Entries & Recent Form
- Sunday, 02 April 2023 08:00
- Written by G Edwards
There are no runners from Pond House today but there is jump racing action at Ascot this afternoon. They have some good, competitive races with plenty of runners throughout the card. Perhaps the most interesting race is the juvenile handicap hurdle at 3.00pm where 15 runners go to post. There are not many of these type of races and plenty of these runners were in action at the Cheltenham Festival. One horse that particularly caught my eye in this race was Grappa Nino ridden by Sean Bowen. He is travelling across the Irish Sea, trained by the very shrewd Dermot Weld and racing off a mark of 115. He won a 25 runner maiden hurdle at Navan at the beginning of March and although he wasn’t even that highly rated on the flat he might well be a better hurdler and I don’t think connections would be travelling over for a day out!
- Saturday, 01 April 2023 07:22
- Written by G Edwards
Last Quarter Runs at Uttoxeter Today
Today we have two runners at Uttoxeter, Make Me A Believer and Last Quarter. Make Me A Believer runs in the 3.55pm novices handicap chase over 2m4f with Fergus Gillard on board. Our eight year old has some very good hurdle form to his name but then sustained a tendon injury which kept him off the track for a while and he has gone chasing since his return. He has actually ran well in both of his starts but unfortunately after his comeback in December he then suffered another little set back which meant he didn’t run again until the beginning of March and therefore lost any benefit from that initial start.
- Friday, 31 March 2023 07:14
- Written by G Edwards
Today we just have the one runner at Wetherby, Sizing Pottsie in the 3.25pm handicap hurdle over two miles and Jack Tudor rides. He last ran in the Grand Annual chase at the Cheltenham Festival where he pulled up but this will be an easier opportunity for him this afternoon. After a good start to the season it is fair to say things have not entirely gone to plan and he has been disappointing in recent runs over fences. In fairness to the horse he has faced some tough tasks on ground that was not soft enough so we are hoping for a confidence boosting on ground that is described as soft by the Wetherby clerk of the course. Any further rain falling at the track will only help his chances. The handicapper is giving him a chance and hopefully he can put his best foot forwards and be involved in the finish. He is about an 8/1 chance for today.
- Thursday, 30 March 2023 06:49
- Written by G Edwards
Mr Tambourine Man runs at Taunton today!
Today we have four runners at local track Taunton. We run Jilaijone and Only Fools in the opening juvenile hurdle race on the card at 1.30pm. Philip Armson rides Jilaijone while Only Fools is making both her British and stable debut partnered by Jack Tudor. Jilaijone has run well in his first four starts for the stable but did run below par at Exeter last time. He won on stable debut at Fontwell and was then placed in his next three starts. He has been running in handicap company but returns to compete against his age group in this and the betting has him at 100/30 second favourite. If he bounces back from his last run I think he will win.
- Wednesday, 29 March 2023 07:07
- Written by G Edwards
There are no runners for the stable today but there is jumps action at both Market Rasen and Newcastle. In Ireland they race on the flat on the turf at Navan and over here we have all-weather action at Lingfield and Kempton. There are not big field sizes at either jumps meeting today but they both are in the North! I heard Mick Fitzgerald talking on the TV yesterday about the number of runners up at Hexham, he was explaining that they put on a big showcase three days of jumping in the North just last weekend with racing at Musselburgh on Friday, Kelso on Saturday and Carlisle on Sunday and now simply there are just not enough horses to go around! While the three days were good and aimed at promoting racing in the North just a few days later we are seeing the adverse effects of these few days with poor racing up country. It does all come back to race planning again, I know there are many more factors that play a part to making the fixture list than meets the eye but we are all trying to do our best for the sport and the small field sizes at this time of year when we can’t blame the going, don’t look great.
- Tuesday, 28 March 2023 06:50
- Written by G Edwards
Today we have just the one runner at Huntingdon, Abaya Du Mathan with amateur Gearoid Harney on board. He runs in the 2.30pm handicap chase over 2m3f. This is a more suitable race than last time which was in the Grand Military Gold Cup and he is about 8/1 in the betting. His profile is a bit in and out and he has just won the one race since joining us but the form of his third placing two starts back was pretty good in the context of this race. The winner that day bolted up in a better race at Newbury on Saturday and our fella will prefer the better ground he is going to get today. The handicapper has given him a chance by dropping his rating and with Gearoid taking seven pounds off I hope he can run okay.
- Monday, 27 March 2023 06:54
- Written by G Edwards
Duc De Beauchene runs at Wincanton Today!
Today we have two runners at Wincanton, Texard and Duc De Beauchene. Texard runs in the 2.30pm handicap chase over two miles with James Best in the saddle. He was twice a winner earlier in the season but has not been in such great form since returning from a break. You can forgive him his last two races however as they were in the military races at Sandown over a trip that was probably too far with inexperienced jockeys on board. This race should be more suitable today and the handicapper has dropped him a few pounds which can only help. It is a competitive race and we are the outsider of the field but if he returns to form he does have the ability to go well. He sports first time cheekpieces this afternoon and hopefully he can take a step back in the right direction.
