- Sunday, 11 December 2011 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
*Wings Of Icarus - Non Runner 1.15pm Hereford*
I see that Newbury racecourse are going to increase their minimum admission price from £7 to £15. I find this absolutely incredible and struggle to see how they can justify a price increase of over 100%...surely all this will do is alienate racegoers. On a busy day the silver ring can draw in around 800 people and I cannot imagine that all of them will be happy to pay an extra £8 admission each. Of course OAP's will get concessions and under 18's will be admitted free of charge, but in a time when we should be encouraging more people to come racing these increases do not sit well with me.
- Saturday, 10 December 2011 08:16
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable has four runners in the big chase at Cheltenham this afternoon at 2.30pm. Paddy Power hero Great Endeavour bids to add to that success returned to what would appear to be his optimum trip - he will be partnered by Timmy Murphy. He will be joined by stable companions I'msingingtheblues, Matuhi and Salut Flo. We also have one runner at Doncaster, Rose Of The Moon who was successful on his debut for the yard last month at Uttoxeter - he will again be partnered by Jake Greenall.
- Friday, 09 December 2011 08:21
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Above: I'msingingtheblues is one of four Pond House
runners in Saturday's feature at Cheltenham
It looks like an interesting start to Cheltenham's December fixture today - the only problem that I can see is the going forecast. It is currently good (good/firm in places) and while the ground staff are watering at present, it does looks as though the ground is going to be on the quick side. Hopefully they will not get too much in the way of rain as rain on top of watered ground inevitably ends up making the going deadish. While we have no runners today, we declared all four of our entries for the big race, the Spinal Research Atlantic 4 Gold Cup on Saturday. Paddy Power hero Great Endeavour will again be ridden by Timmy Murphy, while Tom Scudamore rides Matuhi, Hadden Frost is aboard I'msingingtheblues and Conor O'Farrell will take 3lbs off Salut Flo's back.
- 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.
