- Wednesday, 01 February 2012 07:54
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The weather is finally taking its grip this week and we have unfortunately already lost todays meetings at Ludlow and Leicester. I am pleased to report that Newcastle does go ahead, as does the all-weather meeting at Kempton so there is at least some action to keep us going today. Temperatures are -2c at Pond House this morning but add the the wind chill factor and it feels much colder! Thankfully we have a great team of tractor staff who help keep the all-weather gallop in action and there are no problems to the normal execise routine this morning. We do have to count ourselves lucky however as I was hearig on the news it is -45c in Moscow this morning, I dread to think what waking up to those sort of temperatures is like! It was also at least -30c in places like Poland, Ukraine and Bosnia and it was even -14c in Greece!
- Tuesday, 31 January 2012 08:13
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable has runners at our local track Taunton this afternoon and I am pleased to report that they had no problems with frost here and racing goes ahead. Racing also takes place at Folkestone after a planned inspection was cancelled because temperatures did not drop as low as forecest and the track was raceable first thing. David runs Bathwick Brave in the handicap hurdle and Woodlark Island runs in the 2m3f handicap hurdle at Taunton. This is his first run for 195 days and he does look quite well treated on old form. Bumper winner Beattie Green runs in the novice's hurdle but does have to improve on her hurdling debut which was at the track last time out and it will be tough to beat the Paul Nicholls trained Dildar who has some very useful flat form in France. David has three interesting runners today so we shall see how we get on. When you look through the trainers with runners the name of Mick Channon immediately jumps out at you. Don't forget we also have Mark Johston running horses over the jumps at the moment and they are trainers to watch out for when they send their horses over the sticks. What about Sir Michael Stoute maybe having a runner at Plumpton?!
- Monday, 30 January 2012 08:05
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
We have had better weekends with the yards runners but Dynaste ran a cracker to finish second behind the mighty Big Bucks. At one time it looked like our six year old had got the super star at it but like all brilliant horses Big Bucks came up the hill so powerfully to win by seven lengths. Dynaste won £10,000 for finishing second and I am pleased to report he has come out of the race well and we look forward to taking on Big Bucks for the third time in March! Notus De La Tour also ran well to finish third at Leopardstown yesterday. He was beaten a fair way in the Irish Arkle but it was another good performance. The winner Flemenstar was extremely impressive but our lad probably ran as well as last time and picked up some nice place prize money.
- Saturday, 28 January 2012 09:42
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
David has runners at Leopardstown and Ffos Las this afternoon. Notus De la Tour returns to Ireland to run in a very good Arkle novices chase after running well at the track over the Christmas period when finishing second behind todays rival, Blackstairmountain. Jockey Robbie Power rode our six year old last time and said afterwards we had a chance of reversing the form with the winner on softer ground so fingers crossed the ground has not dried out too much after some rain earlier in the week. It is a very tough race and whatever happens there is 80,000 Euros up for grabs and the Irish look after us and our owners extremely well and I am sure we will be venturing back across the Irish sea again soon!
- Saturday, 28 January 2012 08:10
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Clever Dick ran okay at Fontwell yesterday but it was bottomless ground and he looked to be going well down the back straight but did not appear to get home in the testing ground. He was also a bit hampered and lost a few lengths going round the final bend and from then on he lost all chance of winning. I am sure we will see him in better light on not such testing ground. Meanwhile at Huntingdon, Rose of the Moon ran no sort of race, also on very testing ground. He has got to be better than this so hopefully he can bounce back to form next time. I am pleased to report that both horses are fine this morning and have come out of their races well. David has plenty of runners today at Cheltenham and Doncaster.
- Friday, 27 January 2012 11:02
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Apologies for the delay in this morning's update, unfortunately we have had a few technical difficulties but it is good to be up and running again! With Unex Degas a non-runner in the bumper at Fontwell, the stable has two runners this afternoon - Clever Dick at Fontwell and Rose Of The Moon at Huntingdon. Clever Dick showed improved form last time to finish a close second so hopefully he will be able to go one better this afternoon, while Rose Of The Moon, a winner on his debut for the stable participates in first time blinkers.
- Thursday, 26 January 2012 08:25
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable continues in good form and we enjoyed another success when Quinte du Chatelet won the 2m6 1/2f handicap hurdle under Tom Scudamore providing the owners Brocade Racing with their 30th winner. Our eight year old jumped out, made all and never saw another horse as he gradually burnt off his pursuers to record a ten length victory. This was a really good performance under 11-7 and he is clearly very effective under these testing conditions - if he can be found another similar opportunity, he looks like he could be able to follow-up.
