Poirot_Evening_Susie__Simon

There are four meetings this afternoon - two over the sticks at Warwick and Hexham as well as two all-weather flat meetings at Lingfield and Kempton.  The most amazing thing?...Kempton have the most prize money on offer with £85,000 up for grabs - that is even more than Fairyhouse!  The card includes a £22,000 Listed race and a two mile handicap worth almost £12,000...mind you, they do have two races worth £1,940.70 just to balance the books!

Our sole runner yesterday, Lola Galli performed creditably enough when finishing third in the mares' bumper at Lingfield.  She has finished placed on her last three starts and there should be a race within her compass.

Read more...

Tullyesker_Hill_Plumpton_web

The stable continues in good form and our only runner of the day yesterday, Tullyesker Hill duly obliged when landing the bumper in good style by fifteen lengths at Plumpton under Tom Scudamore.  He looks like another useful recruit for the stable and he looks capable of winning again under a penalty although he will probably need a longer trip in time.  Today we have four meetings to look forward to - two over the sticks at Fakenham and Lingfield as well as all-weather flat fixtures at Southwell and Wolverhampton.  The stable has one runner, Lola Galli in the mares' bumper at Lingfield - she has been placed on good ground, so while the turf track might be testing the all-weather should suit her fine.

Read more...

dep_4_cheltenham_open_winners_web

What an amazing day for the stable yesterday with a near 6,000/1 four-timer at the final day of The Open meeting at Cheltenham.  Home Run beat stablemate Western Warhorse for a 1-2 in the opening race, the winner obliging at odds of 40/1 under Kieron Edgar!  The last time I remember a horse winning at that sort of price from the stable was Baron Blakeney at 66/1!  The Liquidator looked very impressive in landing the Grade Two novices' hurdle by fifteen lengths - his nearest rival Sea Lord may not have run to the best of his form, but he can do little more than beat what is put in front of him - he looks to be potentially top class.

Read more...

Dellarca__Count_Danilo_gallops_sept13_web
  Dell'arca & Count Danilo on the Gallops

It is the final day of the Paddy Power meeting at Cheltenham this afternoon so we have that to look forward to as well as racing at Fontwell.  As you would expect, it is a cracking card at Cheltenham and David has plenty of runners, nine in fact plus one runner, Alderluck at Fontwell.  The runners at Cheltenham include, Western Warhorse, Home Run, The Liquidator, My Brother Sylvest, His Excellency, Tanerko Emery, Dell'arca, Count Danilo and Red Sherlock.  I am particularly looking forward to seeing Punchestown bumper winner The Liquidator running over hurdles for the seconod time and Red Sherlock running in the Bumper.  The Liquidator made a promising start over hurdles at Carlisle and alhtough only a small but select field of four runners this afternoon he is a lovely young horse who we are very hopeful for.  Red Sherlock is two from two in bumpers.  Our four year old out of Lady Cricket has been quite impressive so far so it will be interesting to see how he gets on stepping up in class with Timmy Murphy on board.  The feauture race of the day is the Greatwood hurdle and we run Tanerko Emery and Dell'arca.  Tanerko Emery had a great season last year and ran very well on his seasonal debut over fences at Uttoxeter last time.  He was of course second in the Imperial cup and fifth in the county hurdle at the Festival so he does have an each way chance this afternoon.  Dell'arca is an unkown quantity having his first run in England.  His French form is good and it will will be interesting to see how he gets on in a very competitive race.

Read more...

Ballynagour_Warwick_220213
                   Ballynagour

There are five meetings on around the country today, three over jumps at Cheltenham, Uttoxeter and Wetherby plus flat cards at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  It is a fantastic card at Cheltenham and David has seven runners.  Azza, Goulanes, Ballynagour, Close House, Edmund Kean, Legacy Gold and Vilja.  Azza has won both of her starts over jumps, her first in France at Auteuil and then she won on her stable debut at Carlisle.  This is a step up in class and she takes on the boys but it will be interesting to see how she gets on.  The feature race, the Paddy Power handicap chase is a 20 runner ultra competitive handicap as you would expect for the prize money up for grabs.  Ballynagour is making his seasonal debut and won on his yard debut at Warwick last season.  His overall profile is a bit in and out but on a good day he is very good!  I think I might buy a lottery ticket, it is that sort of race!  Goulanes is a lovely young staying chaser who has not had many runs and should hopefully run well while Edmund Kean is a future chaser who will hopefully run okay over hurdles this afternoon.  In a very competitive mares bumper, the final race of the day we have two runners.  Legacy Gold is three wins from three starts while Vilja is making her rules debut after winning an Irish point to point on her only start to date.  It looks like they all have the Willie Mullins trained Supreme Ballerina to beat.  Winners are hard to come by at Cheltenham but we shall keep everything crossed and enjoy watching the fantastic racing.

Read more...

Standing_Ovation_Wincanton_web

What an exciting day of racing with the first day of Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting to look forward to.  There are three other meetings taking place as well at Newcastle over the stickas and two all-weather flat fitures at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  The stable has three runners at Cheltenham - Standing Ovation (pictured above), Consigliere and Top Gamble.  Standing Ovation takes in the amateur riders' handicap chase (a race that we have won for the past two years with Swing BIll) and Steven Clements is in the saddle.  He has now won four of his last six races and was most impressive when landing the Listed Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton last weekend.  He is 6lbs ahead of the handicapper and looks most progressive.  Top Gamble is another nice young horse to look forward to this winter - he was a winner of his last two starts last season, so let's hope he can extend that to three under Conor O'Farrell.

Read more...

Waterunder_Exeter_web

It was another good day for the stable yesterday at Exeter with a winner coming courtesy of Waterunder (pictured above) for our sponsors Bathwick Tyres.  Maybe the soft ground proved beneficial to our gelding as he produced his best performance yet to defy topweight of 11-12 under Tom Scudamore.  Our other runners also performed creditably with Shotavodka finishing second at Bangor, while Sir Frank produced his best performance in a while when finishing third on this switch back to hurdles - I thought that he wanted better ground, so this has to be considered encouraging.

Read more...