- Wednesday, 29 August 2012 06:59
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
As you can see from the picture above, it is yet another damp and dreary day in the west country, but at least we have our first runner for a few days this afternoon when Keep The Cash takes in the Worcester bumper at 3.20pm. Keep The Cash is a half brother to prolific winner and former Pond House inmate Seven Is My Number and it is his racecourse debut this afternoon. It is a big day for these unraced youngsters as they get taken to the races for the first time...the experience of all the people, racing in a group of horses for the first time, being put under pressure - everything is new to them. There isn't much form to go on in the race so it is difficult to assess his chance - we will just have to see how he gets on in the hands of Tom Scudamore.
- Tuesday, 28 August 2012 07:10
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today there are four meetings taking place, with three on the flat at Epsom, Ripon and Southwell as well as a jumps card at Sedgefield. Personally I have only ever been to Sedgefield the once but they did make us feel very welcome with their hospitality. Indeed, they were so hospitable that one of our conditional jockeys had to drive the car home! The stable has no runners today, although we will most likely have some at Worcester tomorrow...weather permitting of course.
- Monday, 27 August 2012 07:46
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
As you would expect from a Bank Holiday Monday there is plenty of racing action taking place this afternoon with no fewer than seven meetings - five of them on the flat at Epsom, Ripon, Warwick, Newcastle and Chepstow as well as two over the sticks at Bangor and Huntingdon. All this despite the loss of Cartmel due to heavy rain waterlogging the track - Clerk of the course Jonathan Garratt proclaimed it "...Catastrophic as normally the fixture attracts 20,000 people and it would wipe about £100,000 off the balance sheet". That is a lot of money in anyone's language, especially a small track like Cartmel, however safety has to be the paramount concern.
- Sunday, 26 August 2012 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are three meetings taking place on the flat this afternoon at Beverley, Goodwood and Yarmouth. The pick of the action is definitely at Goodwood with the Sussex track hosting a Group Three contest. There is a seller on the same card and in Martin's day we would have been there to buy the winner of the 1m3f selling stakes for three year olds. I can remember once attending a meeting at Bath - they had a claimer and we claimed the first three home! Some people may scoff but remember Champion Hurdler Make A Stand came from a Leicester claimer (along with a number of other top class hurdlers/chasers down the years).
- Saturday, 25 August 2012 06:55
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today there are six meetings with five cards on the flat at York, Goodwood, Newmarket, Windsor and Redcar as well as a jumps card at Cartmel. The feature of the day is undoubtedly The Ebor at York - it is always a fiercely competitive handicap and this year's renewal looks to be well up to scratch with the bottom weight rated 96. Twenty-one runners go to post for the £140,000 first prize and if you are trying to find the winner, you need to be looking for a trainer that can get his horses well handicapped. Sir Mark Prescott's Motivado sneaked in at the bottom end of the weights and looks to be well ahead of the official assessor following an easy success last time out. If this one wins you will probably see Sir Mark pull out one of his biggest cigars.
- Friday, 24 August 2012 06:55
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable enjoyed a winner at Ffos Las yesterday afternoon after Katchmore produced a really dour performance to land the 2m4f handicap hurdle. His victory came as a surprise to me - personally I thought that the handicapper had him in his grip from a mark of 130 (he was 11lbs higher than his last winning rating). The step up in trip certainly seemed to suit, as did the more restrained riding tactics and this was certainly an improved performance from the horse and a good training feat from David to eek out further improvement. It just goes to show that the handicapper does know what he is doing - I would imagine that he will be putting him up a few more pounds now for good measure!
- Thursday, 23 August 2012 07:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Frankel posted another amazing performance with a seven length dismissal of his rivals in the Juddmonte International at York over 1m2 1/2f yesterday. He stayed the trip really well and looks like he will get any trip. He was held up by jockey Tom Queally and won without being asked a serious question - it was a glorious sight as he breezed past the top-class St Nicholas Abbey while still on the bridle. He is likely to have one last start before retiring to stud - he will probably work harder there...he is undoubtedly the greatest racehorse of our time.
