Updated: Wednesday, 26 Nov 2014 15:05 | Comments Un De Sceaux and stablemate Vautour are vying for favouritism for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival

Ruby Walsh believes Un De Sceaux will take chasing in his stride ahead of his first run over fences in the Killinan Beginners' Chase at Thurles tomorrow.

The six-year-old is already one of the favourites for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March, without ever having jumped a fence in public.

His Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Vautour made a breathtaking debut over fences on Sunday and the pair look to be two of the most exciting recruits to chasing for some time.

Un De Sceaux is unbeaten in nine outings and signed off last season by winning two Graded races at Auteuil.

The inveterate front-runner won many fans with his exuberant style over hurdles, something Walsh does not expect to change now he goes over fences.

Walsh told Racing UK: "I imagine it will be fast and furious as he likes to get on with it.

"His schooling has been pretty much like Vautour's and hopefully he can do the same when he goes to the track.

"You're a bit of a passenger on his back, but I was quite taken with the way he jumped hurdles in Auteuil and so was Barry Geraghty (who rode him to win in March), obviously they are bigger than the hurdles in England and Ireland.

"The way he jumped at Auteuil, you'd say fences won't be a problem. In fairness to him, as keen as he is, he is quite intelligent so hopefully he'll be the same (over fences).

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Trailblazing Un De Sceaux set for chasing debut

BMC's decision on the removal of fences around public maidans has sparked a debate regarding its feasibility

BMC's recent announcement to remove the fencing around open gardens, traffic islands and open spaces has received mixed reactions. The civic body claims that by doing this, it would ease public access to gardens and maidans and also make it easier to keep a tab on their maintenance. The decision is seen as a rather bold move, one which has made locals of these areas, quite nervous.

The decision is perceived as a bold one because giving unobstructed access to open spaces and parks may have some repercussions; encroachment is one of the major possible setbacks. Space-crunched Mumbai is plagued with this problem for a very long time and BMC's failure to curb it is no more a secret.

Nayna Kathpalia, Trustee, Nagar NGO, shares, "If the civic body is planning to remove the fences around open spaces and gardens, then it is a bad decision. Do they have plans and means to keep encroachments and anti-social elements at bay?"

Take a look at footpaths, mangrove areas, forest protected areas, railways lines or even the streetsshanties are mushrooming everywhere. These hutments pop up in such areas primarily because of two reasons: open spaces and lack of boundaries or fences around such areas. Removing the fences will make all open spaces and gardens 'defenceless' and encroachment may begin to crawl in.

Another worrying reason that locals express is that of safety as anti-social elements are known to set up smoking dens wherever there is free space. During night-time, the chances of drug addicts walking directly into unguarded spaces is quite high. How many maidans and gardens can the cops guard with the existing level of crime in Mumbai?

Kathpalia questions, "Before we placed the fences at Oval Maidan, there was such a mess there with problems like prostitution, drug peddling and all sorts of anti-social activities. If the fences are done away with, will the police be able to handle all this?"

SVR Srinivas, Additional Municipal Commissioner, BMC, clarifies, "The plan is to remove the fences around the traffic islands, open spaces and gardens that are smaller in size. We are doing this as it will provide a better walking experience for people. Also, this will help in keeping a tab on maintenance and we will ensure that these places are not encroached upon."

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Caught off guard?

Frozen Fences Podcast: Episode 3
Episode 3 features, shitty audio, and accidentally running out of camera room. Enjoy Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/FrozenFences.

By: Frozen Fences

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Frozen Fences Podcast: Episode 3 - Video

Dozens of animals were listed on the Facebook page over the past 24 hours.

Frightened pets and damaged fences have seen an influx of lost and found animals around Perth since wild storms hit the metropolitan area on Wednesday.

As lightning strikes lit up the city accompanied by thunder and damaging winds, more than 100 animals were listed on thePets of Perth Lost and Found Facebook pageover the past 24 hours.

