- Sunday, 16 January 2011 00:00
- Written by Chester Barnes
There is a very interesting article in today's Racing Post about Mary Bromiley. Brough Scott has written the piece and he talks to Mary about her career and her recent award of an MBE in the New Year's Honours List. Mary is the leading authority on equine physiotherapy and she looks after all of our horses as well as some of the staff. She is a quiet and unassuming but brilliant lady and the piece is well worth a read.
- Saturday, 15 January 2011 08:08
- Written by Chester Barnes
Another crowd of jockey's took the wrong course at Huntingdon yesterday. They were all conditional jockeys and the thing that puzzles me is that I thought all conditionals were supposed to walk the course beforehand? Quite a few of them have had plenty of experience and I am surprised that they didn't know that when you come to a rail in the middle of the course, that you are supposed to go to the left-hand side of it...well all of them except for two went to the right of the rail! The race in the end went to the favourite Dancing Daffodil in the hands of Christopher Ward, who went on to complete his first double.
- Friday, 14 January 2011 08:03
- Written by Chester Barnes
- Thursday, 13 January 2011 08:13
- Written by Chester Barnes
While I was watching the racing on television yesterday I saw a jockey give a well-supported 5/4 favourite a terrible ride, but instead of making all sorts of excuses why do they not just put their hands up and say they didn't give that one a very good ride? Obviously I was not alone in thinking this as a number of viewers phoned up complaining about the ride, the thing is that if the jockey's just owned up, the public would be an awful lot more likely to be forgiving of their mistakes. I remember a champion jockey once saying to me "I was not at my best on that one" - I had done my money, so I had to agree with him!
- Wednesday, 12 January 2011 08:03
- Written by Chester Barnes
We are pleased to announce that Danny Cook is due to ride Madison du Berlais in the rescheduled King George VI Chase at Kempton this Saturday. It will be Danny's first ride in the race, although he is no stranger to the big occasion having ridden a Cheltenham Festival winner for us last season aboard Great Endeavour in the Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase. Although yet to partner Madison in a race, Danny is familiar with the horse having ridden him plenty of times in his work at home and schooled him. We are very proud of our strong team of in-house jockeys, and it is great that Madison's owners have given Danny the opportunity in this prestigious race - I am sure last year's runner-up will provide him with a great thrill. Cook has been seen to good effect recently with wins aboard the stable's Spanish Cruise and Sona Sasta in the last ten days.
- Tuesday, 11 January 2011 08:02
- Written by Chester Barnes
Sona Sasta continued the good form of the stable when absolutely bolting-up at Taunton yesterday under a good front-running ride from Danny Cook. On pretty testing going our eight year old won by eighteen lengths and he looks like progressing into another decent horse for owner Roger Brookhouse. Talking of Roger, I will probably do a tenner to his mate in our Cheltenham Festival marquee - he seems to have me over every year...mind you, I really should have twigged on that he was a racing man by the thousands of badges on his binoculars!
- Monday, 10 January 2011 08:22
- Written by Chester Barnes
Who said that drifters don't ever win? Well Our Father drifted from 5/1 to 9/1, yet still managed to produce a taking debut performance to land Chepstow's maiden hurdle by four lengths. He took a good hold but still came through to win quite comfortably in the end - he looks to be an exciting prospect and can only improve for his first ever experience on a racecourse. He looks sure to make up into a nice chaser in time, but should be more than capable of picking up a few hurdles before that.
