- Saturday, 28 May 2011 07:10
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
I am sure that the viewing figures for tonight's football match at Wembley between Manchester United and Barcelona will be huge. Hills still make Barcelona 11/10 shots to win it all in 90 minutes and if the match were played elsewhere in Europe I am sure they would be odds-on - I think the United fans are probably holding up the Spanish team's price. I won't be able to see it live as I will be at a birthday party...there is only one person I know that would have a birthday party on the same night as the Champions League Final!
- Friday, 27 May 2011 07:06
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Trainer Mark Johnston has never been shy about expressing his views and yesterday he launched a broadside at Redcar racecourse over the funding levels, branding it as a "flapping track". Prize money for the seven race card is just £22,600 which is a disgrace and well below the tariff levels set out by the Horsemen's Group. The only way things are going to change is if all trainers stick together, afterall if the tracks have no runners then they will have no spectators and the bookmakers will have nothing to bet on...I am sure someone would do something about it then! However, as long as trainers continue to run for poor prize money the tracks will continue to provide poor prize money.
- Thursday, 26 May 2011 07:17
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There was a sizeable crowd on the watered gallop at Newmarket yesterday morning, even though it was before 6am! Apparently Carlton House pleased in his work, hammering his work partner with the minimum of fuss under Ryan Moore. I am sure that bookmakers will be shortening him yet further ahead of the Derby on Saturday week. I hope that a few of you took my ante-post advice...the biggest worry now is if he will handle the track at Epsom - it is a funny course, but he does look to be a well balanced colt.
- Wednesday, 25 May 2011 07:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
David was busy at the sales yesterday afternoon as he finished underbidder to the day's top lot Alaivan, and was the successful purchaser of Enfant de Lune. It will be interesting to see how this one fares as the last couple of purchases from Barbury Castle have yielded a Royal Ascot and Cheltenham Festival winner (Junior) and a Midlands National winner (Minella Four Star). Enfant de Lune had shown some useful form on the flat in France and over hurdles in this country and is still a novice over fences. The sales continue today so I will be keeping a close eye out to see if he David has unearthed any potential future stars. Tom Scudamore is up at the sales too, and I understand that his snoring is largely responsible for the master of Pond House having a less than satisfactory night's sleep!
- Tuesday, 24 May 2011 07:24
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
- Monday, 23 May 2011 07:13
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Racing needs it's stars and yesterday we were treated to two of them as both Goldikova and So You Think landed Group One prizes. Goldikova had to battle hard to dispose of Cirrus des Aigles by a neck at Longchamp, while So You Think bolted up by 7 lengths at the Curragh at the prohibitive odds of 1/7. Of So You Think, trainer Aiden O'Brien said "he's an incredible horse, a different creature to what we've ever seen before and we're very lucky have him racing on this side of the world" - that was his sixth Group One win and he looks unbeatable and a real superstar. What more needs to be written about Goldikova? 13 Group One wins...enough said.
- Sunday, 22 May 2011 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Another day, another victory for race planning! There were six flat meetings on the turf yesterday and two jumps cards today...am I the only one who thinks that this is unbalanced? Surely it would make sense to have three flat meetings and a jumps card on each day? It seems too simple...or maybe that's just me?!
If you don't fancy racing under rules, there is a point-to-point fixture at Bratton Down today and pony racing kicks off the action at 11.45am with the pointing starting at 1.00pm - Bratton Down is eleven miles north of South Molton on the A399 and is often worth a visit.
