- Tuesday, 18 February 2014 08:04
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today we have three meetings taking place - two jumps cards at Wetherby and Taunton (who have passed a 7.30am inspection) as well as an all-weather flat card at Southwell. The stable has one runner, Davy Doubt in the bumper at Taunton at 4.50pm. He is an Irish point-to-point winner who showed definite promise when runner-up in a Wincanton National Hunt flat race on heavy ground - he is certainly a nice ride for conditional jockey Kieron Edgar who claims 7lbs off his back.
- Monday, 17 February 2014 08:07
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Saturday was a good day for the yard when we enjoyed three winners - one each at Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton. I thought that expensive ex-French purchase Un Temps Pour Tout (pictured above) was very impressive at Ascot, landing the novices' hurdle as he pleased by sixteen lengths from a useful prospect - I would think that David has him working harder on the gallops at home! I know it was only a four runner race and he won as he should have done according to official figures but the step up in trip looked to be exactly what was needed and he looks as though he will get further still. All roads should certainly lead to Cheltenham from here.
- Sunday, 16 February 2014 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
With the abandonment of Ffos Las earlier in the week we are left with a jumps card at Market Rasen and a 'Jumpers Bumper' meeting at Kempton on the all-weather. The meeting at Kempton gives the jump jockeys a chance to pretend they are flat jockeys! The stable has one runner at the replacement meeting, The Bailiff who makes his racecourse debut in the Standard Open National Hunt flat race at 1.30pm. Tom Scudamore takes the ride.
- Saturday, 15 February 2014 08:46
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Doctor Harper was a good winner at Fakenham yesterday afternoon, winning with any amount in hand under Tom Scudamore. Despite carrying a penalty for his two previous hurdles successes Tom gave him a good, positive front-running ride on ground that looked nearly unraceable. He was the only one that came back to the padddock with his colours still nice and clean which is always good for the post-race pictures! Funny enough, A P McCoy was presented with a garden bench to commemorate his 4000th winner...I can't imagine AP sitting around in his garden!
- Friday, 14 February 2014 08:08
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
With the ridiculous amount of rainfall it is hardly surprising that Sandown abandoned their jumps card for today earlier in the week, even so there is still action from three other venues to bring you. There is a National Hunt fixture at Fakenham and two all-weather flat meetings at Lingfield and Wolverhampton and the stable has one runner, Doctor Harper in the 3.20pm at Fakenham. He carries a large penalty for his successes at Exeter earlier in the season and on that form he should take plenty of beating under Tom Scudamore although he does have a disappointing run at Cheltenham last time to bounce back from. It is a long way for Scu to go for just one ride - let's hope that it's a winning one!
- Thursday, 13 February 2014 08:20
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Surprisingly both Kelso and Leicester host jump cards this afternoon and go ahead without a problem, while over on the all-weather there is a flat card at Kempton. It is quite an interesting card up at Kelso with former Gold Cup winner Long Run competing in the 3.55pm race - according to official figure he has 17lbs in hand of second favourite Knockara Beau and 36lbs in hand of the third favourite so it looks like a penalty kick for the 4/11 shot. Even so, I have seen plenty of missed penalties lately and Knockara Beau caused a bigger shock last time out when wining the Cleeve Hurdle (with Big Buck's back in third). It is nice for Kelso racegoers to see some quality horses in action.
- Wednesday, 12 February 2014 08:17
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Well, it looked like an interesting afternoon at the famous Abbey Road recording studios in London yesterday for the unveiling of the 2014 Grand National weights. David looks to be well represented with six entries (Junior, Our Father, The Package (pictured above), Goulanes, Swing Bill and Standing Ovation) although it looks as if a couple of them will need a few to come out before they will get a run. The race now looks more like a very good staying handicap chase than a Grand National with high class horses Tidal Bay and Long Run heading the weights at 11-10 and 11-9 respectively. With that calibre of horse at the head of the weights there will be quite a few good handicappers that will not even get a run. Although there is still a long way to go, at this stage my pick of the weights would be Shakalakaboomboom at 40/1, Tidal Bay at 25/1 and Our Father from Pond House at 40/1.
