Broadway runs in the Lough Derg novices' hurdle - a fitting tribute to this fine stayer.

Above: Lough Derg winning the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.  He leads the parade this afternoon

We have three runners this afternoon at Fontwell and they look to have a good competitive card with the feature being the National Spirit Hurdle, a race that David won twice in the past with the now retired hero Lough Derg.  Lough Derg will be parading before the big one and I'm sure that racegoers will be delighted to see him...none more so I suspect than former partner Tom Scudamore - keep an eye out for any tears!  Hopefully his eyes will have cleared in time to ride our three runners, African Broadway, Battle Group and Bamboleo.

*****

With Cheltenham only just over a fortnight away now, I reckon there are plenty of trainers enduring sleepless nights.  You just have to hope that your horses keep out of trouble - you wouldn't believe how easy it is to pick up a little niggle that could jeopardise months of preparation.  Unfortunateley you cannot wrap them in cotton wool, they need to be galloped to maintain their fitness as well as schooled over hurdles and fences.  At Cheltenham the pace is so frenetic that any jumping flaws are exposed, so plenty of practice is vital.  Most racegoers do not realise how much hard work goes into getting a horse to the races fit and well.

*****

The coming flat jockey's championship is a conundrum, especially with dual champion Paul Hanagan joining Hamdan Al Maktoum as his retained rider and Sylvestre de Sousa joining Godolphin, effectively ruling themselves out of the running - I would imagine that they have been handed some fairly hefty retainers.  Hanagan has said that he will continue to ride for Richard Fahey whenever he can, although he is bound to be riding abroad a lot.  Hanagan is a 6/1 chance, will de Sousa is 5/1 shot.  To me, if Ryan Moore can stay injury free for an entire season, he looks worth an interest at around the 4/1 mark, while Richard Hughes is also interesting at 5/1 (although he will have to successfully appeal his 7 week ban earned in India recently).

*****

What a great football derby this afternoon as Arsenal take on Tottenham Hotspur.  I just wonder if the poor looking Arsenal defence can deal with Spurs lively forwards.  This could go the way of Spurs at a best price of 19/10.