Well done ValueRacingClub.co.uk

Congratulations to ValueRacingClub.co.uk following Audacious Plan's victory in the Durham National at Sedgefield. Dr Richard Newland was winning the race for the third time in four years and he has done a terrific job with the eight year old. Bought for only £8,500 in March out of Rebecca Curtis' yard, he was given a beautiful ride by Brian Hughes saving ground on the inside. The winning margin may have only been a neck but Audacious Plan never looked like relinquishing the lead and was value for more. The Old Vic gelding was scoring off a mark of 122 and his connections will be eyeing even bigger and better targets. A proven stayer who handles most types of ground, his trainer suggested afterwards that he could develop into a Bet365 Gold Cup contender. The most impressive aspect of his performance was the way he jumped and travelled. Successful in two of his three starts since joining his current yard, one wonders how he got beaten on his reappearance at Uttoxeter last month.

ValueRacingClub.co.uk continues to go from strength to strength and, while I am biased, it must be one of the most successful syndicates in recent years, in relation to the number of horses it owns. Their CV includes an Imperial Cup, Summer Hurdle and now a Durham National which is a fantastic return from a relatively small pool of horses.

There were a couple of decent Talking Trainers winners at Stratford including Starchitect (15/8) in the two and a half miles handicap chase. Racing off a mark of 140 compared to 150 over hurdles, he stayed on well to win by three lengths. The BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham later this month will presumably be next on his agenda but needs to improve on today's performance. Ben Pauling's horses are in fine form and Linenhall (100/30) made a winning start to his hurdling career when taking the opening two miles six maiden hurdle. The Stowaway gelding outstayed Alan King's Good Man Pat after the last to win comfortably.