- Saturday, 30 May 2015 07:07
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
My Brother Sylvest - 2nd in his last 3 races
There is a bumper list of fixtures taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Chepstow, Chester, Haydock, Newmarket and York, supported by jumping action from Stratford. The stable has three runners this afternoon at Stratford; My Brother Sylvest, Western Diva and The Bank Manager and stable jockey Tom Scu is aboard all three. My Brother Sylvest has produced three very good performances to finish runner up in competitive handicaps and he looks sure to go well once again. The trouble is he has been creeping up the weights without winning – he certainly deserves a nice prize, so let’s hope it is today.
- Friday, 29 May 2015 07:44
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
I must start today by wishing Martin a very happy 70th birthday and by that I mean I really must as I will be collecting my P45 otherwise! There is a great piece in today's Racing Post illustrating five of Martin's greatest achievements as a trainer...I am amazed they could narrow it down to five as there have probably been enough to fill the entire paper. A couple of my fondest memories are included - I remember backing Baron Blakeney ante-post for the Triumph Hurdle in 1981 and was congratulating myself on getting 50/1 about our grey only for him to return at 66's...some judge I am, at least he won! I notice they credit Martin with the purchase of Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand from the Leicester claimer, although I still dispute that one to this day as I'm sure it was me...I guess as it's his birthday I will allow him bragging rights for the day! There will also be a piece about Martin and another soon to be birthday boy, Richard Hannon by Alistair Down in Sunday's paper following a recent interview (pictured above) and I would imagine it will be well worth a read. Anyway, many happy returns Martin, we all hope you have a fantastic day.
- Thursday, 28 May 2015 07:50
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with flat fixtures from Sandown, Haydock and Lingfield and jumps action from Worcester and Wetherby. David casts his net far and wide today with two runners on the flat - one each at Sandown and Haydock, while he also has two jumpers at Worcester and Wetherby. Mikey Ennis, who won the Midlands National for the stable aboard Big Occasion in 2013 before concentrating on a flat career rides both Beijing Star and Rathealy. He has to perform something of a 'Challenge Anneka' to dash from riding Beijing Star in the 1.50pm at Haydock to partner Rathealy in the 6.00pm at Sandown...David is certainly making him earn his riding fee! Meanwhile, Tom Scudamore is taking it much easier with a couple of rides at Wetherby including forecast favourite Rathlin Rose (pictured above) for the stable. Our seven year old gelding was an Irish point-to-point winner so we know he can jumpa and he was the best of these over timber and looks to have a good chance of getting off the mark at the first attempt in the novices' chase. Multimedia is our other runner today at Worcester where he will be partnered by Kieron Edgar - he ran better last time at Warwick and a reproduction of that effort would give him a squeak.
- Wednesday, 27 May 2015 07:48
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There is a busy day ahead with five meetings taking place this afternoon - three of them on the flat from Thirsk, Hamilton and Kempton, while there is also jumps action from Cartmel and Newton Abbot. David has just the one runner today, Alternatif (pictured above) who begins his chasing career in the 2m5 1/2f beginners' chase at 3.50pm. He put up a personal best last time out when a close second in the valuable Long Distance hurdle at Haydock on Swinton day and he has always looked a chaser in the making. Tom Scudamore makes the long journey up north with him and a clear round of jumping should see them go close, meanwhile Scu has also picked up a useful couple of outside rides for Gordon Elliott at the meeting.
- Tuesday, 26 May 2015 07:43
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with three flat cards from Leicester, Redcar and Lingfield as well as jumps action from Hexham and Huntingdon. Typically, the most valuable meeting of the day takes place in Ireland as Ballinrobe hosts a very competitive card - the least valuable race is worth €6900 to the winner and that's a bumper! As you would expect considering the money on offer, there is no shortage of runners. David doesn't have any runners today, with his next representatives likely to be tomorrow at Cartmel or Newton Abbot.
- Monday, 25 May 2015 07:39
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
It was another good weekend for the stable with the successes of Lady Of Longstone at Ffos Las on Saturday and Dell' Arca at Uttoxeter yesterday. Lady Of Longstone prevailed in a thrilling finish to the mares' handicap hurdle fighting back to deny Midnight Sequel having been headed a furlong out under a strong ride from Tom Scudamore. On Sunday Dell' Arca won his first chase on his third attempt over the larger obstacles at Uttoxeter. He had previously run well in defeat when 1 1/2 lengths behind subsequent Gold Cup winner Coneygree, so he was fully entitled to win a race of this nature. Still, it was good to see him jump well and I am sure David will place him to win many more over fences - he could be another one to run in France in the coming weeks. The stable clearly continues in good form with decent performances too from the likes of Good Value (second) and Street Entertainer (third) over the weekend.
- Sunday, 24 May 2015 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Kelso, Uttoxeter and Fontwell. The stable has four runners this afternoon - three at Uttoxeter and one at Fontwell. Moncarno runs in the 5.35pm race at Fontwell and our five year old sports a pair of blinkers for the first time - hopefully they will have the desired effect and he can be competitive this afternoon. Meanwhile Dell' Arca (pictured above), Susie Sheep and Good Value are on duty for the stable at Uttoxeter. Dell' Arca reverts to the larger obstacles having finished a creditable third behind Faugheen at Punchestown last time, while his one length second to Coneygree over fences last season looks fair form too! He will be ridden by Tom Scudamore and he has the form to win a race of this nature.
