- Thursday, 29 May 2014 07:07
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today we have five meetings, three on the level at Sandown, Haydock and Bath as well as jumping action from Worcester and Wetherby. The eight race card at Bath offers prize money of just £28,000 - how can they run races on the turf for less than £2,000? Just think, there is a thirteen runner race on the card and if you finish fourth, you pick up a paltry £144.30. I know that if I was paying to keep a horse in training I would instruct my trainer to avoid these sort of tracks. The stable has three runners this afternoon up at Wetherby; Western Diva, Broadway Buffalo and Barton Stacey (pictured above). We have two forecast favourites and a second favourite so hopefully it will be a productive day for the yard.
- Wednesday, 28 May 2014 06:51
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are five meetings taking place this afternoon - four on the flat at Kempton, Chepstow, Hamilton and Beverley as well as a jumps card at Cartmel. The ground at Chepstow is officially described as soft, while at Cartmel the ground is given as good/firm. I see there are quite a few qualifiers taking place this afternoon and it may just be my suspicious mind, but I always tend to think that some of these will be seen to better effect in the final. Trainer Rae Guest runs a nice four year old at Chepstow called Calm Attitude who has won his last four starts and looks the type to make a nice hurdler as he clearly stays very well. The stable has no runners this afternoon and our next representatives will be at Wetherby tomorrow where we will have three runners, including Long Distance hurdle winner Broadway Buffalo (pictured above) who is in line to make his chasing debut.
- Tuesday, 27 May 2014 07:26
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today there are five meetings taking place - three on the flat at Leicester, Lingfield and Redcar as well as jumping action from Huntingdon and Hexham. The stable makes the long trip up to Hexham with just one runner, Leader Of The Gang who goes in the novices' limited handicap chase at 7.40pm. Although there are only four runners, it looks like a competitive little contest with the outsider only a 4/1 chance. There is some good prize money up for grabs with almost £6,500 to the winner, so let's hope the journey is worthwhile. Tom Scudamore is aboard our eight year old and he also looks to have a nice ride at the meeting for his brother Michael. Line d'Aois has won his last two starts in bumpers on this track and if he takes to hurdles, he should win.
- Monday, 26 May 2014 07:18
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable had two runners over the weekend and they both won with plenty in hand. On Saturday night Taj Badalandabad won another bumper at Ffos Las under a penalty and looks to be another shrewd buy - best of all, there was even a bit of even money available about this former Irish point-to-pointer early doors! He looks a nice hurdler/chaser in the making and will certainly get further in time. Street Entertainer (pictured above) kept the good run going on Sunday with a decisive victory in the handicap hurdle at Fontwell under Conor O'Farrell. This represented a drop in grade and he could be picked out travelling particularly strongly from a long way out. He has been placed from a mark of 134 in Listed company so he could still be competitive next time out if able to build on this performance. I watched the race with his owner, MCP.
- Sunday, 25 May 2014 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are three jumps cards taking place this afternoon at Fontwell, Kelso and Uttoxeter. The stable has just one runner, Street Entertainer (pictured above) who makes the long journey to Fontwell for the 2m2 1/2f handicap hurdle at 4.35pm. Our seven year old carries top weight of 11-12 and while this is a competitive contest, it is still somewhat easier than some of the races he has competed in in the past. It certainly looks like a race that he is capable of winning and he is partnered this afternoon by Conor O'Farrell.
- Saturday, 24 May 2014 06:42
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today there are six meetings taking place, four on the flat at Catterick, Haydock, Goodwood and Beverley as well as National Hunt cards from Cartmel and Ffos Las. The stable has one runner in the closing bumper at Ffos Las; Taj Badalandabad (pictured above) who is already a course winner since arriving at Pond House. Runner-up in an Irish point-to-point, he won on his debut for the stable when winning a 1m6f bumper at the Welsh track despite showing distinct signs of inexperience. With that run under his belt and the step up in trip likely to suit, he should take plenty of beating under Tom Scudamore, even under a penalty.
- Friday, 23 May 2014 07:12
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
I thought that Vif Argent (pictured above winning at Ffos Las earlier in the season) ran another solid race at Auteuil yesterday to finish third in the AQPS chase for five year olds over 2m5 1/2f under young French amateur jockey Thomas Viel. He held every chance until weakening approaching the last but still picked up well in excess of £6,000 in prize money for finishing third - more than he earned for finishing first and second on his last two runs in this country combined! Given the money on offer, I wouldn't be surprised to see David having a few more runners overseas in the not too distant future.
