- Saturday, 18 June 2011 07:22
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It's French Champion Hurdle day over at Auteuil and it is amazing that David and Willie Mullins are responsible for nearly half the field with four of the ten runners. It's the richest hurdle race run in France with total prize money of €370,000 and we are represented by flying grey Grands Crus who is to be ridden by A P McCoy. He must run a big race and hopefully pick up a large share of the pot. We also have Or Noir de Somoza running in one of the supporting races, the Prix des Drags Steeplechase (a race that he has finished runner-up in in the past) and he is to be ridden by Regis Schmidlin who schooled both of our runners yesterday. The Prix des Drags is worth a not insignificant €240,000 and I am sure that if our runners perform creditably there will be further raids planned in the future.
- Friday, 17 June 2011 07:09
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
David has released a positive bulletin about our two challengers that head to France ahead of this weekend's big meeting at Auteuil. I am told that both Grands Crus and Or Noir de Somoza arrived safe and well last night and have already schooled this morning. They both jumped nicely and David is very pleased with them and looking forward to tomorrow. Grands Crus will face nine rivals as he bids to win the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle) at 3.15pm (GMT), while Or Noir will compete in the Prix des Drags Steeplechase half an hour earlier. Grands Crus will be ridden by sixteen times champion jockey A P McCoy and Or Noir de Somoza will be partnered by Regis Schmidlin.
- Thursday, 16 June 2011 07:05
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It is ladies day and the weather forecast for Royal Ascot this afternoon is not good. I feel sorry for all those ladies that have spent months meticulously planning their outfits only for the elements to spoil things. I understand it will be very windy too, so ladies be warned - umbrellas will probably not do you much good, just make sure you are using plenty of hat pins! As usual the racing looks very competitive and I don't think I can ever remember seeing so many runners, although make sure that before having a bet your selection will handle a bit of cut in the ground.
- Wednesday, 15 June 2011 06:58
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Will Frankel get more than a mile? On yesterday's evidence you would have to doubt it, although I was wondering what on earth Michael Hills was doing aboard pacemaker Rerouted - he went off like a five furlong sprinter and it was a complete waste of time having him in the race. In the end Frankel held on to win by 3/4 length and while some have suggested that Sir Henry Cecil's three year old colt was idling in front, I am not so sure. Tom Quealley committed fully half a mile from home (personally I am not sure why he feels the need to go so early on a horse that clearly has bags of speed) and he has come in for some stick from some quarters.
- Tuesday, 14 June 2011 06:50
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today sees the start of the best five days of flat racing anywhere in the world, Royal Ascot. It has been a lucky place for MCP and David, and David tries to follow-up last years Ascot Stakes success with Junior. Junior is 10lbs higher in the weights than when romping home last year so it will certainly be a lot tougher but Ryan Moore is a positive jockey booking and I am sure he will be a great help in the saddle.
- Monday, 13 June 2011 06:58
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
We were all extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Bryan Westcott at the weekend. Brian was a well known and respected racing personality in the west country and he and his wife Ilva ran the South West Racing Club for many years. They would work tirelessly and dedicated their time and energy into giving great enjoyment to many people. Bryan organised numerous trips through the years, including a visit to France with a certain David Pipe (then aged nine) and they were always popular and well received.
- Saturday, 11 June 2011 07:53
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
With Royal Ascot only two more sleeps away I see the final day of Royal Ascot is now sold out. It is the most popular day of the Royal Meeting and last year it attracted 76,554 people. You would not think there are that many top hats in the country! If you don't read the Racing Post I will pass on a little tip that jockey Richard Hughes gave everyone in the paper yesterday. he thinks Census is a good each way bet in the King George V Stakes. He says he thinks his horse is well handicapped and you have heard this straight from the horses mouth, or is it straight from the Hughsies mouth?!
