- Saturday, 12 May 2012 07:35
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It's a busy old afternoon up and down the country with no less than six meetings taking place at Ascot, Haydock, Lingfield, Nottingham, Thirsk and Warwick and better news still...with no inspections planned, it looks as if they will all take place. There is a great mixed flat and jumps card at Haydock with the big race of the day being the Swinton Hurdle. They have changed the name of the race which I think is a shame - I still refer to a lot of the present races under their old names like The Whitbread or The Mackeson...I know the sponsors pay their money to advertise their brand, but it is difficult for purists like me to accept change!
- Friday, 11 May 2012 07:32
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Hopefully there will be six meetings taking place today, five of them on the flat at Chester, Ascot, Hamilton, Lingfield and Nottingham, as well as a jumps card at Market Rasen. We have one runner there, Dan Breen who runs in the handicap chase at 2.55pm. Dan Breen ran some very good races in defeat last term so let's hope for a slice of luck for owner Stuart Mercer. Earlier in the week at Ffos las, his Martial Law was well in command when capsizing at the last flight of hurdles - hopefully Dan Breen will give him something to smile about.
- Thursday, 10 May 2012 07:52
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
How unlucky was Martial Law at Ffos Las last night? Our runner was clear coming to the last, jumped the hurdle well and just knuckled on landing. There is no doubt that he would have run out a convincing winner and can certainly go down as the unluckiest loser of the season so far. It must have been a long drive home for colourful owner Stuart Mercer who has had so many good horses at Pond House through the years. Hopefully the handicapper wasn't watching! We had a runner in the concluding bumper, Regal County who finished fourth, but by the last race I don't think that I have ever seen ground so heavy. The winner was owned by Derek Smith, Michael Tabor and Mrs John Magnier - I bet they weren't present to lead in their winner!
- Wednesday, 09 May 2012 08:24
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon, but the one that everyone is looking forward to is the opening day of Chester, which suitably enough features the Chester Cup (a race that David won with Mamlook in 2010, pictured above). I hope the weather is okay because there are always plenty of poseurs with their new outfits on in the middle of the course...and yes, I am talking about the lads (mostly footballers!) and their spray tans! We aren't at Chester today, although we do have two runners at Ffos Las this evening - Martial Law and Regal County. Martial Law has his first start for lucky owner Stuart Mercer this evening and he is certainly well-travelled - our six year old has raced in France and Australia and travels across the Severn Bridge to race in Wales tonight!
Click on the link below to see a video of what Martin & Carol saw last night!
- Tuesday, 08 May 2012 06:57
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
After passing an 8am inspection I am pleased to report that Exeter goes ahead with their meeting this evening, meaning that there are four meetings taking place. As well as the Devon track, there is also action from Fakenham, Catterick and Southwell. We have three runners at Exeter's evening meeting - Standing Ovation, Water Garden and The Grey Fox. The Grey Fox is a nicely bred mare that is making her racecourse debut this evening at the age of seven - the owner is also the breeder and he can be a little tricky. In the past he has even told David how to train his horses. I hope The Grey Fox runs well to keep the owner happy, by the way the owner is MCP!
- Monday, 07 May 2012 07:15
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It is quite a quiet afternoon on the domestic racing front for a Bank Holiday Monday with just three flat cards on today and a good meeting from the Curragh in Ireland. The only jumps meeting is also in the Emerald Isle and that takes place at Down Royal. A Bank Holiday and no jump racing in England - what is going on?! It is unsurpising therefore that we have no runners today.
- Sunday, 06 May 2012 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable has one runner on the level this afternoon at Salisbury. Enfant de Lune takes in the 2.20pm race and it looks like a wide open handicap (as it should be for the decent prize money of £20,000 that is up for grabs). While underfoot conditions may find one or two of these out, trip and ground should suit our horse who is fit from a successful stint over hurdles this winter. I think that Seb Sanders is a good jockey booking and I am looking forward to seeing how our runner gets on.
