- Wednesday, 17 June 2015 07:37
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are five meetings taking place this afternoon. The obvious headline card is the second day from Royal Ascot and they are ably supported by flat cards from Hamilton, Chelmsford City and Ripon while there is National Hunt action from Uttoxeter. The stable has four runners at Uttoxeter this afternoon, Susie Sheep, Our Chief, Lady Of Longstone and Pigrims Bay. Susie Sheep is a winning point-to-pointer who makes her debut over the larger obstacles this afternoon, while Our Chief takes a step up in trip and though he needs to improve to figure in this, he has shown enough promise to suggest that a race of this nature is not beyond him, while Lady Of Longstone (pictured above) has run two excellent races of late and should go well once again despite being another 3lbs higher than when runner-up at Ffos Las last time. Pilgrims Bay is something of an unknown quantity as he appears to have bundles of talent and would go close if he could channel that ability properly.
- Tuesday, 16 June 2015 07:15
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It is the first day of the Royal meeting and there are five meetings taking place in total with flat meetings from Royal Ascot, Thirsk, Beverley and Brighton as well as a National Hunt card from Stratford. Royal Ascot has £1,635,000 in prize money while Brighton are offering the heady sum of £31,000! There are plenty of jumps trainers with runners in the Ascot Stakes - 2m4f handicap on the level. In fact eleven of the twenty runners are trained by handlers more commonly associated with the National Hunt game. Unusually, David (who won the race with Junior in 2010) isn't represented this year, although I am sure he will back for another go in twelve months time. The Windsor Castle is a 27 runner race over the minimum distance of five furlongs - it should certainly be exciting for the spectators although it is a nightmare for commentators and runners will certainly need a slice of luck to prevail.
- Monday, 15 June 2015 07:33
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Well, it's the start of another week and we have four meetings to look forward to this afternoon with flat fixtures from Carlisle, Windsor and Nottingham as well as a jumps card from Southwell. The stable has one runner this afternoon at Southwell as Bella (pictured above) takes in the mares' handicap hurdle at 4.00pm. She won a valuable mares' race last time at Warwick and went up 5lbs for that effort which seems reasonable enough, although it does mean that she has top weight to shoulder here. Dan Skelton's mare Shady Lane won last week and is turned out again quickly and looks to be the one we have to beat.
- Saturday, 13 June 2015 10:10
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are just two meetings taking place this afternoon at Salisbury and Doncaster so we have had ten meetings over the weekend and only one jumps fixture at Hexham during that period. I know it is the flat season, but surely race planning can come up with a more balanced fixture list than that?
Meanwhile next week marks the biggest occasion on the flat calendar with Royal Ascot taking place from Tuesday onward. David and MCP will be going to the Royal meeting and Martin would usually have one for the long distance races - both he and David have won the Ascot Stakes, while Martin also won the Windsor Castle with Atall Atall and finished runner-up in the Gold Cup a couple of times with Tyrone Bridge and Far Cry...good old days.
- Saturday, 13 June 2015 07:38
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There is plenty of action to keep us entertained this afternoon with eight meetings up and down the country with flat fixtures from York, Musselburgh, Sandown, Chester, Perth, Leicester and Lingfield as well as one jumps card from Hexham. Sadly if you want to see any National Hunt racing the majority of the country are facing a fair old journey. Unsurprisingly the stable has no runners today and stable jockey Tom Scudamore also takes the day off.
- Friday, 12 June 2015 07:51
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
What a great win from Street Entertainer (pictured above) yesterday afternoon to land the feature 2m4f handicap hurdle at Worcester under a great ride from Tom Scudamore. I must admit that I thought that a career high mark of 129 was plenty high enough for him but he absolutely bolted up. Scu was afforded an easy lead up front and with his mount jumping the brush hurdles really well and clearly enjoying the ground he was able to save a bit in front and kicked again off the home turn to score by five lengths. Obviously he will be going up in the weights again but David has plenty of options for him, including on the level or over fences - if he translates his jumping to the larger obstacles he should have little difficulty winning a novices' chase.
- Thursday, 11 June 2015 07:19
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There is a busy day of action ahead with five meetings taking place this afternoon including three flat meetings at Newbury, Nottingham and Haydock as well as a couple of jumps fixtures from Worcester and Uttoxeter. The stable has three runners today at Worcester; Epic Warrior, Street Entertainer and Prince Of Poets and they are all partnered by stable jockey Tom Scudamore. Epic Warrior is having his first start for the yard since winning an Irish point-to-point in good style - he runs in the bumper at 3.15pm and while the ground will be quicker than it was in Ireland, a big run is expected. Street Entertainer (pictured above) keeps running well and is consequently on a handicap mark of 129 in the competitive 2m4f handicap hurdle - he should go well once again, while bumper winner Prince Of Poets makes his hurdling debut this afternoon and he looks like a promising individual.
