- Friday, 12 September 2014 06:39
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It's another blank day for those of us who love their National Hunt racing, although there are still four flat meetings taking place this afternoon from Doncaster, Chester, Sandown and Salisbury. It is day three of Doncaster's St Leger meeting and they have a nice card to look forward to with three Group 2's and a Listed contest on the menu. It is just a shame that Chester have a meeting today also - they are both nice tracks and I would imagine that many of the same people would have liked to be at both meetings.
- Thursday, 11 September 2014 06:43
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today we have four meetings, all on the flat from Doncaster, Epsom, Chepstow and Wolverhampton. When you consider that Doncaster is hosting the second day of it's Classic St Leger meeting, it is a little disconcerting to see that there is the same amount of prize money on offer there (£58,000) as there is at Clonmel's mixed meeting in Ireland this afternoon. If you are watching the racing on television there is good news and bad news - the good news is that there are five live races from Donny on Channel 4, the bad news is that they don't have any personalities on the show! Let's hope that Frankie Dettori sticks his head around the door!
- Wednesday, 10 September 2014 06:43
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
This afternoon there are four meetings taking place with three on the flat at Doncaster, Carlisle and Kempton as well as a National Hunt card from Uttoxeter. The stable has no runners today and so for me the highlight is undoubtedly the legends race that takes place at Doncaster at 3.35pm. The line-up seems to be somewhat lacking in star power (there are sixteen former jockeys taking part of which I would consider only four to be legends) - the favourite is Comanchero with former champion Kevin Darley on board and they would appear to be a useful combination in this company. Gerry Supple's brother Willie bids to follow-up last season's success aboard Dana's Present so I'm sure the Pond House faithful will be shouting for him, his mount today is Mixed Message...in the meantime I will let you try to work out my four legends!
- Tuesday, 09 September 2014 06:39
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was a good day for the yard yesterday with a double and a second from just three runners. I know he has benefitted from a handy weight allowance but our four year old ex-French import Ainsi Fideles continues to impress as he made it four wins from four runs over fences. He beat a useful sort in Lamb Or Cod by 25 lengths and while the runner-up was conceding 13lbs and was heavily eased when beaten, our fellow looks like a very smart prospect and it will take a good one to beat him, particularly at this time of year. It was good to see Bathwick Man (pictured above) get his head back in front as well after a string of decent efforts and is particularly pleasing for owner Sarah Clifford who sponsors the yard with husband Wayne courtesy of Bathwick Tyres. Meanwhile Northern Bay finished runner-up in the novices' hurdle and I would imagine that he will be seen to better effect when taking in handicaps.
- Monday, 08 September 2014 06:45
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
This afternoon there are three meetings taking place with a flat card from sunny Brighton and two National Hunt fixtrures from Perth and our local track Newton Abbot. Once again it is Brighton who claim the wooden spoon offering a paltry £26,000 across their seven race card...I really don't know how they get away with it - hang your heads in shame. The stable has three runners at Newton Abbot; Northern Bay, Ainsi Fideles and Bathwick Man. Ainsi Fideles (pictured above) is bidding to extend his unbeaten run since switching to chasing to four and he gets a handy 13lbs from apparent danger Lamb Or Cod. Our runner was rated 2lbs superior over hurdles and is currently 1lb superior over fences yet he receives almost a stone - I will leave the maths to you!
- Saturday, 06 September 2014 07:53
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Dynaste
Today we have just two meetings, a flat card at York and a jumps card at Fontwell. David does not have any runners but Tom Scu has three rides for David Bridgewater and all of them look to have good chances. There is some good prize money on offer at York with all races having prize money over £6000 and they have been rewarded with some good races. As I mentioned yesterday I have been on the gallops with my camera. Dynaste looks in top form working well under regular ride Sarah Buckley. I also snapped unraced youngster George Herbert working nicely upsides Fontwell bumper winner Mount Haven.
- Saturday, 06 September 2014 06:46
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Tullyesker Hill & Dell'arca
David has two runners at Stratford this afternoon, Bathwick Street and Purple N Gold. Bathwick Street is having his second start over hurdles but will have to improve to win this race with Conor O'Farrell in the saddle. Purple N Gold never seems to run a bad race but does not always find as much as expected at the business end of the race. Kieron Edgar rides taking a handy five pounds off which means he only carries 9st 9lb and I am sure he will be thereabouts at the finish again. Today we have 6 meetings in total on around the country, the jumps card at Stratford plus five flat cards at Haydock, Ascot, Kempton, Thirsk and Wolverhampton.
