- Monday, 04 January 2016 08:35
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
What a fantastic performance from Soll at the weekend to land the valuable veterans' handicap chase final at Sandown on Saturday in determined fashion. He was extremely brave up that tough climb to the finish and nabbed Aachen in the shadow of the post. This was no mean effort under 11-9 and I'm sure David will be hoping to run the admirable eleven year old in the Grand National again this year. Obviously he has an abundance of stamina and the softer the ground, the better his prospects will be there.
- Saturday, 02 January 2016 12:37
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are only two meetings taking place this afternoon with action coming from Plumpton over the sticks and an all-weather flat card from Chelmsford City. The stable has one runner at Plumpton as Doctor Harper (pictured above) takes his chance in the novices' chase. A Grade 3 winner over timber at the Grand National meeting a couple of years ago, he has schooled well at home and should go well. Supreme Novices' Hurdle fourth L'Ami Serge is likely to be a warm favourite from the Henderson yard although the ground is likely to be bottomless and anything can happen.
- Saturday, 02 January 2016 08:46
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
David kicked off the new year in the best possible manner yesterday with the first winners of 2016...and it was at Cheltenham to boot! Champers On Ice battled on bravely to win a hot looking novices' hurdle under a penalty, posting a very useful effort. He is clearly going the right way and is a smashing prospect for the future. Meanwhile Alternatif looked sure to be involved in the following race, a 3m2 1/2f handicap chase although his stamina appeared to peter out approaching the last as he weakened to finish fourth. I went to Exeter yesterday and managed to get extremely wet! The ground was almost unraceable but it was good to see some of the old faces I haven't seen in a while and despite the horrendous weather it was good to see plenty of young race goers which bodes well for the future of the sport.
- Friday, 01 January 2016 08:07
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Champers on Ice runs at Cheltenham
The good news is that Exeter has passed it's inspection and racing goes ahead! So today we have six meetings, jumps cards at Cheltenham, Musselburgh, Catterick, Fakenham and Exeter plus a flat card at Southwell. David has three runners at Cheltenham, Champers on Ice, Alternatif and Batavir and all are ridden by Tom Scu. Champers on Ice won on soft going at Newbury last time out but has to give weight away to some useful opposition. It looks a good race but there is no reason why he should not go close. Alternatif is favourite in the Racing Post for the 12.45pm handicap chase. He won with any amount in hand at Fontwell last time out. Although this is only his fourth start over fences he jumps well, stays well and hopefully he should run well. Batavir runs in the 2.30pm handicap hurdle. He was third last time in the Fixed Brush hurdle at Haydock although he was beaten a fair way. He is five pounds higher today than his winning mark but cheekpieces are on and with a little improvement hopefully he can be competitive.
- Thursday, 31 December 2015 08:23
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
The big news of the day is that A P McCoy has been awarded a Knighthood in the Queen's New Years Honours List. He will now become known as Sir Anthony McCoy - I am still going to be calling him "A P" as it would be difficult to call him sir when I have seen him with his trousers around his ankles and a pair of ladies tights on! I wonder how many other 'sirs' have been dressed like that?! On a serious note though, we are all delighted for AP - this is the ultimate acknowledgement of all that he has achieved in racing and he is thoroughly deserving of all the plaudits. Not only is he the finest jockey we have ever witnessed, he has also been a wonderful ambassador for our sport and an incredible role model for any aspiring jockeys or people wanting to get involved in the sport.
- Wednesday, 30 December 2015 08:29
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There was a nice winner for the stable yesterday afternoon at Doncaster as Baltimore Rock (pictured above) made the long journey north worthwhile when making a winning chase debut. He jumped well bar a slow jump at the last and could be called a winner some way from home even though the eventual winning margin was only half a length. This looked to be a decent novices' chase so it was a good performance to win under top weight on his first start over the larger obstacles. Meanwhile, Epic Warrior ran creditably to finish third at Newbury in what looked like a decent contest and he will certainly find easier opportunities.
- Tuesday, 29 December 2015 08:12
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Newbury, Doncaster and Kelso as well as an all-weather flat fixture from Southwell. David has four runners this afternoon with Baltimore Rock making his chasing debut at Doncaster under Tom Scudamore, while at Newbury we have Epic Warrior and Shotavodka ridden by Kieron Edgar and Balgarry who is partnered by Conor O'Farrell. Balgarry (pictured above) was a winner last time out at Taunton and was a winner on soft ground in France so conditions should suit him - he is 4lbs higher than when successful but is expected to be thereabouts once again. Shotavodka reverts to hurdling on a mark of 135 which is 6lbs lower than his highest winning chase mark while Kieron takes an additional 3lbs off his back. The bookies make Epic Warrior a 10/1 chance and this slightly shorter trip should help him - we look to have some sound chances today.
