- Saturday, 23 January 2016 08:26
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with National Hunt action from Ascot, Haydock and Taunton and an all-weather flat card from Lingfield. David has two runners at Ascot; Unanimité and What A Moment, while Shotavodka is the Pond House representative at Haydock. Unanimité runs in the Holloways Hurdle - an ultra competitive handicap and our charge is a 14/1 chance on the early odds. He has a chance on the best of his form although he looks likely to need a bit of luck in running as he will need to navigate a path through the horses. David has a good record in the race having won it three years in a row with the great Lough Derg (pictured above) in 2008 and 2009 and Mamlook in 2010. Let's hope he can repeat the dose today. Rock The Kasbah looks to be the one to beat.
- Friday, 22 January 2016 08:30
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable was back among the winners yesterday with the victory of Pilgrims Bay at Wincanton. He was given an excellent ride from Conor O'Farrell who had to be at his coolest to score by a head. Pilgrims Bay is a talented horse but isn't the most straight-forward as illustrated when he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on his rules debut in a Ffos Las bumper last season. He travelled powerfully throughout yesterday and always looked as though he was going to win and Conor only had to get serious with him halfway up the run-in, but even then you could see he was thinking about it. The narrow margin of victory means that his mark of 110 should not be hit too hard...who am I kidding?! That success move David onto the half century for the season so it was a good day all round.
- Thursday, 21 January 2016 08:31
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
With the early abandonment of Ludlow this afternoon we are left with three meetings to look forward to; a jumps meeting from Wincanton (which is also subject to an early morning inspection) and two all-weather flat cards from Southwell and Chelmsford City. If the meeting gets the thumbs up David will have four runners at Wincanton; Brook, Pilgrims Bay, Kalifourchon and Junior Package, while he also has a rare runner on the flat at Southwell as last time out winner Honeymoon Cocktail (pictured above) bids to follow-up in the 1m4f handicap under apprentice jockey Rob Hornby. He is forecast favourite so hopefully there will be a winner or two this afternoon.
- Wednesday, 20 January 2016 08:39
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are now only three meetings taking place this afternoon with Newbury's jumps fixture abandoned with the track frozen in places - hardly surprising when you consider that temperatures reached -7°c at the track overnight. Musselburgh (also subject to an early morning inspection) is the only chance of some National Hunt action today, while the all-weather flat cards from Lingfield and Kempton seem to be holding up well to the elements at present. Work goes on as usual here at Pond House with our all weather gallop fully operational and the horses able to exercise as normal leaving them ready for action when the weather does relent.
- Tuesday, 19 January 2016 08:35
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
This afternoon there are two meetings taking place with jump racing from Ayr and an all-weather flat card from Southwell. Sadly Exeter abandoned their meeting yesterday - hardly surprising when you consider how cold and wet it has been down this way lately. I had a quick look through the Ayr card and cannot see many southern based trainers making the long journey north today.
- Monday, 18 January 2016 08:15
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It is a quiet start to the week with a jumps card from Plumpton supported by an all-weather flat card at Wolverhampton. Plumpton have to pass an early morning inspection although they are very hopeful of action going ahead. If I were a cynic I might almost suggest that they would hold three races before abandoning the remainder of the meeting! Perhaps I am being a bit mean to the officials at Plumpton - I am sure they will do their utmost to make sure the entire meeting takes place. I don't know what the weather is like Plumpton way, but it hasn't stopped raining all night around Brixham.
- Sunday, 17 January 2016 08:49
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
With the abandonment of Kelso we are left with just one all-weather flat meeting at Kempton today but there is a good jumps card at Leopardstown. There is good prize money on offer in Ireland with 2 races worth over £100,000 but I cannot see many English raiders. Ladbrokes Mike Dillon was in Barbados to celebrate his 64th birthday but unfortunately British Airways lost his luggage. I wonder what odds he would have got on that! Mind you, it is so hot at this time of year he would not need many clothes! I hear that owner William Frewen has been spotted at the cricket in South Africa, he certainly has some good action to watch. It's a tough life but I am only jealous I am not there!
