- Saturday, 24 October 2015 07:10
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Purple N Gold runs at Cheltenham
Today we have five meetings, 3 flat cards at Doncaster, Newbury and Chelmsford plus jumping at Kelso at a very good card at Cheltenham. David runs Purple N Gold, Stars Over the Sea, Kie and Chic Theatre at Cheltenham. As you would expect they all look to be in very competitive races. Purple N Gold does not seem to know how to run a bad race, whether it is over hurdles or fences and hopefully he can run well again but it is a £50,000 race!
- Friday, 23 October 2015 07:46
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are four meetings to look forward to today with three flat cards from Doncaster, Newbury and Wolverhampton, while the jumps campaign gets into top gear with the first Cheltenham meeting of the new season getting underway. David runs Willem, Weather Babe, Houston Dynimo and Saint John Henry at Cheltenham and as you would expect they are extremely competitive races. Willem showed his best form yet when a narrow runner-up at Hexham over 2m4f last time and is 1lb higher this afternoon. He is joined in the line-up by Saint John Henry (pictured above) who won all three of his completed start last season and while he is higher in the weights, a big run is expected. Meanwhile, Weather Babe has won her two starts over fences and I am sure she will give a good account even though this is by far her toughest assignment to date. Our final runner is Houston Dynimo who would have a chance on the pick of his form, although he is due to go down 3lbs in future handicaps - he is forecast to start at odds of around 10/1.
- Thursday, 22 October 2015 07:30
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable enjoyed a nice winner at Worcester yesterday afternoon when Lady Of Longstone followed up her recent course success by bolting up in the 2m4f mares' handicap hurdle by 15 lengths with her head in her chest. Since David has left the headgear off of her she seems to have found a renewed vigour for her racing and it would be no surprise to see David turn her out again under a penalty before the handicapper gets the chance to reassess her. It was a great result for her very enthusiastic owners and also popular among staff, not least because Sue bakes a mean cake! Meanwhile, Skylander finished fourth in the handicap chase and it could be that this slightly slower surface found him out over this longer trip.
- Wednesday, 21 October 2015 07:25
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today we have four meetings with flat action from Newmarket and Kempton as well as a couple of jumps cards from Worcester and Fontwell. The stable runs Skylander (pictured above) and recent course winner Lady Of Longstone at Worcester. Skylander is in the form of his life at present and duly won on his chase debut at Hexham before producing arguably an even better performance when runner-up at Uttoxeter (both times on good ground). Michael Heard is in the saddle and claims a handy 7lbs off his back. Michael is also aboard Lady Of Longstone who carries a 7lbs penalty for her pillar to post success last time - the additional weight will make things more difficult although if she produces a similar level of form she will still have every chance.
- Tuesday, 20 October 2015 07:30
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat action from Windsor, Lingfield and Wolverhampton as well as a jumps fixture from Exeter. David runs Lilbourne Legacy, For 'N' Against, Prince Of Poets and Border Breaker at the Devon track and he looks to have a chance or two on what looks like a tricky card. For 'N' Against is forecast second favourite for the amateur riders novices' hurdle having finished a decent second at the track last time out over fences. He is partnered by David Noonan who is the leading amateur so far this season. Meanwhile Prince Of Poets has run better on his last couple of starts and the bookmakers have him at around the 11/2 mark. Border Breaker has been in good form this campaign and looks to have a fair chance from a mark of 128 having already been successful from 125.
- Monday, 19 October 2015 07:43
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
You may already have seen that David is on the cover of today's Racing Post as he kicks off the stable tours season with an in-depth interview about his horses for the coming jumps season. There is a great eight page supplement with today's paper by Ben Newton and it is certainly worth a read. Without wanting to spoil things too much I will tell you that Un Temps Pour Tout, Moon Racer and Ballynagour have been selected among the 'star quality' - no great surprises there, although you will have to pick up a copy if you want to know what he has to say about them and the others here at Pond House.
- Sunday, 18 October 2015 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Following a bumper day of great racing yesterday we have just two meetings to look forward to this afternoon - a flat card at Bath and a jumps card from Kempton. The big name at Kempton is The New One who makes his seasonal reappearance in the Listed hurdle. He won it last year and according to official figures, he has tons in hand. Even so, I reckon part-owner Gino will have had very little sleep last night and will have spent a large part of it walking his box! The New One is too short in the market to recommend as a betting proposition but it is nice to see a top class horse in action. Sam Twiston-Davies is charged with doing the steering.
