- Wednesday, 05 September 2012 06:59
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was very sad to hear of the passing of Lord Oaksey this morning at the age of 83 after a long illness. He was a true gentleman who did much charitable work. He was a very respected man, a great and knowledgable horseman, writer and television presenter. He was an absolute gentleman who did so much work for charity, our sport of horse racing and good causes, especially in help of the Injured Jockeys Fund. He will be sadly missed by us all.
- Tuesday, 04 September 2012 07:21
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
With no jumps action to look forward to this afternoon it is left to the flat boys to entertain us with three meetings at Goodwood, Leicester and Musselburgh. It is pretty moderate fare at Musselburgh and that is unsurprising when you consider that there is only £28,000 up for grabs across eight races (with prize money of less than £1,900 on offer for the winner of five races on the card) . If the owners are happy to compete for peanuts then the racecourses will continue to keep putting this sort of money up.
- Monday, 03 September 2012 07:23
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Premier Dane
It was a very good Sunday for David and the yard with three winner at Newton Abbot, including the two feature races on the card. Premier Dane won the big handicap hurdle under AP McCoy and the horse has won all three of his starts since joining Pond House. He won by an easy six lengths and he may now go for the Kerry National at Listowel on Wednesday 19th Sepetember. Ashbrittle finished third in the same race picking up some good prize money and he was only just pipped for second at the post. He was a little unlucky in running having been hampered twice but it was still a great effort and we were delighted with him. Decoy and Raslan were slighlty disappointing in the same race finishing seventh and ninth respectively. It was a mighty run from little Shoegazer to win the feature chase of the day beating stablemate Enfant De Lune who ran a career best race over fences.
- Sunday, 02 September 2012 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Premier Dane
It is great that Newton Abbot passed its inspection yesterday and racing goes ahead this afternoon. There is also a flat card at Folkestone but I will concentrate on our local track as David has eight runners there this afternoon. The ground at Newton will be very heavy and probably a little patchy after the heavy rain we have had earlier in the week in the westcountry. There is great prize money on offer today, with a £25,000 chase and hurdle race plus £11,00 for a novice chase on the card as well. David's runners are Dandyvic in the Maiden hurdle with Conor O'Farrell in the saddle. She is a point to point winner but she would have to improve on recent form to win. Premier Dane with champion jockey AP in the saddle, Raslan (Danny Cook), Decoy (Tom Scu) and Ashbrittle (Conor O'Farrell) are David's four runners in the valuable handicap hurdle of the day. Premier Dane has won both of his starts since joining Pond House, his lastest in a chase at Stratford.
- Saturday, 01 September 2012 07:14
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Decoy (nearside)
Today there are four flat cards at Chester, Bath, Sandown and Beverley plus a jumps card at Market Rasen. Sadly, Newton Abbot had to call off there meeting today due to a waterlogged track but as I mentioned yesterday they are hoping to race tomorrow, there second day of there usual two day Summer Festival. They have moved the big handicap chase from today over to tomorrows card which is fantastic. The course does have to pass a 10am inspection this morning for racing to go ahead tomorrow but it was dry yesterday and so far today so fingers crossed the meeting gets the go ahead. To these smaller tracks when they lose a meeting in the summer it is a big hit as it costs them a lot of money. The Newton Abbot racecourse is surrounded by a river which is tidal and this effects the water leveks which is why it can often be very wet at the Devon track. Let's hope the meeting goes ahead as there is sure to be a bumper crowd and if you are in the area it will certainly be worth going along for a good day out. David has eight intended runners and I will talk more about them tomorrow but Decoy will contest the big handicap hurdle of the day. He is one of four runners for David in the race and was a winner at Worcester on his latest start. He will be partnered by Tom Scudamore.
- Friday, 31 August 2012 06:30
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was a shame that Newton Abbot have had to abandon the first day of their big summer fixture on Saturday. Given the amount of rain that we have been enduring it is hardly surprising, but you do have to feel for the course - you don't expect to lose your main meeting to rain at this time of the year! It will surely cost them through the gate and behind the bar, but they must be congratulated on moving fast to rearrange the valuable (Listed) Lord Mildmay Chase to the Sunday...providing that passes an inspection of course! With the forecast set fair for the remainder of the weekend, let's hope that it goes ahead and the course is rewarded with a bumper turnout on Sunday.
- Thursday, 30 August 2012 07:16
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It looks like being a busy afternoon with runners at both National Hunt meetings. Bathwick Man and American Art who finished first and second at Stratford take each other on again at Fontwell and once again there shouldn't be much between them at the revised weights. Bathwick Man will once again be ridden by Tom Scudamore and Conor O'Farrell is in the saddle aboard American Art. Meanwhile Kusadasi (ridden by Kieron Edgar) is our only runner at Hereford where amazingly despite some overnight rain, they will be watering this morning. You certainly wouldn't need any water here - we had no less than 27mm over the last 24 hours with 10mm of that coming in less than an hour yesterday afternoon!
