- Thursday, 31 January 2013 07:42
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was a good day for the stable yesterday with an across-the-card double at Leicester and Ludlow. Buddy Bolero was successful at Leicester in the staying handicap chase, putting up a very good performance on this step up to three miles on his first start in handicap company. He looks to be a very useful chaser in the making. Over at Ludlow Centasia (pictured above) made a winning debut for the yard in the 1m6f bumper under Conor O'Farrell to beat the gambled on Sealous Scout by a head. This was probably a decent performance despite the small field and she is now unbeaten in two starts. Meanwhile, over on the all-weather Purple 'N Gold was beaten only a short-head a Kempton - not a bad day all things considered!
- Wednesday, 30 January 2013 08:23
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Buddy Bolero
David has nine runners today, at three meetings under both codes so a busy day for the yard. I am pleased to pass onthe news that Leicester goes ahead. They actually cancelled their 7.45am inspection after only 5mm of rain overnight, their going is heavy, soft in places. David has four runners there, Buddy Bolero and Franklin Roosevelt who will be partnered by AP McCoy and Basil Fawlty and Sir Frank who are ridden by Kieron Edgar. Tom Scu is unfortunately banned today which is why he is not riding. We also have four runners at Ludlow starting off with Quinte Du Chatelet then Royal Rationale, High Ville and Centasia. Tom Bellamy, Jamie Bargary and Conor O'Farrell and are in action in the saddle here. Purple 'N Gold also runs today on the flat at Kempton. He finished fourth over 1m4f at the course last week and the drop back to 1m2f today should suit. Willie Twiston-Davies rides again and claims a valuable five pounds off his back. It comes as no great surprise but the going at both jumps meetings this afternoon is very testing! It is great to have some jumps action back on however and fingers crossed for all of the stable runners. Check back here tomorrow for news of how they all get on.
- Tuesday, 29 January 2013 08:03
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Following the abandonment of Taunton this afternoon due to waterlogging we are left with two all-weather meetings at Lingfield (bumpers) and Wolverhampton. The weather has been a little raucous over the last few days with heavy rain and strong winds and I would imagine that both tracks are going to be very wet. Indeed, there was a tree down, blocking the main road into Brixham yesterday. What would we do without all-weather racing?
- Monday, 28 January 2013 08:12
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Over the weekend I thought that Battle Group ran a sound race to finish third at Cheltenham on Saturday on what was very testing ground. He has always possessed plenty of ability and could yet pop up in a decent contest despite yet having won over fences. Shoegazer ran a decent race in a very competitive handicap chase, just emptying out after the last - it looked to me as though he was just found out over this trip by the heavy going. Of course the big disappointment of the weekend was Grands Crus in the Argento Chase, the favourite pulling up four out - I am sure he will be seen to better effect on a sounder surface and it is far too early to write him off just yet.
- Sunday, 27 January 2013 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It's my birthday (and I'll cry if I want to - you would cry too if you were as old as me!). I went out for a nice meal with my wife Jane, Martin and Carol on Thursday evening and we had a lovely time...I keep reminding Martin that I will never be as old as him and as you can see from the picture above, I've still got it (whatever it may be?!).
- Saturday, 26 January 2013 08:08
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It should be a thrilling day's racing with Cheltenham getting the go-ahead for their Trials meeting this afternoon and I will be sat firmly in front of the television as there are four televised races on Channel 4. The stable has five runners at the Prestbury Park track - Battle Group, Shoegazer, Grands Crus, His Excellency and The Pier. Obviously Grands Crus is the really interesting one in the Argento Chase, a recognised Gold Cup trial. His task has been made somewhat easier by the defection this morning of Tidal Bay, although it is still a high quality race. Grands Crus should be sharper than when competing in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day and if back to his best he would be a threat to them all. There are also meetings taking place at Lingfield and Wolverhampton on the all-weather this afternoon.
- Friday, 25 January 2013 08:11
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There is already some good news this morning as Cheltenham have passed their inspection this morning where the going is now officially soft. Clerk of the course Simon Claisse will take another look tomorrow morning when holding a precautionary inspection at 7am. I don't suppose I can blame him - there is plenty of rain forecast over the next 24 hours and rising temperatures will mean plenty of flooding throughout the country as the ice thaws. The fact that they are optimistic is excellent - we really need a top class jumps meeting like this to take place on a Saturday.