Pets of Perth author Bianca Castle said her page usually listed 20 lost and found animals a day, but since Wednesday had posted 132, including three dogs that had been hit by cars, one of which had died.

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"Lost Neo - Missing from North Coogee on S Beach Promenade since this afternoon.Border Collie x Kelpie.Ran away from the thunder. He would most likely (be) injured due to fall. Probably looking for a quiet place to hide," owner Rohen Adams wrote on the Facebook page.

"Layla, took off today between 11 and 3. She has always been spooked by the storms but has never run off. We are very worried for her as she is a timid dog and don't believe she will go to anyone if approached," another worried owner wrote.

Nicky Barton Roberts added: "Brindle staffy just seen running across Wilson Park Sth Fremantle, going towards South Beach way. Didn't look scared but was looking around."

Sharron Smith was on the receiving end, posting: "Dog found in our yard. Very friendly please call . . . if you know owner."

In a happier of turn events, owner Samantha Woods wrote: "Our dog Molly took off early this morning in the storm from Bassendean. She is microchipped and registered. If you see her please msg me on here... thanks," before later thanking Garry at Pet Lovers Cafe in Guildford for finding her.

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Storms take toll on frightened pets with spike in lost and found

Updated: Wednesday, 26 Nov 2014 15:05 | Comments Un De Sceaux and stablemate Vautour are vying for favouritism for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival

Ruby Walsh believes Un De Sceaux will take chasing in his stride ahead of his first run over fences in the Killinan Beginners' Chase at Thurles tomorrow.

The six-year-old is already one of the favourites for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March, without ever having jumped a fence in public.

His Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Vautour made a breathtaking debut over fences on Sunday and the pair look to be two of the most exciting recruits to chasing for some time.

Un De Sceaux is unbeaten in nine outings and signed off last season by winning two Graded races at Auteuil.

The inveterate front-runner won many fans with his exuberant style over hurdles, something Walsh does not expect to change now he goes over fences.

Walsh told Racing UK: "I imagine it will be fast and furious as he likes to get on with it.

"His schooling has been pretty much like Vautour's and hopefully he can do the same when he goes to the track.

"You're a bit of a passenger on his back, but I was quite taken with the way he jumped hurdles in Auteuil and so was Barry Geraghty (who rode him to win in March), obviously they are bigger than the hurdles in England and Ireland.

"The way he jumped at Auteuil, you'd say fences won't be a problem. In fairness to him, as keen as he is, he is quite intelligent so hopefully he'll be the same (over fences).

Continue reading here:
Trailblazing Sceaux set for chasing debut

Updated: Tuesday, 25 Nov 2014 16:57 | Comments Djakadam will bid to become the first Irish-trained winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup since Bright Highway in 1980 when he lines up at Newbury on Saturday

Ruby Walsh is more worried about Djakadam having had only three runs over fences rather than the fact that he is only a five-year-old ahead of Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

No horse that young has ever won the prestigious race, but Walsh rewrote the history books on the Paul Nicholls-trained Master Minded, who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2008 when just five.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Djakadam was last seen falling in the JLT Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, on just his third outing over fences, and he runs off a mark of 142 having won his first two starts last season.

Speaking in his blog for Paddy Power, Walsh said: "The pundits are saying that Djakadam can't win the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday because he's only a five-year-old.

"They said Master Minded couldn't win a Champion Chase when he was that age. He did - so the stats are there to be broken.

"A bigger worry for me is that he has just three runs over fences and is inexperienced for a race like this."

David Pipe expects Ballynagour to run with honour, as long as his stamina holds out.

The eight-year-old claimed the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival in March and was second to Sizing Europe at Punchestown a month later.

Ballynagour has, however, never been campaigned over the Hennessy's extended three-and-a-quarter-mile trip, so will be taking a shot into the unknown.

