- Tuesday, 30 June 2015 07:37
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
I see that David announced yesterday that 2015 Cheltenham Festival winner The Package (pictured above) has been retired at the age of twelve following his run in the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter on Sunday. David has had him for his entire training career and I bet he would like a few more like him - he won five times and was placed in many top handicap chases, picking up £180,000 in prize money. What a star he has been and he provided one of the most poignant moments of the Festival this year when bringing the colours of the late and very much missed David Johnson into the winners' enclosure after his Kim Muir success - DJ would have loved it! Anyway, I'm sure you will all join me in wishing me a long and very happy retirement.
- Monday, 29 June 2015 08:07
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
It's another day without jump racing and they seem to be becoming more and more regular over the past few weeks. Today's action comes from Pontefract, Wolverhampton, Musselburgh and Windsor.
- Saturday, 27 June 2015 10:38
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with two jumps cards from Uttoxeter and Cartmel and a flat fixture from Windsor. The stable will be busy today with six runners at Uttoxeter; Skylander, The Package, Ainsi Fideles, Kalifourchon, Spending Time and Our Chief. The big race, the John Smiths Summer Cup takes place at 3.35pm and is a Listed handicap chase over 3m2f. The stable won the race when it was known as the Summer National with Jurancon in 2003 and this year David is represented by Cheltenham Festival winner The Package (pictured above) and Ainsi Fideles, both of whom have 11-9 to carry. With £33,762 in prize money, it is extremely competitive - let's hope they both run well.
- Saturday, 27 June 2015 07:31
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
It is another blank day on the jumping front although there are six flat meetings to get your teeth into, not least at Newcastle where the feature is the Northumberland Plate - a twenty runner handicap over two miles. With the bookies going 8/1 the field, it is fiercely competitive as you would expect. The remainder of the action comes from Newmarket, Windsor, Chester, Doncaster and Lingfield. Meanwhile over in Ireland the big race of the day is the Irish Derby from the Curragh that takes place at 6.30pm. British raider Jack Hobbs is the short-priced favourite for the John Gosden team and on all-known form he should win by an innings! Can you believe it though...no jump racing on a Saturday? I know that it is the flat season but not to have any National Hunt racing on a Saturday is almost criminal - what are race planning thinking of?
- Friday, 26 June 2015 07:20
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There is a busy day ahead with six meetings taking place this afternoon. Five of them are on the level with fixtrures at Doncaster, Wolverhampton, Newcastle, Newmarket and Chester, while there is jumping action from Cartmel. The stable had one runner over in France yesterday with Katkeau finishing fifth in the Listed 2m3 1/2f Prix Dawn Run Hurdle. He ran okay but a mistake at the last didn't really help his cause and he weakened from that point - there will be other days for him.
- Thursday, 25 June 2015 07:18
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
I'm afraid you are out of luck if you are a follower of the jumps as there are only five flat fixtures taking place this afternoon on these shores. The action comes from Hamilton, Newbury, Newmarket, Newcastle and Nottingham. There is however the little matter of a meeting from Auteuil where the stable is represented in the Prix Dawn Run (a Listed 2m3 1/2f hurdle) by Katkeau (pictured above), who ran a storming race to finish a close third at the track last time. He travelled across on Monday evening and took the journey well and has settled in fine. Tom Scudamore is in the saddle and we are hopeful of another big run from him - the race is on at 2.05pm British time if you can find anywhere to watch it.
- Wednesday, 24 June 2015 07:38
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Carlisle, Salisbury, Kempton and Bath as well as a jumps fixture from Worcester. The stable runs Street Entertainer, Brenda de Ronceray and Street Entertainer at Worcester this afternoon. Street Entertainer, who has already twice been a winner over timber this season is odds-on favourite for the three runner novices' chase as he makes his debut over the larger obstacles. He was a fluent jumper over hurdles, so let's hope that he can translate that to fences. Brenda de Ronceray sees the racecourse for the first time today in what looks to be a competitive bumper and I am sure she will learn plenty from the experience. Our final runner, Weather Babe carries top weight of 11-12 in the 2m7f handicap hurdle and our home-bred mare has been running well this term - she drops back in trip but has already proven her effectiveness and should go well once again. Tom Scudamore is aboard all three of our runners.
