- Monday, 21 February 2011 08:03
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was a good day for the stable's runners on Saturday with Swing Bill winning the veteran's race at Wincanton in good style. The ten year old grey received a good front running ride from Timmy Murphy and won with any amount in hand and he could well follow-up this success. Ronaldo des Mottes ran respectably in the Kingwell Hurdle to finish third, while Sultan Fontenaille occupied the same position in the staying handicap hurdle under A P McCoy.
- Sunday, 20 February 2011 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
I see that trainer Mark Johnston has put his name forward for the job vacated by Jim McGrath as independent director of the BHA Board. I have spoken with Mark in the past but I don't really know him that well. He is a great trainer and obviously has his own strong views that he is passionate about...one thing is for sure, I don't think it would be very easy to pull the wool over his eyes! Asked if he would take the position if it were offered, he said "Probably, I think it needs to be done, if you don't agree with someone you try to change it". I know what he means - we get plenty of people at our golf club moaning about the place, but when it is suggested that they join the board they don't want to know. At least with Mark he would be hands on and wants to make a difference rather than preserve the status quo.
- Saturday, 19 February 2011 08:48
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
I must find out who Nick Luck's scriptwriters are..whoever they are, I like them! You may have seen David's interview this morning over the webcam on The Morning Line. Dry as a bone Luck introduced David as "Pipe on Skype!" He was only on for a couple of minutes, but following the abortive efforts to get hold of Nigel Twiston-Davies from practically next door a couple of weeks ago, I was pleased to see the technology working for a change!
- Friday, 18 February 2011 07:57
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was a very good job to get last Saturday's Totesport Trophy meeting rescheduled to today at such short notice. I hope the course is rewarded with a bumper crowd and we are treated to a great race. My one moan would be that the rescheduled card clashes with a good Sandown jumping fixture...I am sure that plenty of the racegoers would like to attend both meetings but are unable to. Even so, I would rather have two meetings in close proximity than to lose one altogether. Over at Sandown, the stable's Arrayan is a non-runner this afternoon.
- Thursday, 17 February 2011 09:30
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
We have some breaking news with regard to the rescheduled Totesport Gold Trophy at Newbury tomorrow. Ronaldo des Mottes, an intended runner in the race last Saturday before tragedy beset two horses in the paddock before their first race is a non runner. Instead he will run in tomorrow's Bathwick Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton as there is more prize money on offer. Notus de la Tour will be the sole runner from Pond House in the Totesport and will be ridden by Tom Scudamore.
- Wednesday, 16 February 2011 08:26
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Well, looking through the weights for this year's Grand National at Aintree, I have to agree with David that Comply Or Die looks interesting. He won the race in 2008 from 10-9 and was runner up in 2009 with considerably more weight. This year he is set to carry 10-8 and is guaranteed to get in the race - at likely odds of around 50/1 I could be tempted. I know (like the rest of us) that he is not getting any younger, but he knows his way around Aintree and I wouldn't be surprised to see him run another big race. Ante-post favourite Ballabriggs looks to have been fairly treated on 11-0 and the McCain's also know what it takes to win a Grand National. Listen to David's reaction to weights at yesterday's launch in London...
- Tuesday, 15 February 2011 11:32
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
David is present at the unveiling of the Grand National weights in London today and was not too surprised by senior handicapper Phil Smith’s framing of the weights for the 2011 renewal. “We know that Phil is going to try to encourage the high class horses to run by compressing the handicap a little. Even so, five of our six entries are in the handicap proper at this stage and three of them are in the top 40 guaranteeing them a run if we so decide. I am pleased with the weight that Comply Or Die has (10-8) as he won the 2008 Grand National carrying 10-9” said the master of Pond House.