Excerpt from:
Djakadam's inexperience a worry for Ruby Walsh ahead of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury

Elisabeth on Zee Over Fences 4th UWRF

By: SCSU Equestrian Team

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Elisabeth on Zee Over Fences 4th UWRF - Video

Ruby Walsh is more worried about Djakadam having had only three runs over fences rather than the fact that he is only a five-year-old going into Saturdays Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

No horse so young has ever won the prestigious race, but Walsh rewrote the history books on the Paul Nicholls-trained Master Minded who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2008 when just five.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Djakadam was last seen falling in the JLT Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, on just his third outing over fences, and he runs off a mark of 142, having won his first two starts last season.

It is that, rather than his age, that Walsh feels the red-hot favourite needs to overcome.

Speaking in his blog for Paddy Power, Walsh said: The pundits are saying that Djakadam cant win the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday because hes only a five-year-old.

A bigger worry for me is that he has just three runs over fences and is inexperienced for a race like this.

David Pipe expects Ballynagour to run with honour, as long as his stamina holds out.

The eight-year-old claimed the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival in March and was second to Sizing Europe at Punchestown a month later.

Ballynagour has, however, never been campaigned over the Hennessys extended three-and-a-quarter-mile trip, so will be taking a shot into the unknown.

The Nicholashayne handler told http://www.davidpipe.com: He seems very well at home and Tom Scudamore was in schooling him the other day.

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Djaks inexperience worries Walsh

Updated: Tuesday, 25 Nov 2014 16:57 | Comments Djakadam will bid to become the first Irish-trained winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup since Bright Highway in 1980 when he lines up at Newbury on Saturday

Ruby Walsh is more worried about Djakadam having had only three runs over fences rather than the fact that he is only a five-year-old ahead of Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

No horse that young has ever won the prestigious race, but Walsh rewrote the history books on the Paul Nicholls-trained Master Minded, who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2008 when just five.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Djakadam was last seen falling in the JLT Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, on just his third outing over fences, and he runs off a mark of 142 having won his first two starts last season.

Speaking in his blog for Paddy Power, Walsh said: "The pundits are saying that Djakadam can't win the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday because he's only a five-year-old.

"They said Master Minded couldn't win a Champion Chase when he was that age. He did - so the stats are there to be broken.

"A bigger worry for me is that he has just three runs over fences and is inexperienced for a race like this."

David Pipe expects Ballynagour to run with honour, as long as his stamina holds out.

The eight-year-old claimed the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival in March and was second to Sizing Europe at Punchestown a month later.

Ballynagour has, however, never been campaigned over the Hennessy's extended three-and-a-quarter-mile trip, so will be taking a shot into the unknown.

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Djakadam's inexperience a worry for Walsh

Minister of Veterans Affairs Julian Fantino responds to asks a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. Veterans Affairs is embarking Wednesday on an effort to rebuild bridges with groups that represent disgruntled ex-soldiers, but it is excluding some organizations that have threatened to campaign against the governing Conservatives. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

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By Murray Brewster, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Veterans Affairs is embarking Wednesday on an effort to rebuild bridges with groups that represent disgruntled ex-soldiers, but it is excluding some organizations that have threatened to campaign against the governing Conservatives.

It will be the first time in months that embattled Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino has faced the regular gathering of interested groups.

The meeting is taking place in Quebec City not Ottawa, as per usual at a time when several Conservative sources are acknowledging their party's problematic relationship with Canadian military veterans.

Several groups opposed to the government's so-called new veterans charter, which defines the benefits and entitlements of ex-military and RCMP members, have formed a coalition and are refusing to participate in government photo-ops until their concerns are addressed.

Some in the coalition, notably Cape Breton veteran Ron Clarke, say they will be actively campaigning to oust the Conservatives.

The declaration has effectively split the veterans movement.

Don Leonardo, the head of Veterans Canada, says his group has decided not to participate in the coalition, and yet it has still been excluded from the Quebec City meeting.

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Tories seek to mend fences with veterans