- Tuesday, 24 December 2013 08:02
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
I have just been looking through today's edition of the Racing Post and the meetings for Boxing Day look mouth watering. Sadly the meeting from Ffos Las has succumbed to the persistent rain, leaving nine meetings for Thursday (although Fontwell and Huntingdon could be up against it), the pick of which is obviously at Kempton. The King George VI Chase is the big race and takes place at 3.10pm and I will be glued to the television. Dynaste takes on his Betfair Chase conqueror Cue Card again and it promises to be a fantastic race with a really high quality field lining up. With Ffos Las now off, the stable has runners at four meetings, including at Sedgefield - other than the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, this is probably the best day's racing of the year. Spare a thought for some of the jockeys though who will be 'doing light' on Boxing Day and therefore missing their Christmas dinners.
- Monday, 23 December 2013 07:44
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Well, now begins the first of three days without any racing, indeed, there is no action now until Boxing Day but all of the staff have to keep working as usual. The horses still need feeding, mucking out, grooming and exercising so things carry on very much as normal despite the festive season. There will be a bumper nine meetings on Thursday with the King George Chase at Kempton the obvious highlight. The race is due off at 3.10pm and the stable will be represented by Dynaste (pictured above) who has his second start against the big boys. He ran a cracker on his seasonal debut when second to Cue Card in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and our flying grey seems to relish this track - all in all it should be a very exciting Christmas!
- Sunday, 22 December 2013 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It's a quieter day on the racing front today with only two meetings taking place. There is a jumps meeting taking place at Bangor as well an all-weather flat card at Lingfield. The stable has no runners this afternoon. I always wonder why the race planning committee don't put more meetings on on a Sunday - afterall, most of us have the day off and are able to go racing. I'm afraid if you live up north today you are out of luck on the racing front - you are going to have to watch from the comfort of your armchair. Still, the action from Lingfield actually looks okay and there is even an £11,500 handicap!
- Saturday, 21 December 2013 08:16
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
*Swing Bowler - Non runner 3.35pm Ascot*
It was a good day for the stable at Ascot yesterday afternoon with a double on the card bringing up our 50 for the season. Bygones Sovereign jumped fantastically well in the handicap hurdle and answered Tom Scudamore's every call to prevail in a driving finish. He held on bravely by a neck to beat favourite Andy Kelly and it was near enough an action replay half an hour later as Seven Nation Army dug deep to repel all rivals by the same margin in the Listed bumper. These two rides showcased Tom Scu at his very strongest - a great effort by horses and jockey. Pleasant Company had earlier run a promising race when finishing third behind Royal Boy in the red hot novices' hurdle on the card on his first start over timber. Meanwhile, over at Uttoxeter Great Choice was narrowly denied in the bumper, getting caught close home by Son Of Suzie. He looked as though he had nicked the race off the home turn under Conor O'Farrell but he showed more than enough to suggest that he can be winning something similar very soon.
- Friday, 20 December 2013 08:08
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are two jumps meetings to look forward to this afternoon at Ascot and Uttoxeter as well as all-weather flat meetings at Southwell and Wolverhampton. The stable runs Pleasant Company, Bygones Sovereign and Seven Nation Army at Ascot and Great Choice at Uttoxeter - Tom Scu is aboard our Ascot runners, while Conor O'Farrell rides for us at Uttoxeter. Great Choice (pictured above) makes his debut for the stable this afternoon - he was the winner of an Irish point-to-point and that form was franked when the second and third subsequently won bumpers in this country, while a couple further back in the field went on to win points themselves...I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on.
- Thursday, 19 December 2013 08:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon - two over the jumps at Exeter and Towcester as well as two all-weather flat meetings at Southwell and Kempton. The stable has runners at each National Hunt meeting - Volt Face and Jigsaw Puzzle at Towcester and Centasia, Party Girls and Decoy at Exeter. Centasia (pictured above) was the ready winner of a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle last month and she looks a very promising mare in the making - she will be ridden by stable jockey Tom Scudamore.
- Wednesday, 18 December 2013 08:17
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was a good day for the yard yesterday with one winner from our only runner at Fakenham. The race wasn't without it's scares however as Count Danilo looked very green and inexperienced on only his third ever start (and first over hurdles) as he twice jumped the path. Tom Scudamore did well to sit tight, especially on the first occasion although he did get better as the race went on. He should have learned plenty for this experience and can hopefully win again for owner Brian Kilpatrick. It was lovely to see Brian at the track - he has been a supporter of the yard for many years and has had some wonderful horses including the amazing Sabin du Loir...now there was a racehorse!
