- Monday, 02 February 2015 08:27
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
I thought that the horses ran well on Saturday and Heath Hunter clearly appreciated the extremely testing ground at Ffos Las. He had been competing in top class handicaps so this race represented a drop in class, but even so it was a good effort for him to win this handicap under 11-11. He stays further than the two mile trip and that clearly played into his hands. The West Wales National developed into something of a war of attrition and like Tom Scudamore said to me beforehand, whoever finishes will win. He was proven quite correct as Bob Ford was the only real finisher, although Gorgehous Lliege was eventually second having initially looked like he was pulled up. He eventually clambered over the last fence to complete for the not insignificant prize of £8,000.
- Sunday, 01 February 2015 09:53
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
MCP & Brough Scott
Today we have just two meetings, jumping at Musselburgh and a flat card at Chelmsford. Jockey Conor O'Farrell has gone all the way to Musselburgh to ride Streets of New York for trainer Brian Ellison. Conor did ride this one to finish a close second last time out but it is his only ride on the card and it is a long way to go so hopefully it will run well. There looks to be good prize money at both meetings. Brough Scott visited Pond House for the first time in 25 years during the week and there is a good article in today's Racing Post so make sure you guy and buy it! It is worth paying the £2.40 for this article alone! Why is the Racing Post more expensive on a Sunday? It is normally the least number of pages, maybe they are printing on double time?!
- Saturday, 31 January 2015 08:06
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Sail by the Sea
Sail By the Sea made all yesterday and put in a good round of jumping to win well. He won as he liked and the Arkle chase at Cheltenham look like the target. Although this will obviously be a big step up in class he could do no more than win nicely yesterday and he is a general 33/1 chance for the Arkle. What a race, Qalinas, David's other runner at Chepstow ran. He finished second only beaten 1/2 a length in the 3 mile handicap hurdle. This was a much improved return to form after only his third start back from injury and as long as the handicapper does not over react, he looks capable of winning off his current mark of 110.
- Friday, 30 January 2015 08:06
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
What a Moment....Winner at Towcester
What a judge Ashley Farrant is, he told me What a Moment was a really nice type of horse and was great to see him win the bumper at Towcester on his Pond House debut. Our five year old stayed on really nicely up the hill on pretty desperate ground and he looks a right stayer in the making. He has already finished second in a Irish point to point so he can jump and he is very much one to look forward to. Meanwhile at Wincanton our runners were a bit disappointing but it was atrocious conditions so fingers crossed we can put a line through these runs and we will see better from these horses next time. Horses tend to either handle conditions or not and unfortunately ours did not appear to yesterday. I did see the strangest race ever at Wincanton yesterday though, the bumper. A horse called See the World hungs so badly left of the last bend he went right off the track and gave about 100 yards away yet still got up to win. He must have been about a million to one in running! He is also well named, See the World, that is what he did yesterday! It was also great at Wincanton as an owner of ours, Geoff Thompson had a winner. Coombe Hill is 14 years young and ran as well as ever to win the hunterchase under Darren Edwards, well done Geoff!
- Thursday, 29 January 2015 08:36
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with two jumps cards from Wincanton and Towcester as well as flat cards from Southwell and Wolverhampton. The stable runs Courtlands Prince, Brook, Softsong, Shoegazer and Look West at Wincanton, while What A Moment runs at Towcester. There are some promising types among them so we will be keeping our fingers firmly crossed for a winner or two. Brook (pictured above) was a decisive winner on heavy ground at Newbury last time and while this looks to be a slightly better race, he does receive 11lbs from paper favourite Otago Trail. Our Towcester runner What A Moment was second in an Irish point-to-point so this stiff track will be ideal for our five year old and he looks like a nice ride for conditional jockey Kieron Edgar.
- Wednesday, 28 January 2015 08:42
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable continues in good form and we enjoyed another winner yesterday afternoon when Border Breaker made all to win the second division of the novices' hurdle at Taunton under a good, positive ride from conditional jockey Michael Heard. He looks good value for his 7lbs claim and I am sure he will begin picking up a few outside rides. Meanwhile, I was very impressed by the success of Barbs Princess on the all-weather at Southwell yesterday and she looks a certainty to follow-up if turned out again quickly under a penalty.
- Tuesday, 27 January 2015 08:57
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable enjoyed another winner yesterday when Obistar obliged in the conditional jockeys' hurdle at Plumpton yesterday. Our five year old needed every yard of the 3m1 1/2f trip and I thought that Kieron Edgar did very well to keep him going after he was headed turning for home. He stayed on again in fine style from there and had five lengths in hand at the line. The blinkers clearly helped and Kieron's 3lbs allowance would also have been of assistance on the very testing ground. Obistar was yet another winner for Brocade Racing who are having something of a season mirabilis. Meanwhile, Northern Bay finished third under amateur jockey Tom Greatrex on his first ride over hurdles - I thought he did well and he clearly has a bright future ahead of him.
