This stable's good record at Stratford became even better when Douchkirk made a winning debut there in the bumper on Saturday night.

The race looked in advance to be at the mercy of Forever My Friend, who had been just touched off at Aintree by Anis Etoile's relative Seedsman on his previous start. However, Douchkirk, or Frankie as he is invariably known to us, travelled easily throughout the race and recorded an impressive victory.

William Kennedy, our jump jockey of choice, appeared not to have to put him under much pressure as he came home five lengths clear of the favourite.

Frankie thus provided the fourth victory for the stable in the past 12 months for his dam Douchka, whose seven-year-old son Kadouchski has won twice this year, and whose daughter Douchkette won over hurdles at Stratford last year as a four-year-old.

We like running horses at Stratford, not least because the well-run track generally produces a safe racing surface. Another of the team to have thrived there over the past couple of years is Ex Con, who won his bumper there two years ago and won over hurdles there last summer.