- Thursday, 20 August 2015 07:55
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today we have five meetings taking place with four flat cards from York, Chepstow, Hamilton and Lingfield as well as a jumps card from Stratford, although the stable doesn't have any runners this afternoon. It was a bit of a disappointing evening at Worcester yesterday with Lilbourne Legacy weakening in the last couple of furlongs of the bumper. He must get the trip as he was placed in a couple of Irish point-to-points and I would imagine that David will now send him over obstacles. Meanwhile For 'N' Against was unable to supplement last week's Fontwell success despite running creditably to finish fourth in the handicap hurdle. I would like the handicapper to tell me how he has any prospect of winning once his new handicap mark kicks in? If he couldn't win last night under a 7lbs penalty, how will he win with a further 9lbs on his back? Maybe David should let the assessor enter the six year old up?!
- Wednesday, 19 August 2015 07:34
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with flat action from York, Carlisle, Ffos Las and Kempton and a jumps fixture from Worcester. David has two runners at Worcester, Lilbourne Legacy and last week's Fontwell scorer For 'N' Against. For 'N' Against was an easy 25 length winner although the handicapper has reacted by putting him up by a whopping 16lbs in future handicaps. He is turned out again under a 7lbs penalty meaning that he is officially 9lbs 'well-in' here - I guess we will find out if the assessor was right, this does look to be a better race than the one he won, although he still looks to have outstanding claims. Our other runner, Lilbourne Legacy is making his debut for the stable this afternoon having finished placed in a couple of Irish points. He wasn't beaten at all far at Punchestown last time on yielding ground - my biggest concern would be this faster surface. Tom Scudamore is aboard both of our runners.
- Tuesday, 18 August 2015 07:23
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It's another blank day as far as jumps action is concerned leaving us with just four flat cards from Ripon, Kempton, Chelmsford City and Leicester. The 9.20pm from Chelmsford City doesn't look very competitive. Indeed, it is just a two runner race with Sir Mark Prescott's runner, Alinstante is a 1/6 chance according to the Racing Post. The winner will pick up £11,000 in prize money while the loser will get £3,300 so prize money is certainly not the issue in this instance. It is the last race on the card and I would imagine that most of the people will have gone home by 9.20pm! Something needs to be done about two-runner races as it does very little for our sport.
- Monday, 17 August 2015 07:34
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was a good weekend for the stable with a couple of winners at Market Rasen on Saturday and Southwell on Sunday. Standing Ovation (pictured above) was the ready winner of Market Rasen's novices' hurdle, bolting up by an easy thirteen lengths and judging by this performance he should have little trouble winning again over timber before reverting to the larger obstacles. Kalifourchon won the handicap hurdle at Southwell a shade cosily and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him turning out again under a penalty before the bad man can have his say!
- Sunday, 16 August 2015 08:43
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
My Brother Sylvest - Very Consistent
David has two runners at today's jumps card at Southwell, My Brother Sylvest and Kalifourchon. My Brother Sylvest has been running consistently well all summer which is why he carries 11st 11lb in this handicap. He was a good second at Worcester last time and although he is probably a little high in the weight he should run well again. Kalifourchon won first time out this season and was then second next time, 49 days ago. Our four year old has 10st 12lb and fingers crossed he should run a big race. Tom Scu rides both runners. There is only one other meeting today, a flat card at Pontefract.
- Saturday, 15 August 2015 07:08
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Prince of Poets leads the string
down the gallops
Today we have six meetings, flat cards at Newbury, Ripon, Newmarket, Doncaster and Lingfield plus a jumps card at Market Rasen this evening. David has three runs at the Lincolnshire track tonight. Standing Ovation runs over hurdles and is on the comeback trail. He is better know as a chaser having won four times over the larger obstacles but he is still an novice over hurdles and after a fall of the National fences in April it will hopefully be a good confidence boost. A Hairy Koala has run some sound races without winning. He was second over this trip on his penultimate start at Exeter and he should run okay with blinkers back on today. Prince of Poets is a bumper winner who has run okay in two hurdle starts, hopefully he will be thereabouts. There is some after racing entertainment in the form of the legendary Tom Jones this evening, it should be a good night if you are going,
- Friday, 14 August 2015 07:02
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Winner - For N Against
Today we just have five flat cards at Newbury, Nottingham, Newcastle and Newmarket and Catterick. If they have had the overnight rain that we have had here in the west country be warned of any going changes! It has been pouring down all night, 14mm so far and very heavy rain at 7.30am. It was great to get a winner at Fontwell yesterday courtesy of For N Against who won by 25 lengths at 3/1. It was his first run since March and he already went up nine pounds for finishing second last time so it was a good performance although I do hope the handicapper realizes it was a bad race. Who am I trying to kid! He is entered at Market Rasen tomorrow and Worcester next week so he could take up one of these engagements with a 6 pound penalty. Perspicace ran okay and finished fifth. Unfortunately I just think he is slightly too high on a rating of 120 so hopefully he will drop a few pounds
