Cabora Third At Wincanton

We had just the one runner at Wincanton yesterday as Cabora took in the mares' novices' hurdle.  Although she couldn't win, she showed a deal of ability to finish third behind two useful opponents and it looked to me as though she might well appreciate a longer trip and softer ground.  She was a decisive winner on very soft ground at Auteuil on her previous start and she should be more than capable of winning races in the coming months.

While the stable doesn't have any runners, it's another busy day on the racing front with five meetings taking place - three on the flat at York, Bath and Hereford and a couple of jumps meetings at Fontwell and Perth.  Talking of Perth I notice that it is trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies' 55th birthday today and he has runners up at the Scottish track - I wonder if he will be celebrating a winner with half a shandy?  On second thoughts, that really is a silly question!

I always like to hear of gambles being landed and there was a nice little touch at Wincanton yesterday when Sir Roger was backed from 50/1 into 16/1 before winning the two mile handicap hurdle in good style under Tommy Phelen.  At those prices you don't need a king's ransom on either.

Over at Southwell's meeting yesterday afternoon, I was very surprised to see high-class flat horse Prompter beaten in the maiden hurdle.  He was rated 100 on the level and pulled very hard on his first start over timber - he can only improve for the experience and looks to be a winner waiting to happen.

Congratulations to Emily MacMahon who rode her first winner yesterday when steering Miss Midnight to victory in the hunter chase at Wincanton.  Emily works in the ticket office at Wincanton - well done to her!

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It was a very chilly start to the morning with temperatures of only five degrees so it will be interesting to see what conditions are like for the start of the England versus West Indies Test Match.  I would have thought that the England team will be more at home against the Windies pace attack, especially as they won't have to face any spinners like they did against the Pakistani's - England are long odds-on to win the series and I will be watching with interest.