- Monday, 01 April 2013 07:28
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It is a real Bank Holiday bonanza today with seven meetings taking place this afternoon as well two great meetings in Ireland. The stable has a runner at Huntingdon as well as a runner in the Irish National at Fairyhouse. Junior (pictured above) carries topweight in the big race but is by no means badly treated - he won from a mark of 155 at Newcastle earlier in the season and is partnered by that day's winning jockey Conor O'Farrell from a 1lb higher mark. I have been to the Irish National once or twice and the hosts do make you feel very welcome...I remember a very young Mr Adrian Maguire winning the race for Martin aboard Omerta many years ago. Grand Exit is our runner in the boys' race at Huntingdon and she will be partnered by young Kieron Edgar.
- Sunday, 31 March 2013 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are three meetings to look forward to this afternoon, one on the flat at Musselburgh and two over the sticks at Plumpton and Towcester. The stable has three runners at Plumpton - Top Gamble, Ronaldo des Mottes and Home Run. Ronaldo and Home Run take part in the Sussex Champion Hurdle - the latter unseated last time out when still in with a chance and had previously won five times this term. Conor O'Farrell takes the ride aboard Top Gamble and it is certainly good to see the young Irishman back in the saddle after fracturing his wrist.
- Saturday, 30 March 2013 08:29
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It must be a Bank Holiday weekend as we have loads of action to look forward to this afternoon following yesterday's blank day. Indeed, there are no less than six meetings taking place at Doncaster, Haydock, Kempton, Musselburgh, Newton Abbot and Carlisle. The rearranged Lincoln takes place this afternoon at Donny while the stable has runners at both Newton Abbot and Haydock, including Sir Frank (pictured above) who will be partnered by young Kieron Edgar in the ultra-competitive handicap chase at the northern track. Our runners all seem to have chances in very open looking races.
- Friday, 29 March 2013 07:42
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Shoegazer
There is no racing today, not even in Ireland so a day of rest for all punters! It is not a day of rest for stable staff however as the horses still have to be fed and exercised and everyone is here busy in the yard. There are several meetings tomorrow, including three jumps cards at Haydock, Carlisle and Newton Abbot. David has entries at Haydock and local track Newton Abbot where they are giving the ground as heavy and will be omitting the last hurdle. We have had no rain down here for a few days, I just wonder if it will as heavy as forecast? They have a £25,000 chase on the card which has attracted all the big trainers, including Donald McCain. I would not think he has ever had many runners at Newton. David already has Shoegazer declared in the feature chase at Haydock tomorrow. He has won five of his 12 starts over fences and was a nice winner at Fontwell on his penultimate start before running a good race to finish seventh at the Cheltenham Festival last time. He has to carry top weight tomorrow with AP on board but he should hopefully run well again.
- Thursday, 28 March 2013 08:10
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Well there is good news and bad news....on the plus side Ludlow have cancelled their early morning inspection and the meeting gets the go ahead. On the down side, Ffos Las are having to inspect this morning at 9am after temperature of -5ºc left the ground frozen in places. If the meeting does get the all clear, the stable will have four runners at the Welsh track - Qalinas (pictured above) looks particularly interesting in his bid to complete the hat-trick although he has gone up 11lbs in the handicap. Thomas Junior makes his raceourse debut in the bumper - he is owned by Dai Walters, the Ffos Las supremo so let's hope for a good run from him! There are also meetings at Southwell (a jumpers bumper card on the all-weather) and a 'fully-fledged' flat card on the the all-weather at Wolverhampton.
- Wednesday, 27 March 2013 07:55
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Three meetings take place this afternoon following the good news that Wetherby's jumps card has been given the go ahead following an early morning inspection. The other meetings are on the all-weather flat at Southwell and Lingfield where there are no reported problems. The stable has no runners today. Hopefully the snow that has settled around the yard overnight is not a bad omen and tomorrow's meeting at Ffos Las gets the green light - David has some good looking entries at the Welsh track including unbeaten bumper winner Heath Hunter (pictured above) and hat-trick seeking Qalinas, while there is also scheduled to be a seven race bumper card at Southwell.
- Tuesday, 26 March 2013 08:02
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Despite the freezing conditions I am pleased to report that Fontwell has been given the go-ahead to race this afternoon. There are also two all-weather meetings taking place on the flat this afternoon at Southwell and Lingfield. Looking at my map of Sussex, it doesn't look as though Fontwell and Lingfield are that far apart to me, so it is obviously another victory for race planning! I am not sure they consider the racing public when they are scheduling their meetings, especially when you consider the amount of fodder put on just for the betting shops.
