- Wednesday, 15 January 2014 08:09
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was a good day for the stable yesterday with the success of Knight Of Noir in the second division of the National Hunt novices' hurdle at Exeter under champion jockey A P McCoy. I say this through gritted teeth as I must confess, I backed our other runner in the race, Prideofthecastle who finished a close third at 3/1. I do hate opposing McCoy, especially when he is on one of our own runners...will I ever learn?! I was pleased for his owners Wayne and Sarah Clifford however - they put an awful lot into racing via sponsorship through their Bathwick Tyres brand. Knight Of Noir won a shade cosily under a well judged ride from the champ and it would seem that they have a nice prospect on their hands here.
- Tuesday, 14 January 2014 07:59
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Following the latest batch of inclement weather there are just two meetings taking place this afternoon. They are over the jumps at Exeter and on the all-weather at Southwell. The stable has no fewer than eight runners at Exeter this afternoon; Smiles For Miles, Tullyesker HIll, Prideofthecastle, Knight Of Noir, Junior, Alderluck, Shaking Hands and Kilrye. Tullyesker HIll (pictured above) looks interesting to me - he won a bumper on good/soft ground at Plumpton and ran okay on heavy ground at Chepstow behind some useful looking types. It has been a really cold start to the day with a crisp, white frost, (the first of the winter down here in Brixham) although with all those runners to look after at Exeter you wouldn't imagine that David will be cold!
- Monday, 13 January 2014 08:20
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today there are three meetings to look forward to with a jumps meeting at Plumpton and two all-weather flat fixtures at Wolverhampton and Lingfield. The stable has one runner, Massannie at Plumpton. Our six year old had looked most progressive, winning all three of her starts for the stable in good style (including on soft ground) before taking a horrible fall at Market Rasen. She was wonderfully looked after by the vets and staff at the track afterwards and became a real favourite with them. It is great to see her back on track and let's hope that she can regain winning ways under Tom Scudamore. According to the handicapper she has 7lbs in hand of likely favourite Toubeera...I hope he is right!
- Sunday, 12 January 2014 17:06
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Pond House Gallops
Today we have two meetings, a jumps card at Kelso and a flat card at Wolverhampton but the stable does not have any runners. Watching the Morning Line yesterday, they showed Nigel Twiston-Davies riding a few years ago. He looked so thin! They had son Sam on the show and he gave his dad some stick! Sam comes across as a bit of a character. I remember a few years ago going up Nigel's gallops and Sam was sitting on the roof of the car, he can only have been about 7 or 8 years old! I can also remember quite vivdly his mum standing him in the sink and hosing him down! What a family, theyare two great young men who can ride a bit as well - what a credit to their mum and dad. That only feels like yesterday, where does time go! Sam cam and did some work experience at Pond House a few years ago. He actually rode a winner for David on a horse called Choumakeur when he was just really starting out as an amateur jockey. It is probably worth watching that video one day and you would probably hardly recognise the jockey!!
- Saturday, 11 January 2014 08:19
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Red Sherlock
We have some top class action to look forward to this afternoon. There are four meetings, three over the sticks at Kempton, Warwick and Wetherby and a flat card at Lingfield. David has runners at all three of the jumps meetings so we have lots to keep an eye on. Red Sherlock, His Excellency and Notus De La Tour run at Wetherby, The Liquidator, Home Run and Buddy Bolero at Kempton and Bygones Sovereign and Master Overseer run at Warwick. Red Sherlock puts his unbeaten record on the line as he goes for his fifth win on the trot. Timmy Murphy returns to the saddle today. He won all three bumpers on our five year old but it was Tom Scu in the saddle for his debut hurdle win. It looks a good opportunity for him to make it two from two over hurdles but he is not a betting proposition at 4/11 in the Racing Post. Meanwhile our other runners up there are both ridden by Mikey Ennis who claims a valuable seven pounds off of His Excellency and Notus De La Tour. Both horses need to recapture some of their old form but it would not be a surprise to see them both run okay.
- Friday, 10 January 2014 08:14
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was a cold start to the morning here with sub-zero temperatures and a white frost on the ground. Fortunately the weather hasn't further affected the fixture list and we have three meetings to look forward to - a jumps card at Sedgefield as well as a couple of all-weather flat meetings at Wolverhampton and Lingfield. The stable does not have any runners today, although there is some excellent racing on this weekend and we will most definitely have some runners then (weather permitting!).
- Thursday, 09 January 2014 08:21
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Western Warhorse was a good winner on his chasing debut at Doncaster yesterday afternoon. He was given a good, positive front-running ride from Tom Scudamore and he held on well after the last. He jumped superbly well considering this was his first attempt at the larger obstacles (although he was the winner of a point-to-point in Ireland) and looks yet another exciting prospect for the stable. Tom Scu described him as a fruit loop...you can make of that what you will! Thomas Junior made a satisfactory debut over hurdles to finish fourth in a decent looking maiden hurdle and will improve with experience, while Smiles For Miles looked like he was in need of a slightly longer trip.
