- Thursday, 08 December 2011 08:09
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
We have four runners this afternoon - Gaspara, Spirit Of Barbados and Bathwick Quest all run in the 2m3 1/2f handicap hurdle at Taunton, while Painter Man travels all the way to Huntingdon for a 2m5 1/2f handicap hurdle.
It is a sad day for racing...I have just heard that orange Attheraces broadcaster extraordinaire Matt Chapman has been added to the commentators roster for next season. Can you imagine Matt commentating on a race? I can just hear him calling the race and directly afterwards exclaiming, "I think the stewards should take a look at that race, there were certainly one or two that weren't too busy!" It's not going to be the same as when you're sat in your cosy little booth watching the replay twenty times Matt...still, I don't suppose there are too many more people in racing that you haven't already upset!
- Wednesday, 07 December 2011 09:11
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Johnny Farrelly had a horrendous fall at Fontwell yesterday...it was one of those that was so bad that I had to close my eyes. As it turned out, Johnny, who was knocked out in the fall suffered a broken collarbone and lost a couple of teeth. It could have been a lot worse, especially when you think of that poor French apprentice jockey Benjamin Boutin who was killed recently in a horror fall on the flat. It just goes to show how tough and brave these jockeys are - they are literally risking their lives everytime they go out to ride. With Johnny you know that you will always get 100% - he gives everything a ride and is perhaps too brave for his own good...anyway, let's hope that he's not out of the saddle for too long. Get well soon Johnny.
- Tuesday, 06 December 2011 07:59
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
We are off to Fontwell today with one runner, Ladyvie in the 3.40pm race, a 2m4f handicap hurdle. Ladyvie ran her best race since arriving on these shores when a close third at Taunton from this mark less than a fotnight ago and will be partnered this afternoon by stable jockey Tom Scudamore.
- Monday, 05 December 2011 08:22
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable had a nice winner at Chepstow on Sunday when Big Occasion made a winning hurdling debut in the three mile novices' hurdle under Tom Scudamore. He was a decent flat performer in Ireland when rated in the 90's for Aidan O'Brien and it looks like he could become a useful staying hurdler in the novice division this season. We also had a number of placed efforts that raked in some good prize money including Sona Sasta and Roi de Rose at Chepstow, Tamarinbleu at Aintree, while I'msingingtheblues performed creditably to finish fourth in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.
- Sunday, 04 December 2011 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
If you are coming back to the Westcountry by train from London tonight, be on the lookout for a fairly well-oiled Irishman and a tall racehorse trainer. I won't tell you who they are, but they will be travelling back from the Derby Awards in London. Both of them are guests of legendary broadcaster Mike Vince...you might want to book an open ticket so you can change trains!
- Saturday, 03 December 2011 09:18
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It looks like being a bumper weekend for the yard with no fewer than seventeen runners across four meetings this afternoon. It has been a fair while since we have had that many runners in a day and that includes the Cheltenham Festival! The lorries will be leaving for all parts of the country with our runners - we are represented at Chepstow, Sandown, Aintree and Wetherby and will be keeping our fingers firmly crossed for a winner or two. I am particularly looking forward to seeing Master Overseer slogging through the mud at Chepstow - he was a winner there last time out over hurdles and he stays longer than the mother-in-law!
- Friday, 02 December 2011 08:21
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable's Water Garden was an easy eighteen length winner at Wincanton yesterday under Timmy Murphy. His task was made considerably easier when Carrickmines and Cool Steel both departed at the second last leaving us clear. I still think that Water Garden would have won even his rivals had stood up, but you can never be sure in racing. Anyway, Water Garden looks to be a nice prospect and I wouldn't be surprised to see him win again. Our other runner at Wincanton, Arab League also performed creditably, sticking on well in fourth place and he shaped as though he could do with more of a test of stamina.
