- Monday, 14 February 2011 08:04
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The events of Saturday at Newbury were appaling and among the worst scenes I have ever witnessed on a racecourse. It is not something that I have ever seen before and I hope not to do so again. Early reports suggest that the horses had been electricuted and you would have to worry if such events could occur anywhere else. Newbury have already taken investigatory action and I am sure they will fix anything they find immediately, but they will have to be 200% sure that there is not going to be a repeat.
- Saturday, 12 February 2011 09:43
- Written by Chester barnes
Don't forget it is Valentine's day tomorrow! If you are off racing to Catterick the first 100 ladies through the gates will get a red rose and if you pre book online you can get lunch, champagne, a racecard and some tote vouchers (www.catterickbridge.co.uk). I am not sure my wife would like a day at Catterick, it is a long way to drive!
David has a busy day at Exeter today with eight runners. There is a good card with some competitive races. Mamlook runs in his second chase and is looking to build on a very pleasing winning debut at Fakenham last time out. Qulinton returns to action after a mini break following a good second at Wetherby on his last run. Spirit of Barbados makes his hurdling debut and our young conditional Francis Hayes is having his first ride over hurdles on Monopole. Frank is a young Irish jockey who joined us in November from Andrew Baldings. He has ridden two winners on the flat and has the potential to be a very good jump jockey. Battle Group, Street Enetrtainer, Atlantic Pearl and The Tatkin make up our Exeter team and check back here tomorrow for news of our weekend runners.
- Saturday, 12 February 2011 08:11
- Written by Chester Barnes
Times must be good at Spurs, I see manager Harry Rednapp has got a runner in the 4.40pm race at Newbury called Bygones in Brid. The horse won in Ireland and Harry bought him for £100,000. First of all I thought there must be too many noughts in that price tag but that is the price he paid! I can see Harry's face twitching and moving in all directions when he is watching the race! Luckily for Harry the Tottenham match does not kick off until 5.30pm but lets just hope he runs a big race otherwise he may just take it out on the players! It looks like Persian Snow in the one they all have to beat. In fact there is another horse in the race that could have been named after Harry. Careful how you say it but, Balding Banker!
- Friday, 11 February 2011 08:04
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
I had to have a look at my calendar yesterday to make sure that it was not Friday 13th! It was just one of those days that started off on the wrong foot and pretty much stayed there. In the first race Yourgolftravel Com fell and in the second Tom Scu took another tumble when Trop Fort fell at the last while running a big race. Both he and A P McCoy (who was brought down) looked a bit shaken, but fortunately they walked away in one piece. I am pleased to say that the early signs are good for Trop Fort - it was a horrible fall (captured on the back page of the Daily Mail) and he is sore this morning. However, he has been under the heat lamps and is being treated by our on-site physiotherapist - he should be none the worse for yesterday's experience.
- Thursday, 10 February 2011 08:11
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
What did we learn from England's 2-1 win over Denmark last night? I would think not very much at all, most of the club managers would be hoping the players come back injury free. Scot Parker looked like he was limping a bit at the end - that's just about all the Hammers need, for him to be out especially as they are currently at the bottom of the Premiership and fighting to stay up. It just seems like such a waste of time as Parker will never be picked for a mainstream England match - I can quite see why so many of these players pick up a slight injury and then pull out of these pointless internationals.
- Wednesday, 09 February 2011 07:59
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It is certainly an exciting piece of news that David has another Grand National string to his bow with Or Noir de Somoza rejoining the yard for a tilt at Aintree's big one in April. The nine has long been a high class horse who has won on no less than sixteen occasions (three of them in Grade One races) and bagged over €1.6 million in win and place prize money in France. When he was with us at the beginning of 2009 Or Noir de Somoza finished fourth in the Victor Chandler Chase behind Master Minded - David had to run him that day, but he has shown plenty of form at around three miles so he looks to be an exciting addition to the team. It will be interesting to see where he figures in the handicap when they are announced next Tuesday.
- Tuesday, 08 February 2011 07:53
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There's a great picture of David in today's Racing Post. He is looking toward the ground and having a little smile to himself - I reckon he is thinking "I knew that Grands Crus was a good horse!". Anyway the photograph is advertising an interview with David that Peter Thomas conducted at the yard yesterday, the piece will be in the paper tomorrow so don't forget to pick up a copy - in it David talks about his Cheltenham Festival prospects, including the flying grey.
