- Thursday, 04 April 2013 07:28
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
*Garryleigh - N/R 2.45pm Taunton*
*Close House - N/R 5.25pm Aintree*
Today there are four meetings taking place, two over the sticks at Aintree and Taunton as well as two all-weather flat cards at Lingfield and Wolverhampton. Unsurprisingly the big meeting of the day is at Aintree as the first day of the 2013 Grand National fixture gets underway. The stable has just one runner at Aintree, Arkle third His Excellency (pictured above) who has now pocketed over £100,000 in prize money by contesting all the big races. We have plenty of runners at Taunton - Garryleigh, Zaynar, Water Garden, Weekend Millionair and Palace Jester. It certainly looks like an interesting day, full of wide-open competitive races.
- Wednesday, 03 April 2013 06:58
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
The stable enjoyed a welcome winner at Exeter yesterday afternoon as Bygones Sovereign benefitted from a positive ride from Tom Bellamy to avoid the chaos in behind and hold on for a tenacious success in the handicap hurdle. Part-owner Alan Kaplan had told David to make more use of the seven year old and those instructions were passed onto the young jockey who carried them out to perfection. Maybe the better ground also helped him?
- Tuesday, 02 April 2013 06:55
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
This afternoon there are three meetings taking place - two on the flat at Southwell and Kempton plus a jumps card at Exeter as well as another good meeting at Fairyhouse. The stable has six runners this afternoon up on Haldon Hill - they are Royal Mile, Royal Peak, High Ville, Quinte du Chatelet (pictured above), Bygones Sovereign and Basil Fawlty. Sadly the stable runners were a little disappointing yesterday with Grand Exit and Junior both failing to figure. It was a pity there was a false start in Ireland as Junior appeared to line up nicely initially, but was a bit more reluctant the second time around.
- Monday, 01 April 2013 07:28
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
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 Morgan
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 Morgan
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 Morgan
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.
