- Wednesday, 22 June 2011 07:01
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
I saw a nasty incident at Brighton yesterday involving lady jockey Hayley Turner. She nearly sent the 3lbs apprentice aboard Triggerlo through the rails when going to the stands' side aboard Mary Gold when her mount wasn't far enough clear. Personally I think that she was lucky to get away with just a three day ban. The moral of the story...you don't get up Hayley Turner's inside that easily...you know what I mean!
- Tuesday, 21 June 2011 07:06
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Following rides at last week's meeting at Royal Ascot I was amazed to see that there are no fewer than eight jockeys on the sidelines. Frankie Dettori received the longest ban of all with nine days for his ride on Rewilding in the Prince of Wales Stakes and I think that it is a great pity that such a good finish should be tarnished and overshadowed by whip issues. While I agree that Frankie broke the rules and should be punished, having watched the race countless times I am of the opinion that Frankie was using his whip in more of a "flicking" manner rather than delivering bludgeoning blows to his partner - I am sure that his mount is none the worse for the experience. The one that did confuse me though was Jeffrey Sanchez who finished last in the Coventry aboard Italo - he used his stick when his mount was right out of contention and had no chance - personally I would have given him more than the four days that the stewards dished out...when a horse can't win or reach a place, why hit them?
- Monday, 20 June 2011 07:23
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Congratulations to David on achieving the notable milestone of 500 winners when Bold Perk bolted up at Hereford yesterday afternoon under Conor O'Farrell. It is very good going after only five full seasons with a training licence so well done to him. Bold Perk won by nineteen lengths without Conor having to get too serious and I wouldn't be too surprised to see him turned out again before the handicapper can exact his revenge.
- Sunday, 19 June 2011 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
It has been another good meeting at Royal Ascot this week, but I do wonder what will happen to all the hats that the ladies have been wearing? I expect that most of them were bought with the sole purpose of being worn at Ascot and will never be seen again! I suppose they will be jamming airing cupboards up and down the country as they endeavour to dry them out...why is it that it always seems to rain about now? It must have something to do with our great British summer of sports - Royal Ascot, Test Matches and Wimbledon.
- Saturday, 18 June 2011 07:22
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
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 Morgan
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 Morgan
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.
