Drinkwater has something to savour

Worcestershire handler Sam Drinkwater has a prospect to savour with Strensham Court, who followed up his impressive Stratford Bumper win of early September with another accomplished performance yesterday at Plumpton. He looks an exciting horse to go hurdling with over the coming months.

Two other trainers from within the West Mercian area also notched a winner at Plumpton. David Bridgwater isn't best known as an advocate of summer jumping, but Pirate Sam, under contrasting racing tactics, showed notable improvement in form to win the novices handicap chase, breaking his chase duck in the process.

The bellwether of summer jumping, Richard Newland, also took his season earnings a step nearer £200,000 when Galata Bridge followed up early promise from a Worcester run on the first of the month to win his maiden hurdle at the prohibitive odds of 2/7. No-one got rich there.

Meanwhile, Eastnor trainer Matt Sheppard opened his stable to the public today as part of National Racehorse Week, the seven day campaign to share with the public the behind the scenes elements of racing yards up and down the country.

Matt Sheppard hosted the public at his yard yesterday

Several hundred folk had registered to see the picturesque yard just off the village green in Eastnor, adjacent to the estate office for Eastnor Castle. On such a day, one might reasonably have expected stable jockey Stan Sheppard to support his parents' enterprise, but a jockey goes where he is booked, and the long journey to Plumpton's opening fixture proved well worthwhile, when Glory And Fortune ran out a comfortable winner of the 2m Family & Friends Remembering Norman Sharpe Handicap Hurdle for near neighbour Tom Lacey.