"Itoldyou he could cope!"

 

In a competitive race at Newbury today, Itoldyou started the 5/1 4th favourite of the five runners in the 3 mile 2 furlong amateur riders handicap chase.  It was a step up in class both in terms of opposition and fences so in many ways was a test of his abilities.  Jockey Danny Burton dropped Itoldyou in at the rear as the field set off on the soft ground.  He jumped well on the first circuit but he was hampered by an unseated rider at the first in the back straight on the second circuit.  It seemed to affect him as he made mistakes at the next two fences.  He stayed last of the four remaining runners until entering the home straight where he was given a reminder by the jockey.  He responded to this and took the lead over the big open ditch three from home.  He was a little untidy at the last two fences but still held the lead.  After the last the favourite got up and passed him but he kept going to hold onto second place, one and a quarter lengths behind the winner and a length and a half ahead of the third.   He earned over £1700 for his owners , Valence Racing Too, in this Class 3 race and gave them a great day out.

 

Beating That Breakfast Bulge.

It has long been rumoured, but now the Saturday owners' breakfast group will have more room to indulge themselves as the connecting wall between the kitchen and mini lounge has been knocked through creating a much larger eating area.



Not only is there more room to move around, eat and chat, it means that the staff can now breakfast with the owners, adding to the information about their horses and expanding the general banter.  Of course it does mean that owners can monitor the calorie intake of the riders before they mount up!

Ginger Puts Smiles On Faces.

Red Anchor (stable name Ginger) showed a return to form today when finishing 3rd in a handicap chase at Lingfield.  After his problems last season it was great to see him racing with enthusiasm and attacking his jumps again.  Ridden by Jamie Moore, he set off third of the field of four runners in the 2 and a half mile event.  He moved up into second going out on the final circuit and held this position until entering the home straight where he was challenged for the position.  His lack of a recent run began to tell, but he continued gamely to hold on to his third place, just 16 lengths behind the easy winner, and demonstrate that he is back to his old self, putting a smile on the faces of all his connections.

Ginger in 3rd passes the stands on the first circuit.

Ginger returns to the unsaddling enclosure.

Great To Be Back

Itoldyou had his first race after his summer break today and looked pleased to be back.  In a 2 mile 6 furlong handicap chase at Fontwell, ridden by Tom Cannon,  he was held up in the rear for the first circuit before moving up with a mile to go.  He chased the leader from the 5th last fence but he couldn't find enough to get upsides.  He began to stay on again after the final fence and held on to second place just under 2 lengths behind the winner.  A very satisfactory reappearance that made his connections very happy.

Back to the sands, back to winning ways.



Kingscombe returned to Southwell, his favourite course, and made it seven wins from eight starts at the Nottinghamshire track.  Drawn widest of the six runners in a class 4 handicap over 2 miles, he raced on the outside in the early part of the race under jockey Robert Havlin.  He tucked in to 4th position, tracking the leaders, going out on the final circuit.  He was asked to move up when nearing the far turn and made smooth progress on the outside of the favourite rounding the bend.  The two then had a battle royal up the straight with Kingscombe coming out on top at the line to win by a neck, with another 14 lengths back to the third placed horse.