- Thursday, 15 May 2014 07:25
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
What a ride Tom Scudamore gave All Force Majeure at Worcester yesterday afternoon! Our four year old was as green as grass on his racecourse debut and looked to be one of the first beaten heading down the back straight, but Tom persevered and when the penny finally dropped All Force Majeure flew home to nail the favourite on the line - he must have traded at massive prices in running. He seems very raw and will clearly come on a bundle for the experience and looks a most promising stayer in the making. Tom Scu is riding out of his skin at the moment and has already posted 11 successes at a 53% strike rate. As usual A P is leading the championship on 15 winners and looks to have several more good chances at Perth this afternoon.
- Wednesday, 14 May 2014 07:18
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
***Ainsi Fideles Non Runner
4.10 Worcester***
What a start to the new season! David leads the trainers championship with nine winners from just twenty-two runners and the good form continued last evening with a double at Ffos Las courtesy of Virtuel d'Oudon and Taj Badalandabad. The former was winning his third race from just four starts for the stable and while he wasn't impressive here, he is a tough individual who finds plenty for pressure and looks sure to add to his tally. Taj Badalandabad (pictured above) put up a good performance on his debut for the yard when winning the closing bumper in pleasing fashion - he looked very green on only his second lifetime start and will certainly improve for the experience. He is another nice recruit to the Pond House team. I'm not quite sure about the Racing Post's analogy though - I wonder when the last time David was likened to Usain Bolt?!
- Tuesday, 13 May 2014 07:09
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Cloughernagh Boy Winning at Towcester
Cloughernagh Boy won the Bumper at Towcester last night in good style. Always racing prominently he then quickened up turning for home and galloped all the way to the line. He won an Irish point to point on heavy going but seemed to handle the quicker ground with no problem and looks a useful recruit to Pond House. He is part owned by Stuart and Simon Mercer and it is great to give them something to cheer about. They are Man United supporters, I wonder if they remember how to cheer?!
- Monday, 12 May 2014 07:57
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was another cracking day for the yard at Haydock on Saturday where we secured a double on the card with the wins of Broadway Buffalo and Shotavodka. There was plenty of support for Broadway Buffalo (pictured above) and he was sent off 5/1 favourite for the very competitive Long Distance handicap hurdle having been available at 14/1 in the morning. I hope a few of you were on as I flagged him up on Saturday as likely to go well. Shotavodka also put up a good performance in the intermediate chase over 2m6f and now he has proven his stamina over further there are plenty more options available to him. The good prize money that was up for grabs means that David has moved to the top of the trainers' table - let's hope he is still there much later in the season!
- Sunday, 11 May 2014 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are just two jumps cards at Ludlow and Plumpton this afternoon. The stable has one runner at each meeting; Barton Stacey (pictured above) makes his chasing debut at Ludlow under Conor O'Farrell in a decent looking contest worth £12,000. Unsurprisingly it has attracted a decent field but our runner has some experience over larger obstacles as a winning point-to-pointer - the Nicholls runner Sin Bin looks like the one to beat in this novices' handicap chase. Meanwhile, A Hairy Koala makes his racecourse debut in the bumper at Plumpton and he will be partnered by Tom Scu. There is some excellent prize money up for grabs considering the size of the tracks - Ludlow have races worth £18,000, £12,000 (twice) and £10,000, while Plumpton's cards features a boys' race worth £15,000. A big pat on the back for both courses!
- Saturday, 10 May 2014 06:58
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It is a bumper day of action this afternoon with seven meetings to look forward to - there is a jumps fixture at Hexham and five flat cards from Ascot, Lingfield, Nottingham Thirsk and Warwick, not to forget the mixed meeting at Haydock. The stable has three runners at Haydock this afternoon; Broadway Buffalo (pictured above), Swing Bowler and Shotavodka and I am expecting a big run from the former who goes in the Long Distance hurdle at 1.50pm. The conditions should suit our six year old and he will be partnered by Tom Scudamore. Mikey Ennis claims a valuable 7lbs off the back of Swing Bowler in the feature Swinton hurdle - she has run well in many of the top handicaps, but as you would expect for a £60,000 handicap it is a fiercely competitive affair and horses with light weights tend to do well here.
- Friday, 09 May 2014 07:06
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was another good day for the yard yesterday with David sending out a winner at Wincanton with Guess Again (pictured above) under Tom Scudamore. It was a good performance from the nine year old over this 3m1 1/2f trip under a good positive ride. He jumped really well and stayed on tenaciously and looks the type to score again in the coming months. Scu was recording a double following an earlier success at Newton Abbot where the ground was extremely testing - his mount; the David Bridgwater trained Nomadic Prince clearly appreciated the heavy going, while it appeared to catch out a number of his rivals who were clearly expecting some traditional summer ground.
