- Friday, 19 July 2013 07:01
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today we are all going to London for David Johnson's memorial service. MCP is going to say a few words and I have no doubt there will be a large number of people there and a lot from the world of racing. Matt Chapman is also going to say a few words, so if you are anywhere near the home counties you may hear him! It will be an extremely emotional day but no doubt a fitting tribute to a wonderful man. Today there are six meetings, all on the flat at Hamilton, Haydock, Newbury, Newmarket, Nottingham and Pontefract. David has just one runners at Newbury, Togiak who runs in the 4.35pm 10 furlong handicap. It looks a competitive race as you would expect for the prize money and our runner does have to improve his form to have any chance of taking a hand in the finish.
- Thursday, 18 July 2013 07:02
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Purple N Gold - winning debut over hurdles
David had a nice winner at Uttoxeter yesterday courtesy of Purple 'N Gold in the novice hurdle. He won first time out over hurdles in a three way photo finish. Our four year old jumped well in the main and despite getting tired in the final 100 yards battled on bravely to hold on. Keith and Lynne Webb own him and they used to have horses with MCP and they went racing with David yesterday. They interviewed David after the race and it looked like he was at a pop concert! I think they celebrated well and enjoyed their day! High Ville ran okay but could not follow up his win from last week. He was beaten by Salpierre with AP at his strongest. The pair pulled 50 lengths clear of the third so it was probably not too bad a run from our gelding.
- Wednesday, 17 July 2013 07:02
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Basil Fawlty on the gallops
David has six runners spread across the two jumps meetings at Worcester and Uttoxeter. There are five meetings on in total today, three on the flat at Lingfield, Catterick and Sandown plus jumping at Uttoxeter this afternoon and Worcester tonight. Purple 'N Gold is our first runner of the day and he is making his hurdling debut in the 2.50pm race. He is a 76 rated flat performer who ran well to finish fourth on his latest start at Nottingham earlier this month. He has been schooling well at home but the one they all have to beat is the Fergal O'Brien's Thunder Sheik who has won his last two starts and the form looks solid. High Ville was a winner at Uttoxeter last week and runs with a seven pound penalty this afternoon. He won with any amount in hand that day and though is form is a bit in and out and similar level of form would give him sounds claims. Basil Fawlty kicks off our evening runners at Worcester in the 6.20pm race. He was the winner at the track on his latest start and he looks to have a fair chance while Prime Location and Hugo Drax will have to improve on recent runs. Laustra Bad in the last runner of the day in the 9pm race. He was a good third at Uttoxeter last time and if he reproduces that form he would have a chance in the handicap hurdle. We look to have some fair chances today so fingers crossed!
- Tuesday, 16 July 2013 06:58
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Horses at Grass
Today there are four meetings, all on the flat at Beverley, Bath, Yarmouth and Kempton. It is terrible prize money at Kempton and Yarmouth, in fact the total prize fund for the Kempton meeting is only £34,000 for the eight race card. How do they get away with it? It was a sad day for the yard at Newton Abbot yesterday as we unfortunately lost Bad Girls who was injured on the flat and had to be put down. It is very sad for her owners and all the staff so our thoughts are with them at the moment. Palace Jester was a non runner but Qulinton ran well to finish second to American Legend in the long distance hurdle and was not beaten very far. Conor O'Farrell gave him a great ride and he was only just beaten. Champion jockey AP was on board the winner and he rode a treble at our local track. It was nice our nine year old ran well and he should be capable of winning off this mark.
- Monday, 15 July 2013 07:09
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Qulinton on the Gallops
There is a jumps card at Newton Abbot this afternoon and David has three runners at our local track. Bad Girls, Palace Jester and Qulinton make up our trio with Tom Scu riding the first two mentioned and Conor O'Farrell on Qulinton. Palace Jester is well handicapped on old form but all three of his careeer wins have come on heavy or soft going. The ground at Newton Abbot is good to firm this afternoon. He won at Chepstow in the past off a mark of 133 and today he goes off of 120 but the ground would be a concern and he has a very disappointing effort to put behind him last time out at Uttoxeter. Qulinton goes in the same race and after a good run to finish third at Worcester returning from a break he was slightly disappointing at the same venue last time out. Bad Girls is yet to reach the frame in all four of her career starts to date but she was not beaten all that far on her hurdling debut at the track last time. This is a tough race and quite competitive for this time of year and I think champion jockey AP willl take all the beating on the Jim Best trained Lyssio.
- Sunday, 14 July 2013 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today there are three jumps cards taking place at Perth, Stratford and Southwell. The question I would like to ask is, why on earth could one of these meetings not have been swapped with one of the six flat cards that took place yesterday? Yet another victory for race planning! I must be missing something or am I being thick...come to think of it, don't answer that one! Stable jockeys Tom Scudamore and Conor O'Farrell both travel to Southwell for rides - Conor has just the one...we will see if that theory I was talking about earlier in the week works!
- Saturday, 13 July 2013 07:20
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There is plenty of action on the flat this afternoon with no less than six meetings at Newmarket, Ascot, York, Chester, Salisbury and Hamilton. It is the final day of Newmarket's July Cup meeting with the July Cup itself being the feature...with a class field assembled for the six furlong sprint, don't blink or you will miss it! If you have never been to the July course it is well worth a visit - top class racing, paired with quaint English charm. If you are a jumps fan you are in a spot of bother - you will have to travel to Downpatrick in Ireland if you want to get your fix. The stable has no runners this afternoon.
Investissement tried to make all under Willie Twiston-Davies at Ascot yesterday but was collared a couple of furlongs out and then badly hampered. I am sure there will be other days for him.
