- Monday, 12 October 2015 07:49
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
The stable drew a blank over the weekend. Despite finishing 15th in the Cesarewitch, Low Key was only beaten a touch over six lengths. Sadly he didn't pick up in the same manner as when victorious in the trial last month although I am sure there will be other days for him. There was plenty of money around for Alternatif in the Irish version yesterday although he never really threatened and is clearly better than this. Meanwhile Dynaste was ninth in the Grade 3 hurdle at Auteuil over a trip possibly a little shy of his best these days. Even so, he was staying on in the closing stages and was beaten only nine lengths by some very decent horses - he is fully entitled to come on for this first outing since January.
- Sunday, 11 October 2015 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
It's a big day for the yard with runners in three countries; Wales, Ireland and France. We run Houston Dynimo at Chepstow, Alternatif in the Irish Cesarewitch at The Curragh and Dynaste (pictured above) at Auteuil. The one that could surprise a few people could be ex-French Alternatif - a winning hurdler and placed over fences since joining David, it has been over 800 days since he last ran on the level. Even so, he had some smart form and is working well on the gallops. He will be a decent price and I think he will go well under Colm O'Donoghue who won the Epsom Oaks this season abaord 50/1 chance Qualify and was narrowly beaten in the St Leger only to be awarded the race in the stewards' room and then have it taken away again.
- Saturday, 10 October 2015 07:38
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Today we have five meetings taking place with flat cards from Newmarket, York and Chelmsford City and a couple of good jumping fixtures from Chepstow and Hexham. David saddles the favourite for the Cesarewitch handicap at Newmarket, Low Key (pictured above). He was the taking winner of the trial over course and distance last time and is only 4lbs higher owing to the penalty he picked up for that success and apprentice Tom Marquand is once again in the saddle and takes a handy 3lbs off his back. He worked well earlier in the week and conditions should suit - hopefully readers of this column will already be on at bigger prices. Meanwhile, we also have three runners at Chepstow with Stars Over The Sea, The Liquidator and Standing Ovation. Standing Ovation has been in good form over hurdles and fences this season, including when winning the Listed Mildmay Chase earlier in the season - he is 8lbs higher now but should once again put up a bold effort. Tom Scudamore is aboard all three of our runners at Chepstow.
- Friday, 09 October 2015 07:34
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat action from Newmarket, York and Wolverhampton and a jumps card from Newton Abbot. It is the last meeting of the season at Newton Abbot and they have done well to put up £94,000 in prize money. David runs Gevrey Chambertin and Lady Of Longstone at our local track and if Gevrey can reproduce one of his better efforts he would go close in this handicap hurdle from the same mark that he won the Fixed Brush Hurdle at Haydock from in 2013. He disappointed on his most recent start in France but that effort should have brought him on. Lady Of Longstone drops back in trip a little and has Michael Heard taking a handy 7lbs off her back, although she is still 5lbs higher than her last winning mark.
- Thursday, 08 October 2015 07:06
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Ayr and Chelmsford and jumps fixtures from Exeter and Worcester. David runs Perspicace, A Hairy Koala, For 'N' Against and Prince Of Poets at Exeter, while he saddles Western Diva at Worcester. They all look to be tough races, so it seems to be a day of chances. The drop back in trip should suit Perspicace and he is now 3lbs lower than last time and conditional jockey Michael Heard claims a useful 7lbs off his back. Meanwhile A Hairy Koala would have a squeak if he were able to repeat the form of his second at the track last season. For 'N' Against was a course winner here back in August and is another with claims if putting his best foot forward. Prince Of Poets has been disappointing to date and would need to improve on what he has shown so far to figure.
- Wednesday, 07 October 2015 07:35
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
David conducted a good interview yesterday with Derek Thompson on Attheraces and after the 'Big Fella' was done asking his questions he then asked David if "the two old men" were still there? I didn't know who he was talking about but it seems that he was referring to MCP and myself! Careful Tommo, you are not that far behind us! Funny enough, I was at the yard yesterday and I managed to take a few nice photographs on the gallops and I will be sharing a few of those with you over the coming days. I saw Cesarewitch favourite Low Key in action, as well as star chaser Dynaste (pictured above) who could well make his seasonal reappearance at Auteuil on Sunday. Tom Scudamore was down to school Dynaste and some others over hurdles and I probably shouldn't say it but they all jumped well.
- Tuesday, 06 October 2015 07:38
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
I see there are a few stories concerning David in today's Racing Post after he said, "He is very close to making his return and I am looking forward to getting a full season into him". He was talking about Dynaste (pictured above) who could make his seasonal return at Auteuil this Sunday in a 2m3 1/2f Grade 3 hurdle - it will certainly be good to see him back after last season was curtailed by injury. It is a big weekend for the stable as David has the ante-post favourite Low Key in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and he will be ridden by top apprentice Tom Marquand.
